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“Gosh, high school seems like forever ago.”
Feels like yesterday.
Linnea looked up from his shoulder. “Can we go by Catherine’s old house?”
Jesus, why?
It didn’t look how he remembered it. No longer weathered and dreary, whoever lived here had painted it a sunny yellow. Planted flowers. Children were playing on the front lawn.
“It looks happy here now.” Turning to him, his sister smiled. “I’m glad.”
Kodiak smiled too. “Dilly Bar?”
“Yeah.”
They were still smiling, licking chocolate-coated ice cream from a stick, as he pulled the Tahoe into the driveway. Until they saw Jeremy on the porch, that is. He stood there, hands on his waist, surveying the place like he already owned it.
Kodiak got Charlotte out of her car seat. “Don’t worry. I’ll get rid of him.”
“Seth.” He acted as if Linnea wasn’t standing right here beside him. “I’ve come to see about Pastor. The hospital won’t tell me anything.”
They can’t. And besides, he’s not there anymore.
Kodiak just smirked.
“It’s, um, time for her nap.” Throwing a look at Jeremy, his sister took the baby. “I’m going to lay her down.”
“You do that, little one.” Holding Linnea to his chest, he kissed the top of her head. “I’ll only be a minute.”
She nodded, and after a fleeting backward glance, went inside the house.
Folding his arms across his chest, Kodiak stared Jeremy down. Time to put this punk in his place. “What?”
“I’m sure you can understand my concern.” Displaying no emotion, he spoke without inflection, “How is Pastor?”
“Seeing his granddaughter had him in good spirits this morning.”
“I need to speak with him.”
Yeah, I bet you do.
“He should be coming home in a few days.”
It wasn’t a lie.
The muscles in Jeremy’s face didn’t so much as twitch. Kodiak couldn’t tell whether he was relieved or disappointed with the news. He listened to his gut, and something wasn’t right here. Holding this kid off would give them more time to prepare for whatever was coming. He just wasn’t sure what that was.
“Good.” Resembling a creepy Howdy Doody doll, he smiled. Sort of. “Then I’ll be going.”
“One more thing.”
Jeremy turned back around.
“I won’t stand for you disrespecting Linnea, understood?”
“She doesn’t exist to me.” He lifted his chin. “Yet I pray for her soul. I can’t abide a murderess.”
He tried to hold it in, but he couldn’t. He burst out laughing.
