CHAPTER SEVENTY-ONE
(part six)

Wednesday — 2:40 P.M.

Unsure of what to do, Sandy took the kids to the Castle. She knew they felt comfortable there and Delphie or Jill would take care of them. Sandy couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that Aden was going to do something stupid. She needed to find him.

Her sense of panic increased when Delphie met them at the gate. Jill was standing with Katy on her hip at the side door. The women pretended everything was cool until Noelle and Nash were settled in front of Monsters, Inc. in a sitting area off the main living room. Sarah, Scooter and Buster flopped on the floor around them. Doped up on pain medication, the kids zoned out to the movie.

“I’ll stay with the kids,” Delphie said. “But you need to go.”

“What’s going on?” Sandy whispered.

“Jake says Aden’s gone after your father,” Jill said. “Katy says you need some dragon thing from the Hargreaves house and…”

“Let’s go,” Sandy said.

~~~~~~~~
Wednesday — 2:40 P.M.

Aden wasn’t really sure what happened. When Noelle said the words ‘movie’ combined with the words ‘Sandy’s father,’ he only saw what he had to do. It was almost as if the words were a magic spell or triggered a natural cascade.

He felt a strange kind of calm. And a deep sense of rage.

Nothing would deter him. He might not be able to protect Noelle from a court ordered visitation. But he could protect her from this.

He had set the phone down, walked into Jake’s office to quit his job, and walked out of the building. Somewhere in his mind, he realized that driving a Lipson truck was dumb. But his rage shut down all logical thought.

At least Sandy had his kids. Whatever happened today, his kids would be safe. All kids would be safe from this monster after today.

When he and Sandy started dating, they had driven around to look at all the places they had lived. Aden took her to the street corner he panhandled, the vacant lot that once held the last known residence of his parents, and the variety of apartments and houses. Sandy showed him her mother’s house and, after much cajoling, her father’s home.

Pulling up to the curb in front of the Mayfair bungalow, he was glad he remembered where the asshole lived. Aden saw the curtain move.

The asshole was home.

~~~~~~~~

Wednesday — 2:55 P.M.

Jill pulled up in front of the large rooming house in South City Park. Alex Hargreaves and her identical twin Max were standing in their front yard. Alex opened the back of the Lexus to get in. Seeing Katy in her car seat, Alex leaned back and whistled. Colin Hargreaves and two other men came to the car.

“Hey Jill,” Max said. “Would you mind if Katy played with Paddie this afternoon?”

“She has a fever,” Jill said. “Blane has strep and we think Katy might have it.”

“Paddie’s been sick too,” Colin said. “Of course. He’s terribly bored. Katy will be a welcome distraction.”

“Mommy, can I play with Paddie??”

“Are you sure you don’t…?”

Katy was out of her car seat and into Colin’s arms. Jill got out of the driver’s seat to say good bye to Katy and the big guy who was Teddy Jakkman’s guardian got into the driver’s seat. Max and Alex got into the back of the car.

“Sorry Jill,” Alex took Katy’s car seat out of the back of the Lexus. “You better sit this one out.”

“But…” Jill said.

She watched the back of her Lexus SUV move down the street.

Denver Cereal continues next week….