Big Daddy

The sound of shattering glass from outside froze us in place. Dream hurried to my side, and I kissed her hair and whispered close to her ear. “Get back down to the basement and lock yourself in.” I hurried to the door, and once I saw the all clear, I headed outside. There was a sound near the woods, and I turned to see a squirrel on a tree trunk.

I walked around the corner of the house to where the truck was parked, and at first everything seemed fine. But when I walked around to the passenger side, I found the window had been smashed out. Tiny squares of glass lay in the snow. I glanced over my shoulder, my gun pointing in the direction of my eyes, and then I made my way out into the tree line on the edge of the property after securing the entire area around my house.

Austin had found gum wrappers around back, and if I doubled back, maybe I could find where he was hiding.

I had hoped that Dream had stayed in the basement and knew that once she was in there, with the doors locked, that I couldn’t even get in there to her. She was safe, that was all that mattered.

I saw something shimmering in the distance, so I stopped, and upon further inspection, a car was parked in a small pipeline clearing near my property, which had no doubt been his access. I checked it out and found it empty but for a few dozen crumpled coffee cups and snack wrappers.

I decided I’d keep going, making my way around to the spot where Austin had spotted the gum wrapper, but that was empty too. I’d backtrack and lay wait.

After a while of not seeing anything, I headed back toward the house. A noise sounded from inside the cabin and I hurried over to make sure Dream hadn’t come out of the basement looking for me.

Footsteps sounded in the hallway, and I stepped quietly around the corner to see if, by some chance, Nick had gotten in when I wasn’t paying attention.

A noise behind me brought me and my gun around, and Dream’s eyes widened in fear as she saw the barrel pointing at her. I lowered the weapon immediately. “Why in the fuck aren’t you in the basement?”

“I was worried about you.”

“Thanks, but you should be worried about Nick. I want you to be safe in the basement in case he shows up. There’s no way he can get in there to you if you do as I say and lock the door behind you.”

“Did you find anything?”

“His car is parked a little way from here in the pipeline. That’s how he’s been getting so close. You can’t go outside; do you hear me?” She nodded. “He’s been at it a while. There were coffee cups and wrappers everywhere. I am going to go back out and wait until I see some movement. I’ll go into the shed and out the back door of it and slip into the woods so he can’t know I’m there. I want you to promise you’ll stay locked in the basement.”

“Don’t go now. Wait for Austin. I’ll feel better if it’s the two of you. You’ll have each other’s backs. Please.” She wrapped her arms around herself and stared at the floor as tears filled her eyes.

“Look, we had a little time with the weather and the tree down, but he’s bound to show up any minute. When he does, I want to know you’re safe. I can’t stand to think he could hurt you.”

“I can’t stand it if you got hurt too.”

“I’m trained for this shit, Dream.” I gave her a hug and then walked her to the basement door. “Go, and don’t come out until I tell you.”

She nodded and before I could turn away, her lips crushed to mine one final, desperate plea.

I hurried out front and then walked into my shed. The old back door was hardly used, but I knew I could sneak through and into the woods without being in any clear line of vision. I made my way down to where I could see the car and my house, and waited to see if he would return.

After a while of not seeing any movement, I decided to head back toward the shed and call Austin who should be getting close. I’d tell him to park on the road and meet me in the pipeline.

Before I could make it to the shed, my phone rang with Austin’s number glowing on my screen. “Hey, I’m out here in the trees by my house. I found his car. He’s using the pipeline.”

“I figured as much, which proves he’s kind of sloppy.”

“Yeah, he doesn’t care if we know he’s here, that’s why he called and let her know. He’s trying to intimidate her.”