Page 85 of Her Braun
It was time for the dinner rush at every food place in town, but the parking lot was empty when she got there.
The neon signs that were always on during business hours were dark.
And Kay felt her heart clench in her chest.
Something was wrong.
She threw open her door and got out, dialing the same line that had called her minutes before.
The phone rang and rang, but no one picked up.
Kay slammed her door shut, dropping her keys into her pocket.
Just as she reached the front door, she realized that she hadn't locked the car door. She'd deal with it later. After she saw to Charles.
Kay pulled the door open and rushed inside. "Charles? Chuck?"
There was a light on in the kitchen at the back of the room and Kay moved closer, leaning to the side, hoping to see where the father and son were.
"Charles? It's Kay. Kay Hata?" She turned her head to listen for sounds, wondering if she was too late.
"Chuck? Are you and your dad here?"
Something clicked behind her and Kay whirled around.
"Chuck."
Her gaze traveled from his face, down his arm, and saw that his finger was on the door lock.
"What... what's going on?"
He straightened and looked at her with a big smile on his face.
He wasn't the most personable person to start with, but the smile on his face wasn't the least bit inviting.
In fact, it was downright frightening given the circumstances.
"My dad said that I shouldn't ask you to come."
"Y-you said that he didn't think he needed to go to the hospital." Kay felt her neck flush with heat and her face went cold. "Is he feeling better now?"
Chuck's smile brightened, but his eyes were cold, unfeeling. "You should ask him yourself." He lifted his chin toward the kitchen. "He's back there waiting for you."
Kay gave Chuck a quick, hesitant look. "I... I don't hear him moving back there."
Chuck folded his arms across his chest and walked closer to her. "He probably isn't moving all that much. It probably hurts too much."
Kay felt sick to her stomach. There was something wrong.
Something very, very wrong.
Kay reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone.
Before she could open the phone with her face or her passcode, Chuck knocked the phone out of her hand.
It went sailing across the room and hit the wall with a sickening crack.
"I said he doesn't want anyone called."
