Chapter Twenty-Six
When Jenna’s mind worked again, she realized Roadkill had pulled her to lie on top of him. She immediately rolled off, hyper aware of her weight and that she was probably making it difficult for him to breathe.
“Where you going, darlin’?”
“I need to use the restroom.”
“Right there.” He motioned with one hand. She didn’t say she knew where it was but snagged her clothes, the ones she could find, and headed in the little room.
After using the facilities and cleaning up a little, she pulled on her clothes. Jenna hadn’t been able to find her panties, but she pulled her jeans on anyway, wincing at the way they rubbed against her sensitive bits, she went back into Roadkill’s bedroom.
She found him sitting on the edge of the bed in his jeans.
“Lose something?” He held up one hand with her underwear dangling off one finger.
“There they are. Yes I’m missing them.” She snatched them off his finger and glanced at the bathroom door.
“Put them on. I can’t imagine it’s comfortable without them. I know it chafes when I go without.” He tilted his head toward the restroom. She wanted to ask how often he went commando, but ducked back into the restroom and put her panties back on instead.
By the time she emerged again, he’d pulled on his boots and was standing near the recliner, pulling his shirt over his head.
“I’d love to spend all night in bed with you, but I know you won’t want to leave Lacey alone all night,” he said before sitting on the edge of the bed. “And I know you’re not ready to have me spend the night there, so I’ll take you home. Can I see you tomorrow?”
She looked around for her boots, found them, and sat on the recliner to pull them on.
“Sure. I was planning to go by the gym tomorrow, if I can find a ride. I might even dig Lacey’s old bicycle out of the shed and ride that over. I haven’t had the time or the energy all week.”
“I’d be happy to see you, but if you need a ride, call. I’ll either come get you or send one of the prospects with a truck.”
She didn’t respond but focused on getting her boots on. When they were both fully dressed, he took her home. Taking his pickup because he thought she’d more comfortable in it, besides, it was only a couple of miles.
Jenna knew something was wrong as soon as they pulled into the yard. Every light in the house was on, and the door stood wide open. Lacey wouldn’t have done that. Jenna didn’t wait for the truck to stop before she bailed out and headed for the door at a run.
“Stop.”
She heard Roadkill but ignored him. Something had happened to Lacey and she had to find out what. She flew up the stairs and inside. Where she froze.
The trailer was trashed. The sofa slashed, with stuffing pulled out. It looked like every dish in the cabinet had been thrown on the floor and shattered.
“Lacey?” she called, hoping her sister was just hiding.
“Stay here. I’ll check the place. Call Papa Smurf.” Roadkill eased her to one side and stepped past her. And disappeared down the short hall that led to the bathroom and her bedroom.
Jenna stared at the destroyed room, blinking for several seconds.
“Nothing in the bathroom,” Roadkill’s voice called, dragging her back to the present.
Remembering him telling her to call for help, she pulled out the phone and dialed her new boss.
“What’s up, girl? I thought you were out with Roadkill,” the old man said as he picked up.
“I was, I’m home now. Someone broke in.” She knew her voice was flat, as if she didn’t care. She wasn’t sure what was wrong with her. “I think Lacey’s missing.”
“Give me your address,” Papa Smurf said, his voice turning hard.
She recited the address without thinking.
“We’ll be there in a minute.”
The line went dead as Roadkill came back into the room.
She looked at him, hopeful, but he just shook his head as he crossed the room.
It wasn’t until he passed in front of her on his way to check the other room, the one she stood beside the doorway to that she saw he had a pistol in his hand.
She blinked and wondered where that had come from.
Her eyes scanned the room looking for anything new, anything that hadn’t been there before, in the remains of what little she and her sister had owned.
Roadkill had just stepped out of Lacey’s room when she spotted a single piece of white paper sitting on the kitchen counter as if the rest of the room didn’t look like a tornado had swept through.
She took the few steps to the counter, picked it up and read it. The words were printed in the middle of the page.
**TEXT BOX**
See what happens when a bitch can’t keep her mouth shut. Consider the girl dead. Or you’ll be next.
There was no signature and since it had been printed, no chance of recognizing anyone’s handwriting, which was probably why it had been printed.
“I take it that wasn’t here when you left?” Roadkill said from behind her.
“No.”
“Who’d you piss off recently?” he asked.
Jenna shrugged. She couldn’t think of anyone she’d encountered, anyone who would do this. Who would take her sister and why?
She stood staring at the paper, her mind gone blank.