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I set it on the floor. “It’s my boyfriend. I have to answer.”
“No.”
The ringing stopped and then started again.
“If I don’t, he’ll call the security people to come check on me.” It was all I could think of.
Ernst nodded. “Okay. But put it on speaker. Get rid of him. One wrong word and I shoot the dog, then you.”
I answered it on speaker.
“I got the eggs,” Josh started. “Grapefruit juice, celery, and the tiramisu stuff, but I forgot what else you wanted.”
Ernst pointed the gun at Echo’s head.
“Shrimp was the other thing on the list,” I said. “And you can bring it all over at six, gotta go.” I hung up before he could respond.
Ernst moved back. “Smart girl.”
“What do you want from me?”
“I wanted you to not mess with my trees, and I want to talk to Lara.” He’d calmed a little now.
I stood slowly. “Shoot me if you must, but I have to bandage my dog if we’re waiting for her. The first aid supplies are in the pantry.”
He slid sideways and waved me in that direction with the gun.
I moved slowly and pulled the first aid kit from the bottom shelf of the pantry. I returned to Echo and wrapped my wounded dog’s neck to stop the bleeding. If Echo died, I’d fucking kill Ernst if it was the last thing I did.
Ernst paced again. “When will she be here?”
I trembled every time he waved the gun. I hoped Josh had understood the warning. I almost threw up realizing Josh could get shot if he walked in on this.
“I asked you a question.”
“I don’t know.”
“When?”
“I don’t fucking know,” I screamed.
I kept petting Echo and trying to remember my first aid. Was I supposed to get him some water or was that bad? At least thinking about that kept my mind off what my crazy step-uncle wanted with Lara. I had to keep her safe, but I had no way to warn her.
“What is wrong with you?” I asked.
Hyperventilating, he paced back and forth. “Everything would have been fine if you hadn’t pulled the tree.”
I added another bandage on top of the one already turning red from Echo’s blood.
“Lara shouldn’t have been poking around.” He was getting more agitated with every lap of the kitchen.
Talking. I had to get him talking to calm him down. “Why was Daddy’s hat out back?”
“Because that’s where I put him,” he yelled as the gun waved back and forth.
I couldn’t breathe as the realization hit me, and I didn’t dare ask the truly awful question.
Daddy didn’t ever go sailing without that hat, and Ernst had just said that’s where he put him, not putit.
