Page 27 of Out to Find Freedom

Lenny chuckled. “Can’t they all.”

“You talk like you got one. By the way, name’s Jackson. Moved in here nearly two months ago.”

“Yeah.” He nodded. “Heard. And, ah, like I said, name’s Lenny, and my missus is Gloria.”

“Just you two living there?”

His eye twitched. “Sure is.”

With my eyes covered by sunglasses, I glanced down at the window and I was sure to fucking Christ I saw fingers there for a second before disappearing.

“Your lady at home? Maybe I could meet her. She might know some other birds around here since it seems I won’t have this one for much longer.”

Lenny laughed. “Nah, brother, she ain’t home right now.”

Big blaring alarm bells rang through my head. I did see something; there were fingers in the tiny goddamn window. So whose were they?

“Too bad. Maybe another time.”

“Yeah. Sounds good.” He kicked at the ground. I started to turn when he questioned, “You work around here?”

“Just outta town. Mining.”

“Right, cool.” He nodded. “Guess I’ll see you around.”

I put out a fake, friendly smile. “Maybe, maybe not. The hours are crazy.”

He laughed. “Yeah, I heard that. I couldn’t do it.”

“You work?”

“Not right now.”

“Always a place at mining. We go through a lot of people.”

“Not for me, brother.” He grinned, sent a salute, and walked off to the front of his house.

It wasn’t until he was out of sight that a message came through.

Emmie:Please don’t call my name.

Ryan: Tell me you’re safe.

Emmie: I’m safe.

Ryan: Tell me it’s not you in that fucking basement.

Pressure shot to my chest when no reply came.

Ryan: I can get you out.

Emmie: No!

I clenched my jaw.

Ryan:Why the fuck not?

Emmie: I just can’t. Not yet.

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