Page 81 of In Hiding

His uncle cradled his cheek the way Mama did. “You won’t and you don’t have to. I promise.” Uncle Erik glanced up and out the windows. “Will, why don’t you grab your hot chocolate and take it in the back? You can dry off some more in private.”

William was about to remind him to use his full name, but his uncle pushed him toward the doorway leading to the back. It was hard to keep his balance and stay on his feet. Before he knew it, he was in a back office, standing in the silent room where a screen held images from the security cameras. Wiping his face with the towel, William stepped closer to the screens to see a man enter the showroom.

Uncle Erik went to greet the customer, partially blocking his view. Move out of the way, Uncle. William tilted his head, trying to look over his uncle’s shoulder but that was useless. The enormous figure made it hard to see. William watched, waiting until he got a glimpse of the person Uncle Erik spoke with. Did he not want the man to see William? Or William to see the man?

He waited.

And waited.

He was going to drink his hot chocolate but realized Uncle Erik had forgotten to give it to him.

The two men spoke at length, his uncle pointing at different cars every now and then. They went outside and walked around the lot, inspecting different cars before coming back inside.

That was when William got a good look at the man’s face. Goosebumps prickled his skin and a tingle crept across his scalp. He’d seen that guy before. Where? Had he seen him around town? William searched his memory, trying to recall the details. When? He drew a blank but the feeling that they’d met before wouldn’t go away.

Who are you?

William watched the men on the screen, hoping they’d move closer to the camera. It felt like hours before they finally did. The buyer looked right at the camera, the face on screen staring right at William. His knees went weak and he sat on the edge of the desk nearby as his memory relented and gave up the man’s identity.

William closed his eyes, feeling as though he was in a time machine, speeding back in time. The motion sent a wave of dizziness through him and he gripped the desk to stop himself from falling.

When the sensation stopped, he found himself with his father. He was little, maybe seven or eight, he couldn’t be sure. He hardly stood taller than his dad’s waist. He remembered them, playing a game of cards. Drinking. Smoking. Laughing. The man from his memory had spent a lot of time at their house. William remembered the way he looked at Mama. Even at that age, he knew a man shouldn’t stare at her like that. Like he wanted to eat her.

“William?”

His eyes snapped open to find Uncle Erik standing over him. He was on the floor, papers surrounding him. A pencil lay on his chest.

“Are you okay?”

He swallowed, staring up at the room around him. Confused about how he ended up on the floor, he stared at the hand his uncle held out to him before taking it. Hauled to his feet, William felt the room spin and grabbed his uncle for balance. Uncle Erik led him to a chair and helped him sit.

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

I have. “Who was that?”

“A man come to see about a car. Why?”

William shook his head. “No.”

His uncle knelt before him, his face like stone. “What do you mean? No.”

“I’ve seen him before.”

He watched as the muscles in the face opposite tensed. “Around town?”

“With my—” He couldn’t bring himself to say father. “With him,” he whispered.

Uncle Erik shot up to his feet and paced the small room. His size made William feel claustrophobic and his suit felt all wrong. It wasn’t like William hadn’t seen him in a suit before. He used to sell cars before he went to prison, but this one looked two sizes too small.

“He knew Ryan?”

William nodded. Dread filled his stomach. It was so heavy he thought it was going to fall to the floor. “And Mama.”

His uncle swore, but the words were not English. William didn’t need to speak Danish to know what he meant.

“He’s coming, isn’t he?”

Uncle Erik stopped pacing and stared at him. “I won’t let him hurt you or your mother again. You have to believe me.”

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