Page 69 of Reading Between the Lines
Nicholas stared between Tallus and me for a long time, and when it seemed I wasn’t going to get an answer, he said, “Other side of the river. They’re in one of the big fancy-ass houses on Hope Street. Got a pool in their backyard. Chett was over there swimming this past summer. In fact, you asked whose properties backed close to the trail. Theirs would be one of them.”
“Thanks.” To Tallus, I said, “I think we’re done here.”
“I don’t want to hear that you’ve been harassing my brother,” Nicholas said. “If there’s something you’re worried about, you bring it to me. I’m basically that kid’s Mom and Dad combined. You get me?”
I grunted noncommittally and glanced at Echo, who continued to sit loyally at my side. Stupid dog.
“Let’s go,” I said to Tallus.
But as we made for the Jeep, the golden retriever stuck by my side, tail wagging like she was expecting a car ride. Only when Nicholas called her name did she reluctantly retreat.
17
Tallus
We didn’t return to the B&B right away. Diem insisted on driving around town to see if we could locate Chett or any of the other teens we’d seen that morning. Twice, he returned to the head of the trail to see if any vehicles occupied the gravel lot.
After an hour of pointless driving, he gave up. The sky was darkening when he announced, “We should locate Hope Street. Pull it up on Maps and navigate for me. We need to find Londyn and Loyal’s house so we aren’t scrambling in the morning.”
Considering we needed to sneak in and out of people’s backyards to see if they had a pool, the encroaching night helped.
“You should get a dog,” I announced as Diem followed my instructions.
“I don’t want a dog.”
“Why not? Dogs are cute and cuddly.”
“I don’t cuddle.”
“Don’t I know it. I still think you should get a dog. It would be good for you.”
“I don’t want a dog.”
“It’s better than a snake. Who’s taking care of Baby, by the way.”
“No one. She was fed two days before we left, and her terrarium has a fully automated system that reads and regulates her environment. She’s fine.”
“What if the power goes out?”
Diem darted a glance from the road to me and back, a deep frown marking a divot between his brows. “Why the fuck do you do that?”
“Do what?”
“We’re not going to lose power.”
“We’re experiencing unseasonable ice storms. Power outages are a thing.”
“Fuck me.” He jerked the steering wheel, lurching the Jeep onto the gravel shoulder of the road and skidding to a halt. Phone in hand, he scrolled and swiped through his contacts, selecting one.
“Who are you calling?”
He didn’t answer.
“Do you have friends I’m unaware of?”
Still, no answer.
The line must have connected because Diem snapped, “Has the power in the building gone out in the last few days?” A pause. “Just answer the fucking question… Yes, I’m a fucking tenant… Krause.” Jaw ticking, nostrils flaring, Diem listened to whoever was on the other end of the line. “I told you’d I’d have it next week… What email?” He squeezed his eyes close and looked like he wanted to unleash the fires of hell on whoever he was talking to. “Just tell me if we’ve lost power… Yeah, yeah, okay. Whatever. Fuck.”
