Page 181 of Broken
Jacqueline typed a text. “I’m at your house. You’re not. Where’s my money???” She hit send.
No dots appeared.
Frustration tinged her mood. She should have figured Leslie wasn’t good for it. “Let her know I stopped by.”
Jacqueline was done. Initially, she believed her sister would pay her back, but now? No way. That money was gone, and she was done chasing it. Prescott said nothing as they made their way toward the front door.
“Hey, I’m leaving town,” Lou said. “Our manager booked us a tour, so I’m taking off, tomorrow.”
“For how long?” she asked.
“I’m a nomad. Gotta go where the gigs are. With any luck, we’ll open for another band right after this tour ends.”
“Who are you opening for?” she asked.
“Our manager said it’s someone good. He’s telling us tomorrow before we leave.”
“Good luck with that.” Jacqueline opened the door and stepped outside.
When Prescott exited, Lou shut the front door.
Prescott said nothing until he was backing out of the driveway. “I don’t like him.”
“Well, it’s not like you’ll ever see him again. He’s leaving, and I’m not going back over there. My sister’s never gonna pay me back.”
“He was hoping you’d show alone.”
“How do you know that?”
“I saw it on his face.”
“Well, I’m never alone because I’ve got anamazingbodyguard.”
“And I’ve got averyimportant client.”
She leaned over, kissed him. “Thank you for keeping me safe.”
He wrapped his hand around her thigh. “You can thank me later.”
“Oh, I plan to,” she replied.
Prescott drove into an older neighborhood with lovely homes and mature maple trees lining the streets. After pulling into a driveway, he killed the engine. “Ready for the mayhem?”
“Absolutely. I love Ethan and Loki’s energy.” She opened the liftgate. Instead of jumping down, Loki waited.
“Good boy.” She grasped the leash. “Loki, out.”
He hopped down.
Wagging his tail, he pulled her into the grass and started sniffing. One mini-pee later, and he was ready to head inside.
The two-story house was lived-in and comfortable. After hellos, she asked if his parents wanted her to put Loki out back.
“You can unleash him,” Prescott’s mom said. “He can run around with Ethan, if you can stay for a little while.”
In their large family room, Ethan showed her and Prescott all the fun toys and educational books his Nana and Papa had bought for him. “But,” he explained, “these are for here.”
“You got some fun stuff here, bud,” Prescott said.
