Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 29741 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 149(@200wpm)___ 119(@250wpm)___ 99(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 29741 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 149(@200wpm)___ 119(@250wpm)___ 99(@300wpm)
Ink paced back and forth through the living room. Bandit kept pace with him.
He knew that Zippy’s foster father was an asshole. When they’d been given a chance to foster her, her caseworker had explained that Zippy had threatened her former foster father with a knife.
She’d also said they didn’t have to take her if they felt threatened or in danger.
Jesus.
Any idiot could tell that there was more to the story. But Zippy was pretty tight-lipped.
However, something awful had to have happened for Zippy to threaten him like that.
It made Ink feel ill.
Which is why he’d asked an old friend to keep an eye on her ex-foster father, Leon.
“What about the wife?” Ink asked.
Isaiah had tried to approach her without the husband around, but she wouldn’t speak to him. And Zippy barely said anything about her.
“Well, she was on the camera feed. I saw her drive out of the garage yesterday morning. I checked through the closets, all of her clothes are gone.”
“Do you think he’s with her? She might have picked him up somewhere.”
“Could be. But his clothing is still in the closet.”
“Fuck.” Was the bastard coming for Zippy? Fear filled Ink. They’d only just gotten her. He wasn’t going to fail to protect her.
“Just be careful with your girls,” Isaiah told him. “This guy seems like a real piece of work. He holds down a good job, has friends who think he’s great, neighbors who speak highly of him, but his wife jumps at any loud noises and has haunted eyes.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll keep a close eye on them. Just do me a favor and keep that camera there, recording. And tell me if he comes back?”
“You got it. Tell me if you need me for anything else.”
“Thanks, Isaiah.” He ended the call and looked over at the clock. It was just after eight. Betsy had texted him to say that she was taking Zippy Christmas shopping and they’d have dinner out.
“They should be home by now, Bandit,” he grumbled.
The dog sat and stared up at him, his head to one side. Reaching down, Ink patted his head.
The door opened and the boys walked in. Well, Royal walked. Baron ran, talking wildly and gesturing. Bandit greeted them both enthusiastically.
“Yo, Pops, what’s happening?” Baron asked.
“Evening,” Royal said with a drawl.
“Why do you look all pinched?” Baron asked, walking closer to him. “Like you’ve smelled something bad.”
“Perhaps he has,” Royal said, dropping the bag he was carrying on the floor and leaning against the wall of the living room.
“Yeah. Or he could be constipated. That’s a constipated face right there,” Baron said. “Is there anything to eat? Where’re Ma and Zippy?”
Ink sighed. These two. They’d seriously given him a number of gray hairs since he’d first met them.
And there were likely many more to come.
“They went Christmas shopping,” Ink said. “I’m going to call them. They’re late.”
“It’s only eight,” Royal pointed out.
“And it’s not a school night,” Baron added as he walked into the kitchen to open the fridge. “Give them some time together. Although, I hope they’re bringing home food.”
“What’s going on?” Royal asked as Ink drew out his phone. “You’re more tense than usual.”
“And you’re usually really tense,” Baron added as he walked over, eating a huge hunk of cheese. “Like, if we stuck a pin in you, you’d pop!”
Ink sighed. Did he tell them? For all their joking around, they were good guys. Smart and resourceful and protective.
If also reckless, somewhat crazy, and bottomless pits. He eyed Baron as he grabbed an apple and banana and started to eat them.
At the same time.
“All right, sit down. I need to tell you something. But I have to text Betsy first and find out how long she’s going to be.”
And to check that everything was all right.
Both Baron and Royal sat. Royal was sitting up straight in an armchair while Baron sprawled across the couch. Bandit jumped up with him, lying on top of him.
They might look identical but their personalities were very different.
Ink: Baby, where are you?
Betsy: On my way home.
Ink frowned.
Ink: You better not be texting and driving, little girl.
No answer back. Oh, she was going to be in big trouble when she got home if that was the case.
“What’s wrong?” Royal asked.
Ink put his phone down. “Zippy’s foster father has gone missing.”
The boys shared a look. “Has he?”
Both of them said that at the same time.
“Yes.” He eyed them suspiciously. “You didn’t have anything to do with that, did you?”
Both of them held up their hands in gestures of innocence.
“It wasn’t us,” Royal said.
“Although we were contemplating ways we could make him disappear. For good.” Baron gave him a wolfish grin.
Ink sighed.
Christ. He was going to have a full head of gray hair by the new year.
“What are you worried about?” Royal sat forward. “Wait. Are you worried about Zippy?”