Read Online Out of the Storm by Kevin V. Symmons - Free Book Online

Award, Ricky.” Louise shrugged.
    “She must have said something else,” Eric insisted. “Maybe when you left the room.”
    “Sure. It’s possible. All I know is when I was there Becky asked her questions to help her feel comfortable. You know, break-the-ice kind of things. How old she was, where she’d lived. That kind of stuff. Her eyes began to fill up, so Becky stopped. She shook her head and let it go.”
    Lu continued looking toward the small pond. “Don’t get too close, honey,” she warned again.
    “Promise I won’t.” Kylie took a step back and waved.
    Eric watched her come back to retrieve her stuffed friend. “She sure loves that stuffed animal.” He thought of things that might have been. What their child might have looked like. Would she have grown into one as sweet and beautiful as Kylie, laughing with a magical smile as she chased her dog around their yard?
    “She did say Ralph was a nice man.”
    The comment brought him back. “What?” He shook his head.
    “Your brother. Kylie said he was a good guy. Did nice things for her and Ashley.”
    “Really?” If Ralph was such a good guy, why were they here? For protection? And what about his phone call? Was that for real or something his brother had scripted to create a sense of fear?
    Eric jumped as his cell buzzed in the kitchen. He looked toward Kylie. “Let me see who that is. I’m expecting an important call.”
    By the time he got to his phone it had gone to voice mail. Eric looked at the number. It meant nothing, but he recognized the area code. The same as his brother’s—Virginia.
    “Can you keep an eye on Kylie?” he called through the open window. “This might be the call I was waiting for. I’d like to return it.”
    “Sure. Make your call.”
    Eric played the voice mail. “Eric, this is Lip. Call me back ASAP. We need to talk.”
    Eric hit re-dial and waited. The phone rang twice, then three times. “Hi,” it was a woman’s voice.
    “Jen?”
    “Oh my God. Ricky?”
    “Yep.”
    “Ron said he’d talked to you.”
    “How are you?” Eric asked.
    “More important, how are you, honey? We’ve been so worried about you…” Her words faded into awkward silence.
    “I’m okay. Thanks. Keeping busy with the marina. Trying to put the pieces back together.” He didn’t want to blow Jennifer off, but he needed his friend. “Is Lip around?”
    “Just ran in the shower. He’s umpping one of Mattie’s softball games in”—she paused—“about thirty-five minutes.”
    “Okay, don’t bother him. Just tell him I called.”
    “Will do, Eric. Now you take care and promise to get down here real soon for a visit.”
    “Sounds good, Jen.” Eric hung up. His friend called from home to avoid being monitored. He looked at his watch. Assuming Lip wouldn’t call with his daughter in the car, it would be two to three hours before they could talk.
    Eric walked through the kitchen to the back door. The sound of Kylie’s laughter in the backyard was catching. He smiled. When he went onto the porch he saw Lu chasing Kylie and Rusty around the ancient maple that stood between the house and the garage. Kylie held the teddy bear away from her pursuer.
    Eric ran down the stairs while Kylie looked back at Louise. Suddenly, the little girl ran into his arms. He hesitated, then picked her up. She stared at him, looking confused. When Eric swung her over his head, Kylie erupted, squealing with delight. Eric found himself facing her, bringing her close to him and squeezing her tightly as her tiny body rocked with the welcome sound of laughter.
    As Eric hugged Kylie, something caught his eye. The hidden van came alive, did a U-turn, and sped off toward the main road.
    When Kylie was upstairs in bed and Lu was watching a reality show, Eric got into his gym shorts and T-shirt and went to the basement. He unlocked the door that led to his private room. It had lain fallow for too long.
    The dehumidifier hummed as he flipped on the light