He was about to leave when the sight of his big remote-controlled car gave him an idea. He took it and the remote with him, stole his father’s car keys from where they hung downstairs, and wrote a brief note to his parents.
I’m okay. Sorry for worrying you. I had to take Dad’s car. Don’t report it stolen. If an unknown number calls, it might be me. Pick up. Talk soon, I swear. Matt. P.S. Destroy this.
He put it inside the microwave and then exited the rear door carefully. Then he put the remote-controlled car on the ground, facing away from the house, and carefully exited the area the way he’d arrived. He went down two blocks, crossed the street, and then returned near his father’s car so that those watching the house wouldn’t see his approach. Once beside it, he fired up the remote and made the car move a few feet. From the house’s front, he could still see the white glow of the security light’s beam as the car triggered it. As Matt crouched down, the guys in the car got out and jogged toward the house, both holding up a gun that made Matt go cold. He waited until they were out of sight, got into his father’s car, turned it on, and backed up without the lights on. Electric cars had a significant advantage of being quiet and the men never seemed to hear it as he put the car in drive and crept away, turning on the headlights once far enough out of sight.
Ryan’s eyes adjusted to the dark night as he stood outside the family guest house, beside his car. Someone had shut both the trunk and door, which didn’t surprise him. They had been here. The house door was also closed. He went up to it, finding it locked. All the gear had been seen. The question was by whom. Daniel would likely have not said anything to anyone. Gardeners would have, especially given that he had been missing for days. Patting his pockets, he found his wallet and phone, but no car keys, which he’d been holding when he vanished.
He tried Anna, knowing she was at risk, but the phone just kept ringing and then went to voicemail. As he prepared to try for the third time, getting worried, the phone rang with an unfamiliar number, but he answered it.
“Yeah.”
“It’s Eric.”
After being filled in, Ryan said, “I can’t get Anna. Just keeps going to voicemail.”
“Can you get to her location?”
“I’m not sure. No car keys. I have to see if I can get into the house for the spares.”
“Okay. On the off chance that your car is known to police, maybe grab another.”
“Not sure it’s worth it, but sure. I mean, someone knows it’s here and may have told the police, so I don’t think they’d be looking for it, but maybe they are.”
“Call me back on this number when you find her.”
Ryan agreed and hung up. Then he went for his car just to see what was still inside it from the supplies he’d been unloading. The door was unlocked and a piece of paper sat on the front seat along with a house key. He picked them up.
Alarm is set for delay. Beware pigs.
Daniel, he realized, recognizing the handwriting. He owed his brother one. Now he knew who had been back here to see the gear.
He ran for the main house. His family always set the alarm overnight, but with it set for the 30-second delay, he could get inside and turn it off before it called the police. This was the usual approach when no one was home, but overnight, his family used the no-delay setting. Whether or not his parents were doing it, Daniel was making sure it was that way. Arriving at the door, he let himself in, turned off the alarm, and went for his room, quickly changing clothes before heading to the garage but being intercepted by his brother.
“Glad you’re back,” Daniel whispered from his wheelchair, pajamas bottoms below his bare torso. “Had a motion detection camera on, in case you’re wondering.”
Ryan felt relief to see him again, but no time for, well, anything. And Daniel was a little too smart sometimes, so the days of keeping him in the dark were not meant to last. “Yeah, listen. I owe you a huge favor, but I need you to trust me. I have to leave right now, and no one can know that I’m back. Cover for me and I swear I’ll tell you everything.”
Daniel’s eyes grew intense. “Okay. Do you need anything?”
“To find Anna.” He started for the garage again, Daniel following.
“Is she hurt?”
“I really hope not.”
They entered the six-car garage, Daniel rolling down a ramp, and Ryan went for the rack of car keys. He ignored the vehicles that would attract attention, like the red Lamborghini Countach, a silver Aston Martin convertible, and a yellow Ferrari 308 GTS.
“Take a bike?” Daniel suggested. “Faster and she’s been on the back if you
