Part 7 (2/2)
”Oh, sure. Sorry.”
”Are you and your dad close?”
”Huh? Oh. Not really.”
”I mean, how often to you see him?”
”Usually just at the office. Or sometimes at the cafe.”
”So, did you see him today? Or talk to him?”
”Uh, yeah, I think so. Yeah, I saw him at the office today.”
Rebecca drove in silence.
”Why do you ask, Julie? Are you looking for a job? Do you want me to put in a word for you with my dad?”
”Yeah. Maybe.” She pulled into the driveway, as instructed by the woman's voice in the GPS. ”Well, here we are.”
Rebecca helped Wiley make it up the steps and into the house. ”This is a nice place you've got.” She was surprised at how neat it looked.
”Thanks.” Wiley plopped down on the couch.
Rebecca noticed the pictures on the mantle. ”Is this your dad?”
”Yeah.” He got up and joined her. ”And that's my stepmother, Kimberly.” He stepped in close to the picture, his nose two inches from the gla.s.s. ”Die, b.i.t.c.h!”
”So, you and your stepmom don't get along.”
”You could say that.” Wiley was beginning to sway.
Rebecca took his arm. ”Maybe you'd better sit back down.” She led him to the couch.
He fell onto the couch, pulling Rebecca down with him.
”I think you've had way too much to drink.”
He had already pa.s.sed out.
”Maybe I'd better go.”
He began to snore.
She took a few seconds to look around the house, but didn't see anything of interest. So, she walked outside and called for a cab. She was gone within ten minutes.
Once the cab had driven away, Wiley stood up and took out his phone.
”Hey. We may have trouble. Rebecca Ranghorn showed up at the club...I don't know. I did my drunk act...yeah...totally fooled her...no, don't worry...I've got it under control.”
CHAPTER 8 - Tuesday, 1:16 a.m.
Rebecca paid the cabbie and got out. As she walked to the front door, she saw Gabby unlocking it from the inside.
She heard something whizz by her head. Then a pop. In the split second it took for her to realize somebody was shooting at her, another bullet hit the doorframe.
Gabby opened the door and Rebecca ran inside. As he closed and locked the door, the window shattered.
They ran for the back stairs, and flew up to the third floor.
”What the h.e.l.l, Becca?”
”Kill the lights.”
Gabby flipped the switch.
”We pushed somebody's b.u.t.tons,” said Rebecca.
”What did you tell Wiley?”
”Nothing. And it couldn't be him. He was pa.s.sed out on the couch.”
They heard more gla.s.s breaking downstairs.
Rebecca crouched down and scurried to the front window.
”Get back. They'll shoot you.”
”They can't see me in the dark.”
Gabby joined her at the window. ”They're inside. See. They turned the lights on.” The glow from the shop lit up the sidewalk and street, and began to flicker. ”Wait-is that fire?”
”I'm afraid so.”
”My beautiful dresses.” He bolted for the stairs.
”Gabby, stop. They may be waiting for us down there.”
He ran down the stairs anyway. Rebecca ran after him.
By the time he reached the bottom of the stairwell it was filled with smoke.
”It's too late.” Rebecca grabbed his arm. ”I'm sorry. We've got to go back up.”
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