Page 100 of Redd

Chapter Twenty-Two

Bijou

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Something's wrong.. .

Throwing my body up, I sat on the couch, ears piercing the air trying to listen. My chest was heavy, heart thumping hard and fast, sweat spilling down over my forehead.

It was a feeling that hit me. I wasn't sure where it came from, but I couldn't shake it off. The anxiety spilled around my body, and I kept looking at the front door. I was waiting for a knock or the red and blue lights of a cop car in the driveway, signaling that my gut feeling was correct.

Redd's in trouble.

“You alright?” Vicki trotted into the living room, holding a glass of milk and a small saucer of cookies. “You don't look so good.”

“I. . . I don't know. Something doesn't feel right.” Jumping to my feet, I stepped to the window and pulled back the curtain. “Your brother isn't back yet?”

“So?” Dropping onto the couch, she dunked a cookie into the milk and took a bite. “He does this sometimes, leaves for awhile, he'll be back.”

Raking my fingers through my hair, I started to pace around the room. “No, this is different. He should be back by now.”

“Bijou, you don't know my brother like I do. He does this all the time, sometimes he's gone for hours.” Her mouth was full as she spoke, doing its best to keep the food inside. Wiping her lips, she took a small sip of milk and let out a sigh. “It sucks, I know. He said he wasn't going to rob—” Big eyes flashed in my direction as she bit her lip. “I shouldn't have said that.”

“It's okay, I know about what he did.” Waving my hand, I stopped in front of her. “Don't worry, he already told me.”

Her head bobbed on her shoulders as she placed the plate down on her thigh. Dragging her fingers back and forth over each other, she dusted them clean of cookie crumbs. “Did he tell you that it was fourth time he had promised he was done?” Letting out a disgruntled laugh, she rolled her eyes. “He can't stop himself, it's like a disease now. I think he needs help.”

I felt bad for her. She had been exposed to more than any child should be at her age. Vicki shouldn't see this life as normal, but she did. She shouldn't look so nonchalant about how he got their money, but she was. All of this was a regular part of her day, and it never should have been to begin with.

Taking the seat next to Vicki, I braided my fingers together. “He didn't go out to do what you think.” I couldn't look at her, I was too nervous. “He's keeping his promise to you.”

“Then where did he go?” Her glass clanked against the ceramic saucer, face soft and curious. But there was doubt in her eyes. A condescending glare that tried to break through the lie she thought I was feeding her.

“He went to—” Cutting myself off, I saw headlights flash against the window. “He's back, oh thank god.” My head drooped as a wave of relief swept over me.

Standing, I walked to the door and opened it up. The night sky had devoured the sun, leaving nothing but blackness. Flicking on the outside light, I could make out a figure in the driveway as it crossed the front of the car and started for the door.

Smiling, I rested my shoulder against the door frame and crossed my arms. “It's about time.”

“It sure is, it's been much too long.”

No. . . Fuck, no!

My legs grew weak, muscles trembling as the nightmare that consumed my world manifested before my eyes.

“Bijou, who is it?”

Turning on my heels, I screamed, “Run, Vicki! Run!”

I tried to close the door and lock it, but it was no use. Hands shoved it open, fingers snagged my hair.

There was nothing I could do.

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