Page 86 of Stains of Desire
It's well past the five o'clock agreed-upon return time when the water begins to get rougher. I'm not sure if we're in Guatemala or made it to Honduras, but the sky darkens, and storm clouds are in front of us.
I pull up on the beach. I can't tell if it's deserted or someone's property, but it's not safe to keep going. "We've gotta stop for the night."
A light rain begins. I sling the backpack over my shoulder and pull Penelope away from the sea. We come to a set of stairs.
I don't debate very long about whether we should stay below or take our chances about what's at the top. Lightning fills the sky and thunder rolls. The rain falls harder.
We get up the stairs. There is a seaside cottage. It's as dark as night. Not one light is on.
Please be a vacation home no one is using.
I look under the mat in front of the door, and there's a key.
People are so predictable.
I ring the doorbell and knock on the door, and no one answers. So I take my gun out, slide the key in the lock, and open the door. Penelope and I step in. I put my fingers to my lips.
Her green eyes glow with worry. "Stay behind me," I murmur in her ear.
I go room to room, but no one is in the house. It's empty and smells stuffy, as if the windows haven't been opened in years. I finally sigh in relief. "I think we're safe for the night here."
"What if someone comes?"
"We'll have to take our chances here versus out there." I point out the window just as lightning cracks through the sky.
"Should we turn on a light?" she asks.
"Best if we don't. I'm not sure how far away any neighbors are. We don't know if anyone is watching the house."
"Good point."
I set the backpack on the counter and step in front of Penelope. I cup her cheeks. "What did you think of jet skiing?"
She smiles. "You were right. It was fun."
"You did good."
Her eyes brighten. "All I had to do was hold on."
I almost tell her she's a pro at holding on. That it's exactly what she's been doing all these years, trying to survive, and especially the last eighteen months without her daughter. But all she's had is herself to hold on to. "That's all you have to do, green eyes. From now on, just hold on to me." I lean down and kiss her, wrapping my arms around her, giving her every piece of me I can.
One more day closer to Tinker's.
One more day closer to finding Millie.
There's a clock ticking in my head. Penelope doesn't know it. I'll never tell her about it. But every day that passes and we don't find Millie, more obstacles to rescuing her develop. And I need to get Penelope to safety and locate Millie fast.
