AllFreeNovel
Share Us
His voice is very soft.
“And if you’re thinking about reaching for your gun,” he says, “I already have it.”
From outside the bedroom door, I can hear Rip’s low growl. I want to do the same.
“Who are you?” I manage.
“We haven’t met,” he says. “I’m the prodigal son.”
FIFTY-ONE
MY FIRST THOUGHT?
I may be dying.
Just don’t let it be tonight.
“There’s no reason to be alarmed,” he says.
I remember Rob Jacobson once quoting me the late Joe Champi, about how anybody can get to anybody. Now Rob Jacobson’s son has gotten to me.
The room is dark enough that he’s just a shape standing next to the bed. I like it dark in here. Jimmy dog-sat for Rip, slept here when Dr. Ben and I decided last month to spend a night in the city, and called it the “cave of doom.”
“I just want to talk,” he says.
For the second time tonight I’m trying to get my breathing under control.
“Call and make an appointment,” I manage. “I’ll make sure to fit you in.”
I’ll be damned if I’m going to let him know how scared I really am.
I can’t see Eric Jacobson very well but can still hear Rip’s low growl from outside the bedroom door.
“Could you please let my dog in here? He’s worried about me, and too old to attack you, even if he wants to.”
“The dog’s fine,” Eric Jacobson says, “even if he did promise to keep quiet after I gave him the treats I brought with me.”
“You mean after you got in through one of my locked doors and managed to disable my alarm.”
“Alarms were always easy.” He chuckles. “Gazillion dollar–homes out here and alarms installed by amateurs.”
No need to tell him that Jimmy installed mine and that he is anything except an amateur.
“I’ll be sure to ask the alarm company to have my next bill adjusted.”
I’ve seen pictures of Eric, so even in the darkness I feel as if I have a visual. A younger version of his father. But you could always see a lot of Claire Jacobson in him, too.
“It must be pretty important if you choose this way to take a meeting with me.”
I slowly sit up, so my back is against the headboard now.
“Careful,” he says. “I’ve heard what a tough guy you think you are.”
“Somebody told me once that tough is the one with the gun.”
“You never know. Smart people do dumb things. My father thinks he’s smarter than everybody and look at the dumpster fire he’s made of his life.”
You’re the one not as smart as you think you are.
