Chapter 29 Had To Stay Sharp
HAD TO STAY SHARP
“Idon’t need a watchdog,” Rory said hours later when Clay pulled into his rented house to grab some clothes.
“Not saying you do, but someone wants you dead and you’re not a hundred percent. I don’t need my sister on my case if something happened to you on my watch.”
He snorted. He hadn’t been under anyone’s watch in years and wasn’t sure how he felt about it.
Since the day his sister died, he’d had to fend for himself.
His parents were only breathing humans in the house who rarely talked to each other unless it was to fight.
And look at him? Nah, his father would rather not, as if it was Rory’s fault it all happened.
He had needed no one else to make him feel worse than he already had.
To dump the weight and guilt on his shoulders that he could barely support. Not the best life for a teen dealing with his own grief.
Clay took the key from his hand and unlocked the door, then moved in with his gun out and looked around. The person would be stupid to come back again at this point.
“Maybe you should have played it up the guy succeeded and I could hide out on the farm,” Rory said.
“I suggested that, but Ford wouldn’t do it,” Clay said.
“Yeah, can’t catch him if he slithers back into the shadows.”
“He won’t stay there long,” Clay said. “Now that he’s come out, we’ll find him.”
“You or Ford?”
“Both,” Clay said. “He’s pushed too far. His reach hit this family now.”
Rory nodded, thankful they felt that way. Were they angry with him? He didn’t know and it wasn’t as if he could do much about it.
He only cared what Gale thought. The emotions she’d let loose only added more onto his overloaded plate.
At any other point in his life, or any other circumstance, he could focus on her more. But he had to stay sharp for what was happening.
Not just for himself and Rene, but Gale also.
“I didn’t want that to happen.”
“We can’t always control that shit.”
He went to his room and threw some clothes into a bag for a few days. He hadn’t decided how long he was going to be there, but he’d be prepared. If anyone came back, they’d see his stuff for now. It didn’t seem to him they were too interested in confronting him face to face.
“I think this guy is a coward,” Rory said. “Your thoughts?”
“Agreed, but why do you say that?”
“Because he’s been hiding for years. And now he’s scared and comes out, but everything he’s done is when no one is around.
He’s watching and waiting, then making his move when he thinks he can get away with it.
Do most criminals do that? Sure. But this is different.
It’s escalating, but he’s still keeping his distance at the same time.
Paper notes, breaking in and only going after paper again, then tampering with my brake lines. ”
Ford had said it was done here at his rental cabin. They’d seen some fluid that he hadn’t noticed. His guess was it was done last night, and since it had rained again before this morning, there were no footprints anywhere.
It gave them somewhat of a timeline. Maybe. He was in bed at midnight, but his bedroom was in the back, so he might not have heard anyone in the front, but the lights were on. The rain started around three.
It didn’t matter much and he wasn’t sure why he was fixated on that over other things. Or maybe it was his injured pride that this guy had gotten so close to him when he was right inside. Twice now.
“Anyone who preys on women and kids is a coward,” Clay said.
Rory picked up his bag and went to the bathroom, threw some things in there and walked out. Clay was looking around the living room. “I’m set. My laptop is in your truck.”
When they were back in Clay’s truck, Gale’s brother turned to him. “Does it bother you being this close to what happened to your sister?”
“Yeah. But not enough to give up. If this person thought that, they’re mistaken. Be honest, you would have come back long before me.”
Clay shrugged. “Doesn’t matter what I would or wouldn’t have done. I don’t know myself. But I know I wouldn’t rest until I had answers.”
“I’m not either. I can’t. I can’t leave here now without finding this person.”
“Is it only that or Gale that is keeping you here?”
“I don’t know. I want to say they are equal, but it’s hard to tell.” The frown on Clay’s face didn’t deter him. “You might not like knowing your sister isn’t first, but you understand that putting her first might put her at risk. I’m balancing that too.”
“Been there and done that,” Clay said. “We’ve got her back.”
“Then you’ll convince her to stay at the cabin next to you while I’m there?”
“I’ll be shocked if she stays more than tonight. She really hates the place.”
It made him wonder what he was getting himself into.
“I don’t need her ticked off at me for being there,” he said.
