Max felt a rock in the pit of his stomach. «Funny how you failed to mention that part until we got here.»
«Come on, Max.» Liz got serious for a moment. «There's absolutely nothing to worry about. We're just having a normal weekend of baby-sitting.»
Famous last words, he thought.
Liz pointed out the turnoff, and Max followed her directions, eventually pulling his convertible into the looping driveway of a beautiful, large, ranch-style house. Admiring the property, he parked directly behind a high-priced, limited edition Land Rover. The back door was open, and a few overnight bags were already inside. Obviously Mr. and Mrs. Lyles were readying the car for their trip.
«You're here,' a man's voice said from the house as soon as Max turned the engine off. «Good, we'll be able to get on the road right away.»
«Hello, Mr. Lyles,' Liz said as she got out of the car.
Max immediately noticed that her voice had fallen into a tone she usually reserved for teachers and law enforcement agents. He watched as Mr. Lyles gave a nod of hello and proceeded to put another duffel bag into the SUY shifting the bags so they were nicely organized. Max couldn't help but think that the man was just stalling so he wouldn't have to come over to say hello.
«Liz!» a voice excitedly shouted from the house.
Max turned to see a woman about his own mother's age come running out of the house and embrace Liz in the type of hug usually reserved for close family members.
«Aunt Jackie.» Liz's voice immediately returned to the warm tone that Max knew and loved. «It's so good to see you.»
«And who is this fine young man?» she asked as they
broke their embrace. Max was getting out of the car, and the sudden attention made him blush.
«This is Max,' Liz began the introduction. «He drove-'
«Yes, I've heard all about you, you little heartbreaker,' she said in a friendly, nonthreatening tone as she made her way around the car to give him a hug. «George, come here and say hi.»
In response, Mr. Lyles nodded hello as he slammed the rear door closed on the SUV «We should get going, Jackie. It's a long trip to Santa Fe.»
«Santa Fe?» Max asked with immediate interest. «Is that where you're going?»
«They have this great arts festival,' Jackie said, still holding on to Max's hand.
«I know,' Max said, and couldn't help but smile along with the contagiously happy woman. «My parents are going down tomorrow. They go every year.»
«Well, I finally convinced George to take me,' she said with a smile, although it was obvious to Max by the look on Mr. Lyles's face that she hadn't succeeded in convincing him that he'd have a good time.
«It's getting late,' Mr. Lyles said, consulting his watch.
«Oh, I thought we were early,' Liz said.
«You are,' Jackie said, shooting her husband a glance but never losing her smile for a moment. «It's just that no one's ever early enough for him.»
«Max, it was nice meeting you,' Mr. Lyles said, still standing a short distance away by his SUV «Liz,' he said, and nodded to her. Then he got into the car and started the engine.
Aunt Jackie's smile faltered for an almost imperceptible
moment when she heard the engine revving. «Jason's in his room,' she said as she started back around the car to give Liz another hug. «Sorry we have to leave so quickly. Max, it was nice meeting you. I'll see you Sunday when you come to pick up Liz.»
Max watched as she hurried into the SUV As soon as the door was closed, Mr. Lyles was pulling away.
«Well, that was easy,' Max said as he came around the car to join Liz.
«For once,' she added.
Max and Liz entered the house through the still open front door. The place was larger than they were used to, with an actual second floor, which none of their friends had in their respective homes and apartments. Max marveled at the size of the place, and the expensive-looking furniture all in pristine condition. This was especially notable since there was a preteen living in the place.
Something else he couldn't help but notice was the pure whiteness of it all. Stepping into the living room, he immediately fixated on the fluffy white couch and matching chair, as well as the bright white paint on the walls and the sheer white curtains. He felt like he should take a shower and change his clothes before he sat down on anything.
«Clean, huh?» Liz asked, reading his mind.
«Are you sure a kid lives here?» he asked.
«It took a while for me to get used to it too,' Liz replied, looking around. «Jason must not know I'm here yet,' she said, attempting to explain the absence of her young friend.
«Don't you think it's strange how his parents didn't say
good-bye before they left?» Max asked, following.
«They must have said it before,' she replied. «Aunt Jackie wouldn't have gone anywhere without making sure Jason was okay first. Wait till you meet him. He's the sweetest kid you'll ever know.» She started up the stairs to where she remembered his room to be. «I'll be right back.»
While Liz was upstairs getting her friend, Max continued his tour of the first floor. From the living room, he peered into an office. It wasn't as bright white as the room he had come from, but was pristine nonetheless. He assumed this was where Mr. Lyles did his telecommuting.
Continuing the tour, he walked through the dining room and into the kitchen, finding each room to be even cleaner than the last. The chrome accents in the kitchen actually glistened because they were so sparkling clean. The stovetop looked as if it had never been used, and so did the microwave, which he confirmed by opening the door and looking inside. Dinner was still hours away and he was already worried about spilling food.
His self-guided tour eventually led him back to the living room, where he realized that it was taking Liz an awfully long time to return with Jason. Assuming they were just catching up, he gave them a few more minutes before finally deciding to see what was going on. Making his way up the stairs, he followed the voice of his girlfriend and found her pleading with a closed door.
«Come on, Jason,' Liz said to the door. «Let me in.»
Silence.
«Problem?» Max asked as he joined her.
«Jason won't open the door,' she looked to Max, who took his own turn knocking on the door without a
response. Again, Max had that same sense of foreboding he'd had earlier.
«Jason,' he said. «This is Liz's friend, Max. Is anything wrong?»
Silence.
This is not going to be a fun weekend, Max thought with a sigh.
Kyle's eyes were drooping slowly as he sat on the couch watching some of the most painful daytime television he had ever seen. Another night with only a few hours of restless sleep left him so tired and dragging that he actually didn't mind sitting through the cheating spouses threatening to throw chairs at each other on the ridiculous talk show with the lame host. Well, my life could always be worse, he thought. I could be one of those people.
His boss at the shop had noticed his lackluster performance over the past few days and had figured that a sleepy worker in an auto shop was a dangerous combination, so he had told Kyle to take a long weekend off. Almost an entire day still ahead of him, Kyle knew that he should try to get some extra sleep, but every time his eyelids met each other, the same thing would happen.
Flash.
Alex falling to the ground in Kyle's bedroom.
Flash.
Alex, lying bloody in his wrecked car.
Flash.
Kyle sitting alone in his room. The door locked.
Knocking.
In his dream and in his ears as well. Kyle's eyes shot open as he thought he heard his name being called by a
