Lenny chuckled. “Can’t they all.”
“You talk like you got one. By the way, name’s Jackson. Moved in here nearly two months ago.”
“Yeah.” He nodded. “Heard. And, ah, like I said, name’s Lenny, and my missus is Gloria.”
“Just you two living there?”
His eye twitched. “Sure is.”
With my eyes covered by sunglasses, I glanced down at the window and I was sure to fucking Christ I saw fingers there for a second before disappearing.
“Your lady at home? Maybe I could meet her. She might know some other birds around here since it seems I won’t have this one for much longer.”
Lenny laughed. “Nah, brother, she ain’t home right now.”
Big blaring alarm bells rang through my head. I did see something; there were fingers in the tiny goddamn window. So whose were they?
“Too bad. Maybe another time.”
“Yeah. Sounds good.” He kicked at the ground. I started to turn when he questioned, “You work around here?”
“Just outta town. Mining.”
“Right, cool.” He nodded. “Guess I’ll see you around.”
I put out a fake, friendly smile. “Maybe, maybe not. The hours are crazy.”
He laughed. “Yeah, I heard that. I couldn’t do it.”
“You work?”
“Not right now.”
“Always a place at mining. We go through a lot of people.”
“Not for me, brother.” He grinned, sent a salute, and walked off to the front of his house.
It wasn’t until he was out of sight that a message came through.
Emmie:Please don’t call my name.
Ryan: Tell me you’re safe.
Emmie: I’m safe.
Ryan: Tell me it’s not you in that fucking basement.
Pressure shot to my chest when no reply came.
Ryan: I can get you out.
Emmie: No!
I clenched my jaw.
Ryan:Why the fuck not?
Emmie: I just can’t. Not yet.
