Page 64 of Last Seen Alive
A snore erupted from Larry and startled her. She’d never gone quite this far in her efforts before; drugging a man was a new level for her.
And it was time to leave.
She hurried from the room and got into a waiting car. The clock was ticking. She just hoped it wouldn’t run out…
TWENTY-FOUR
The night was a warm one, and the AC in Amanda’s house wasn’t keeping up. Tomorrow she would call to get someone in to look at the thing. Pretty bad when summer hadn’t officially started and already the heat was seeping in. It didn’t help there was a pizza baking in the oven either. Going another direction with dinner might have been the wise choice, but it was her and Zoe’s Pizza Tuesday. Not quite as catchy as Taco Tuesday, but let everyone else conform to the norm.
“What do you say we eat outside? Sound good?” she proposed to Zoe, counting on a breeze.
“I love outside.”
“I know you do.” That’s if her cousin, Ava, didn’t have her distracted with something in the house. She’d come to find out Ava was into some new video game and that’s what had Zoe glued inside the other day, along with playing some Barbies. “You can head out and play now if you want.”
“Yeah!” Zoe squealed and took off through the patio door.
The yard was completely fenced with a gate at the back that opened into the rear of another property—a strange installation that the previous owners had done. But Amanda felt like Zoe was safe there. Still, she watched for a while as the child ran around the grass, barefoot and carefree. She wished the girl could stay that way forever, but that wasn’t how life worked. About a month after her sixth birthday, Zoe had been given some hefty baggage. Her parents had been murdered, her father right in front of her eyes no less. Somehow Zoe had kept her light, and while Amanda was there for Zoe, the girl had healed Amanda. She’d helped her move past her grief, or at least navigate through it enough to see a bright future again.
Zoe went to the playset in the back corner and heaved herself onto a swing. Kevin had put in the contraption for Lindsey. It had everything a kid could want—a slide, a climber, swings, and a sandbox. While it had been hard for Amanda when she first saw Zoe use it, now it felt so right. Like there was a part of her daughter that had lived on.
Amanda busied herself cleaning up the kitchen, something she normally did with Zoe. She put the rest of the ingredients away and washed the dishes that they’d used while making the pizza.
By the time she’d finished, she was inhaling the glorious smell of cooking cheese and pepperoni but sweating like mad.Was the air conditioning working at all?
A look at the thermostat told her it was seventy-nine degrees. The thing had to be busted. She turned the switch to off and opened some windows. At least a slight evening breeze might save her and Zoe from melting to death when they came back inside. After dinner, she’d fish out some oscillating fans from the basement and the garage.
The pizza was smelling cooked now, and when she returned to the kitchen, there was a minute left on the timer. She pulled it out early and happily flipped off the oven. The crust was golden perfection, and the cheese and pepperoni were bubbling and sizzling.
She peeked out the window again, and Zoe was still on the swing. Amanda called out for her, and the girl came running.
“Pizza!” Zoe burst through the door, a sweaty little mess. Some of her blond hair was pasted to her forehead.
“Here you go…” Amanda made a show of cutting up the pizza and putting a slice on Zoe’s plate. The cheese pulled and warranted aYmmfrom Zoe. “There’s some juice in that glass for you.” Amanda pointed to where she’d placed it on the counter. “Can you handle it with your plate?”
“I’m not a baby.” Zoe picked up the glass in one hand, held her plate with her other one. Amanda got the door and turned to hide her amusement at the girl’s spunk.
“Go ahead. I’ll be right out.” Amanda plated a couple of slices for herself and joined Zoe outside. She gave thought to what summer vacation would look like for the girl. Amanda would probably divvy Zoe’s time between all the people who loved her. Libby and her girlfriend, Amanda’s numerous siblings and nieces and nephews. She was blessed with a built-in village.
The night was warm, but there was a breeze that provided a welcome relief from the stagnant humid air that was inside. If it was the weekend, Amanda might suggest they set up the tent and sleep outside, have an adventure. It was tempting regardless.
She talked with Zoe about what the girl wanted to do that summer.
“I want a swimming pool. Can I get one?” She was speaking with her mouth full of pizza, but Amanda understood every word while wishing she didn’t.
“Be careful you don’t choke.”
Zoe zapped her with a brief glare and continued munching away.
“I’m not sure a pool is a good idea.”
Zoe made a show of swallowing and even pointed in her now-empty mouth. “Oh,pleeeaassseeee.” Zoe pouted, an expression she was starting to master.
“We’ll see. Maybe a little one.Maybe,” Amanda stressed.
Zoe smiled, figuring she’d won the debate. She probably had. But there would be rules on when Zoe could use it, and it certainly wouldn’t be some huge inground deal. Probably a rather small aboveground one that might not even be suitable for adults unless they wanted to sit in the water just to cool off. Amanda had to admit that sounded like a great idea right this minute.
After dinner, Zoe played in the yard, and Amanda went in search of fans.
