Chapter 9
Anna
I burst in through the bedroom door to say, "I'm missing a hoodie. Have you seen it?"
My kid sister, Becka, who was sprawled across her lacy white bedspread, looked up. She'd been sketching in her notebook. She set it aside to ask, "You mean your pink one?"
I shook my head. "It wasn't pink. It was more…" I tried to think. "…grayish. And, uh, oversized."
"How oversized?"
Big enough to fit John Archer, who had to be at least six-foot-two and built like a brick, well, something.
But I didn't dare say it. So instead, I shrugged and replied, "Reallyoversized." Forcing some pep into my voice, I added, "That's the new look, you know."
Becka was three years younger than I was. She was still in junior high, and normally I'd never burden her with my problems. But she was the only person I could ask without raising suspicion.
I forced a smile. "So? Have you seen it?"
She shook her head. "Nope. Sorry."
My stomach sank. Late last night, after sneaking in through the side door of the garage, I'd put the hoodie straight into the trunk of my car, where it wouldn't be seen by anyone, well, until I returned it to John Archer, that is. And I'd been planning to dothatin secret.
But like an idiot, I hadn't checked this morning to make sure that the hoodie was still there.
Then again, I hadn't had a reason to.
Or so I thought.
Now, standing just inside the door to Becka's bedroom, I glanced over my shoulder toward the garage.Had Gordon seen me put the hoodie in the trunk?He definitely had a thing for hidden cameras, but I didn't know they extended to the garage area.
Or maybe he'd been watching from some hidden vantage point? Like from the back seat of one of his own vehicles?
Knowing Gordon, I could almost see it.
Becka's voice interrupted my thoughts. "You're not gonna barf, are you?"
I gave a little jump. "What? No. Of course not."
She gave me a dubious look. "Are you sure?"
"Of course I’m sure."Sort of.
But the truth was, Iwasfeeling a little sick to my stomach. Last night, I'd left the house for one stupid reason – to get away from Gordon and his little games. He'd been drunk – or maybe high on whatever. As far as the specifics, I didn't know, and I didn't care.
AllIknew was that when he had that look in his eye, things tended to getveryuncomfortable. Usually, I could deal with it, but last night, mom and Becka had been away on some overnight school field trip, and I'd been terrified at the thought of being alone with the guy that I was supposed to call Dad.
Oh sure, sneaking out had been a risk, but I'd done this sort of thing before. By the time morning came, he was usually back to his old self – creepy, but manageable. Plus, he had this convenient habit of forgetting much of whatever happened the night before.
That'swhat I'd been counting on, especially when he'd refused to let me spend the night at Mackenzie's.
There was a time not too long ago when I might've had Mackenzie over to spend the night at my place instead, to help keep him at a distance. But I gavethatup last summer when I discovered the nanny cam in the bedroom.
Mybedroom.
Oh sure, I'd yanked it out and tossed it in the trash. I'd even complained to my mom. But allshesaid was that Gordon was overprotective, and maybe I should appreciate having a dad who cared enough to keep an eye on me.
I shuddered at the thought.
