Page 98 of What's the time, Mr. Wolfe
He didn’t answer. His car was on the drive, and he’d said he was home. I noticed the French doors were open, and assumed he was on the patio. I left my backpack in the kitchen and wandered out.
Although only four o’clock, the evening was already drawing in. I shivered slightly, there was a chill I hadn’t noticed when I’d been walking. I chuckled. I was turning into a softy, I thought. I’d walk all through thewinter in just a T-shirt and hoodie, unless it was raining, of course.
I walked down the steps to the lawned area and called out again. I heard something in the distance, I wasn’t sure if it was Sebastian or not, but it was a man’s voice, for sure.
I headed towards the edge of the woods and waited. He’d heard me, I thought, so I imagined he’d come and find me. He had said he wanted to stock his log store up for winter. I smiled, I bet he looked sexy chopping wood!
I debated about whether to follow the path or not. I gave myself a mental kick up the arse and started to walk. I could always use the torch on my phone if I needed to and I wasn’t deviating from a straight path. If he wasn’t there, I’d simply turn around and head back the way I’d come. He’d know I was there; my backpack was on the counter.
I came to a clearing and a stone building. Sebastian had told me there was a building, but I couldn’t remember what he used it for. Someone was in, however, there was a slight shining through a very grubby window. I laughed.
So, Mr. Wolfe did have a stone cottage in the woods, after all.
I pushed open the door and froze.
Sebastian stood in black jeans and a black T-shirtwith his back to me. Tony lounged against the wall. My father sat, tied to a chair in the middle of the room. His face was bloody, one eye already shut.
He laughed when he saw me, spitting on the floor at Sebastian’s feet. “And here’s the bastard,” he said.
“What?” I replied.
“Ruby, I need you to go back to the house.” Sebastian’s tone was harsh.
“Let her stay, see what an animal you are,” my father said. Sebastian punched him square in the face and blood spurted over his arm. My father’s chair went backwards, taking him with it.
“Back to the house!” Sebastian shouted.
I wanted to turn and run; I really did. But my feet were glued to the spot. “I can’t,” I said, stammering a little.
“GO!” His voice rocked me on my feet.
I watched Tony pick my father up and wondered how many times he’d done that. Sebastian turned to face me. He had blood splattered over his forehead and cheek. His hands were bloodied, his fists tightly clenched.
I swallowed hard as he walked towards me. When he stood in front of me, I closed my eyes tightly. I shook.
“Go, Ruby, please,” he said, gentler than before.
“I...” I didn’t know what to say, it seemed ridiculous to tell him my body had frozen in shock. It was just ametaphor, however, in that instance, I really was unable to move.
“You should tell her the truth,” I heard. My father coughed and spluttered. “Look what your boyfriend did to your father, Ruby.”
“You’re not her father,” Sebastian spat back, not looking at him.
“She thought I was.” He laughed and I looked around Sebastian to see him.
“Are you my father?” I asked.
He laughed again. “No.”
“Was she my mother?”
His laughter was maniacal. “No. She was just the dumb bitch who wanted to keep you.”
I launched for him. I was screaming with my arms outreached. I wanted to scratch his eyes out, cut out his vile tongue so he couldn’t say any more words. Sebastian caught me around the waist and lifted me off my feet. I kicked at him, punched, and slapped him to get free. I dug my nails into his hands as he walked me outside the cottage.
“Let me go,” I screamed.
“Tony!” Sebastian shouted. He came running. “Take her home.”
