Page 21 of True Valor
“There’s no way in hell I’m dropping you offand going back to my vacation.”
“But you won’t promise.”It was astatement.
It wasn’t that easy.“No.”
Fifteen minutes and twenty miles passedbefore he ventured to speak again.“It’ll be dark when we getthere.There’s a flashlight in the trunk.We can drive to within afew blocks, then walk the rest of the way and try the keys.Thehouse may still be considered a crime scene and the sheriff’sdepartment may be watching it.We have to be careful.”
“I know.”
The house wasn’t hard to find.
“It’s in the next block.”Julie said.“Don’tslow down.”
Nic glanced over at her, wondering what,exactly, she was remembering.But she was right.There it was onthe right, a light brick ranch-style home, surrounded by policecrime tape.They circled the block, then drove down two blocks andparked on a cross street.
“I’ve never been on this side of the lawbefore,” Nic said, attempting an it’s-no-big-deal tone.The truthwas out there, though.Speeding tickets, yes.Breaking andentering, no.Neither Batman Nic nor Citizen Nic was on familiarground.
“I have.”
“That’s comforting.”
“Besides, if my entire family is dead, thenit’s my house.And, if we have the keys, then it’s not breaking andentering, is it?”
“Interesting logic.”
God, now she was reading his mind.No matterwhat she said, though, they were indeed breaking and entering.Would it make a difference to the Air Force if a felony wascommitted for a good cause?
Not likely.
Her voice brought him back to the task athand.“You coming?”
“What?”
“Are you coming?You know, if you don’t wantto do this, just give me the keys and I’ll go.”
Nic closed the car door, mumbling to himself.Damn fool woman.“Down the alley?”
“Nope, too suspicious.Dogs bark when folkswalk down dark alleys.We’ll just walk down the street as if webelong here.”
She had done this before.
“And then we walk right up to the front doorand try the keys?”Nic asked.
“No, we’ll find a dark house, ideally onewithout a dog in the yard, and go round back closer to my folks’house.”
With Julie in the lead, they ended up at theback door of her parents’ house without alerting the neighborhoodor the cops.So far.The first key she tried opened the door andthey walked in.
“Well, it’s official,” Nic whispered.“I’m acriminal.”
The light from a nearby street lamp made theflashlight unnecessary at this point.They walked through thekitchen and into the living room.Julie stopped at the front door,looking at the remains of a broken vase.She took a deep breath andmoved on to the fireplace.In the half-light, she peered at thefamily pictures on the mantle.Nic watched her closely.The one shewas looking at showed two little blonde girls sitting on a man’schest.All three were laughing.Her eyes flickered a moment beforeshe spoke.
“Stop!You must not hop on pop.”It came outin a strangled whisper.“I think I’m going to be sick.”
Julie bolted down the hallway, turning rightat the first doorway.Nic found her there, in a bathroom, leaningover the sink.
She sank down to sit on the edge of the tub,pulling off her hat, letting her hair fall down around hershoulders.Nic lowered himself to the toilet seat, reaching out totake her hands in his.He waited, the sense of dread almost cuttingoff his breath.She sat for a long time, her hands trembling, herface still shielded from view.
“I was at my folks’ for the holidays.Theypicked me up from the airport.I remember going to bed, but afterthat, it’s still a blank.”