“She’ll get over it.”
They pulled onto the Ridgeway property, drove past the barn, the cafe, Gale’s parents’ house and a cluster of trees, then a ranch he was assuming was Clay’s, more trees and a dirt driveway that led to a small cabin. Rustic was an understatement.
Tiny, right up there with it.
“Who used to live here originally?” he asked.
“I think my grandparents started here before the ranch and then the farmhouse. Or it was a hunting cabin for guys since my grandmother didn’t care for many people in the house.”
He got out with Clay, grabbed his bag and went to the front door. There were sturdy locks and cameras on it. Gale had told him Reenie had stayed here last year and why, so at least he knew there were modern conveniences in it.
When the door was opened, he realized it wasn’t that bad. Older furniture, but not horrible. Bigger than a hotel room, had a functioning kitchen, even if it was aged, and it was clean, private and secure.
The last two being the most important things.
“Bedroom through that door, bath just past the kitchen.”
He moved to the room and put his bag on the bed, then popped his head into the bathroom. His aches and pains were catching up with him and he knew damn well the minute he sat or lay down he’d stiffen up fast, but staying upright wasn’t easy either.
“This is great,” he said. “Like a mountain retreat.”
“Tell that to my sister. All us boys lived here for a few years. We didn’t have any issues with it.”
“She told me it’s because of critters,” he said, laughing.
“She’s lying,” Clay said. “It’s the lack of space for her clothing and the fact that it’s not shiny and pretty enough for her. I’ve got the internet back on for you. Stay as long as you want. We mean it.”
“Thanks,” he said. He turned when the front door opened, and in came Brooke.
“I’ll bring dinner for you tonight, but here is some other food.”
Clay took the box from his mother.
“Thanks,” Rory said. “You didn’t need to go out of your way. Gale was going to bring a few things.”
“I let her know dinner was taken care of. I put together a few sandwiches from the cafe, as I’m sure you haven’t eaten lunch.”
It was close to two and he was starving, along with the aspirin wearing off. He might have had an unwanted nap earlier, but wouldn’t mind another.
“I appreciate it. All of you for everything.”
“Don’t thank us,” Brooke said. “Just find that bastard.”
Brooke left after that statement. He looked at Clay. “Damn.”
“She’s a tough one. My father is strong, but she’s the rock.”
“I think your sister takes after her,” he said.
“Definitely. If you need anything, let me know.” Clay pulled his phone out. “I just texted you the Wi-Fi password.”
“Thanks again.”
Clay left and Rory went into the box of food. He found a sandwich, pulled it out and unwrapped it, then opened a bottle of water. There was a bottle of Motrin in there for him too. They thought of everything.
It was nice to have someone take care of him.
Which reminded him of his mother.
Should he call her? He didn’t want to worry her but didn’t like keeping it from her either.
Since he had little more than some glue on a minor cut above his left eye and a body full of aches, it might be best to keep her in the dark...for now.
What the hell? Did Rory have nine lives?
His sister had gone down easy enough. Too easy. He never said her name and couldn’t. Even now, the memory festered under his skin. What he’d been forced to do. What had come clawing out of him that night and made him lose control.
It had only stirred once more after that, a flicker of the same dark urge, but he’d strangled it back down and buried it with the promise he’d never let it loose again.
It was only to tie up that loose end. To ask a question, not even give a warning.
What happened after was a mistake. He hadn’t caused it.
Nope. He was only talking. It wasn’t his fault John fell down those stairs backing away from him.
The memory of what he’d done to that girl was punishment enough. He carried it with him like a scar, and the symbol he kept as a warning never to do it again.
But here he was. Again.
The fear twisted his gut. Because he knew what it meant, that if they kept pushing, if they wouldn’t stop, he might have to cross that line.
He might have to get violent. Really violent because Rory was bigger than that girl. Stronger, smarter. And he’d sworn he wouldn’t. Sworn he’d never step back into that place where the shadows ruled him.
And yet… he was already lying to himself and pretending he could make this go away with just a few letters or a warning.
Nope, didn’t work.
But there was still one more thing he could do. One last message he could send.
And maybe then Rory would finally understand that he meant business and leave.