Bill stepped back inside the house and waved at Richard. “We need to get moving. If this guy can find your house, so can others.”
Richard held a finger up. “Just a second.” He turned to his wife and helped her off the floor. “Honey, you need to grab some things, and we need to go. Get Jake’s bag and you throw some stuff together so we can get the hell out of here.”
She stared at him through her red, swollen eyes and nodded. “Alright,” she hiccupped. “Just give me a moment.” Richard watched her disappear into the bedroom and he turned back to Bill. “She’s just going to grab a few things for the road.”
“Are we taking my Jeep or…?” Bill asked.
Richard shook his head. “The road is paved from here on,” he explained. “We can follow you or you follow us. Either way.”
Bill relaxed a bit and stretched his neck. “What a night, huh?”
Richard’s shoulders slumped, and he shook his head. “I’ve never spoken to her like that in all the years we’ve been married.”
Bill patted his shoulder. “She was being unreasonable.”
“True, but I still shouldn’t have—”
A scream pierced their conversation and Richard immediately stiffened. He ran back into the bedroom and found Harriet slapping at a man who was pushing at her and forcing her back toward the bed. A simple glance revealed the sliding glass door to the rear patio was open, a breeze blowing the curtain in. Richard pulled his pistol from his pants and took aim. His first shot went wide, grazing the man’s shoulder, but Bill’s shot hit him square in the temple, sending his twitching body to the floor.
Harriet rolled away and clung to Richard. He held her shaky body as she sobbed. “Are you okay?” he asked as she trembled and cried. “Were you bit?”
“I never saw him,” she cried. “I was in the closet, and when I turned around, there he was, coming after me!”
“But were you bit?” he asked, forcefully this time, shaking her slightly.
She turned big, wet eyes to him and shook her head. “No, his teeth kept snapping at me,” she cried. “They clacked so hard.” She sobbed again and broke down crying.
Richard noticed the blood all across her arms and nodded. “Okay, then, let’s get you cleaned up.” Bill stepped across the room and pulled the sliding door shut, locking it. Richard simply nodded at him as he led her into the bathroom. He looked back at Bill, “Will you stay with Jake while I get her calmed down?”
“Sure.” He turned and ushered Jake out of the room.
Richard sat Harriet on the commode and pulled a hand towel from the rack. As he wet it, she continued to tremble and cry. “I’m so sorry. I never saw him.”
“It’s okay, Honey. It’s not your fault. He came after you,” he soothed.
Richard began wiping away the blood from her arms when she suddenly pulled away. Harriet hissed, “Ooh, that hurt.”
Richard stared at her forearm and saw a nasty scratch along the inside of her arm. He looked up at her and met her gaze. “So, he scratched you?”
“I guess so,” she responded softly.
Richard smiled warmly and patted her arm. “It’s okay. We’ll get this disinfected and bandaged right up,” he said. He pulled down the bottle of hydrogen peroxide and poured a small amount across the scratch. She winced slightly as it foamed up. “Let it sit for just a moment, okay? I’ll be back to finish drying it and then we’ll bandage you all up, okay, sweetie?”
She smiled at him and nodded and Richard kissed her forehead as he got up. He walked into the bedroom and pulled his pistol out of his pants again. As he felt the heavy steel weapon in his hand he glanced back at the open bathroom door, then at the bedroom door. Richard sighed and turned to the dresser. Their wedding picture still sat there, encased forever in the sterling silver frame. He picked it up gently and ran a finger down her cheek.
“I’ll always love you,” he whispered.
Tucking the pistol back into his pants, Richard walked out the bedroom door and pulled it shut behind him. He strode into the living room like a man on a mission. “Bill!”
Bill came out of the kitchen with a piece of ham in his mouth. “Sorry, it looked too good to pass on.”
“Come here,” Richard said as he grasped the wide screen TV mounted to the wall. With a slight pull, the TV slid out and to the side. Behind it was a false wall with a fire safe. “I need you to do something for me.”
Bill watched him and got a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach. He knew it wasn’t the ham. “What are you doing, Richard?”
Richard pressed his thumb to the scanner then punched in the buttons and the door opened. “I need you to take Jake home to his dad, please.”
“Yeah, sure. As long as you come with me.”
“I can’t.” Richard pulled out a black leather satchel. “Harriet was scratched,” he said solemnly, his eyes never leaving his purpose. “She only has a few moments, so I need to work quickly. I’d like to maybe spend a little time with her before she…” he trailed off.
“Aww, hell,” Bill breathed. “We can wait. Maybe lock her up, come back for her later?”
“I’ve got bearer bonds, gold, cash…my Rolex.”
“What the hell are you doing?”
“This is my cash. For in case things go bad.” He continued to stuff the items into the bag. “I think things have gone bad, don’t you?”
“So, what are you doing?” Bill asked again.
“This is yours now,” Richard said. “All you have to do is get my grandson home, safe and sound.”
“No!” Bill grabbed Richard and spun him around. “I won’t do it. Not unless you come with me!”
Richard staggered with the spin, but kept a hand up to hold the leather bag in place. He met Bill’s stare and his jaw ticked.
