“So what are we gonna do?”

I stood. “I’ll tell you tonight. But we’re getting him back.”

He started to say something, then stopped. “Okay. Whatever you say. I’ll be ready.”

“No one comes in the front door but me,” I said. “Anyone else tries, shoot them.”

“Done,” he said.

“I’ll be back in a few hours,” I said. I nodded toward the back of the house. “Stay close to her. Just reassure her. And let her know she’ll be safe in San Diego.”

“Okay,” he said.

“Be okay if she stays with you for awhile when you get there?” I said. “In San Diego?”

He smiled. “Yeah. That’d be okay.”

I smiled back. “Thought it would be.”

FORTY-FOUR

An hour later, I had confirmation that David had Jackson.

I took Alex’s car and drove back to David’s house, parking two blocks away. I got out and walked up the street and was a block away when I saw Red at the end of David’s driveway. I was three McMansions away when he headed toward me, the bulge of a gun on him visible even from that distance.

“Can’t let you go in, man,” he said, meeting me half way.

“That right?”

He nodded. “Yup. I ain’t got no issue with you, dude, but I ain’t working for you.”

“You like working for an asshole like Hanson?”

He shrugged. “It’s a job. If not him—I work for some other asshole. Know what I’m sayin’?”

I nodded. “Got it. You okay with him taking the kid?”

He glanced away from me and didn’t say anything.

“Yeah,” I said. “That’s what I thought. Takes a different kinda asshole to take a little kid, doesn’t it?”

His eyes shifted back to me and held mine.

“I mean, taking a kid’s a bit different then shaking down some junkie who owes or some mule that’s skimmed,” I said. “Special kinda asshole right there.”

Red’s mouth twitched.

“That’s the kinda asshole that’s gonna end up dead,” I said. “Soon. Be a shame for someone just pulling a job to go down with him.”

Red stared past me down the street before looking at me again. “Kid’s fine. Got chips and ice cream up there. I bought it myself. Played video games with him. He’s alright.”

“Oh, yeah, sounds way fucking better than, you know, being with his mom.”

“He ain’t gonna get hurt,” he said.

“Fucking A right he’s not,” I said. “He does, everybody in that house is dead. That’s a promise. Last thing you’ll see is me feeding you a gun. So you better pick a side. Fast.”

Red raised an eyebrow. “That right?”

I stared at him and nodded.

He tried to hold my gaze, but finally blinked. “Look, man. I work for Hanson. He wants his money. That’s it. He’s just trying to scare the girl, but he wants the money. Give him the money back and he’ll let the kid go.”

“And he’ll still be all over the girl’s ass,” I said, shaking my head. “This is going to end. All of it.”

“You sure you know who you’re messin’ with?”

“Hanson?” I asked.

He nodded.

“I’m not afraid of Hanson,” I said, smiling. “If he knew anything about me, he’d be afraid of me. Begging me to keep the money and tripping over himself to give the kid back.”  The smile died. “He has no idea about me. And neither do you.”

Red’s gaze wavered and he looked unsure of himself.

“All I wanna know is the kid’s gonna stay safe,” I said.

Red nodded. “He’ll be safe.”

“Okay,” I said. “And when I come calling, you can either get the fuck out of the way and we part friends. Or you can go down with the ship. Because I’m taking it down.”

“How you know I’m not gonna go back and tell him all this?” he asked.

“I really don’t give a shit if you do,” I said. “Either way, I’m coming. What you do is your choice. You were cool with me the other day so I’m returning the favor. Only thing I’m asking is that you keep the kid safe.”  I paused. “Because you don’t seem like that special kinda asshole.”

I turned and walked away before he could respond.

FORTY-FIVE

I drove back to Fort Walton and found Ike on the beach, soaking up the sun and guzzling water from a gallon jug.

“Thought I told you to take the day off,” he said, perched on a short beach chair that hovered just above the sand.

“I am,” I said. “But I need a couple things.”

“Alright.”

I glanced around to make sure no one was close by. “Couple of guns. Two at least, three would be better. At least one auto. Don’t care what it is. And I need them today.”

Ike shifted in his chair. “Don’t suppose I should ask why.”

“No. You shouldn’t.”

“Good rather than evil?”

“In the larger sense, absolutely.”

He nodded slowly. “Alright. I’ll see what I can do.”

“The other thing. I may be gone tomorrow.”

“Gone?” he asked. “As in gone gone?”

I nodded. “I told you this morning I wouldn’t just up and bail on you. You’ve absolutely saved my ass, Ike. In more ways than you know. I owe you. So it’s the least I can do. Good chance I won’t be around tomorrow.”

“I shouldn’t ask where you’re going, right?”

“I honestly don’t know,” I said.

“And I’ll assume this is tied to your need for guns?”

“Good assumption.”

He nodded and stared at the water. “You need anything?  To go, I mean?  You good with money?”

“I’m good,” I said. “You’ve overpaid me the entire time I’ve been here and I’ve barely spent a penny. I’m good. And, obviously, I’m paying for my order.”

He waved me off. “Kid, this is Florida. Guns aren’t exactly like buried treasure. Look in any trashcan and you’re likely to come out with one. Don’t worry about it.”

“If I owe you, I wanna know,” I said. “I’ll cover the cost.”

“And you need them today?”

“Yeah, as soon as you can get them to me. If I’m not home, just leave them there.”

He nodded. “I’ll make a couple calls. Gimme a couple hours.”

“That’s fine.”

He stared again at the water. “People were talking today. About some guy on the water this morning. Surfing like nobody’s business, doing things the tourists can’t do on a rental. Then he apparently passed out in the sand for awhile.”

My mouth curved into a small smile before I could stop it. “That right?”

“Yeah, but when they said he was good looking, figured it couldn’t have been you.”

I chuckled and nodded my head. “Right.”

He adjusted the sunglasses and pushed himself out of the chair. “First time I’ve ever heard you laugh.”

“I haven’t had much reason to lately.”

“Been there,” Ike said. “Whatever the reason is, I’m glad for you.”

I wasn’t sure there was a reason yet, but I appreciated his words. “Thanks.”

“I’m gonna make a couple calls and I’ll get you what you need,” he said, checking his watch. “And if you need anything else—today, tomorrow or whenever—you let me know.”

I held out my hand. “Thanks, Ike. For everything. You probably saved my life.”

We shook hands and his mouth twisted into a frown. “Don’t be so dramatic, kid. I ain’t capable of that kinda shit.”

“Yeah,” I said. “You are. You did. Thank you. I’ll find a way to repay you some day.”

“Get going before I start crying or something, alright?” he said. “You’ll have what you need soon.”

I walked up the dunes, hoping Ike was right. Not just about the guns, but about everything else, too.

FORTY-SIX

“I’ll go,” Bella said.

I was back at her house and she and Alex were at the dining room table, their chairs pulled close together. Her eyes were red and her shoulders sagged with exhaustion, but she spoke clearly.

“With Jackson,” she corrected. “I’ll go with Jackson.”

I looked at Alex and he nodded.

“Okay,” I said. “So you’re packed?  Ready?”

She shook her head. “He tried to get me to.”