Suzie’s House 527 : Voice of Reason

“What’s going on?” Suzie left the groceries on the kitchen counter to find out what had people stomping up and down the staircase.

“Vin is missing.” Drew opened the cabinet in the den and took out his holster. He slapped a hand on the empty thing, muttered under his breath about government permits and threw the holster back in the cabinet.

“What do you mean his missing? Isn’t he just at the store?”

“You know something about it?” Miranda whirled around so fast it was a miracle her six inch heels didn’t crack in half.

“Well, sure. He left… well, let’s see.” Suzie stared at the ceiling while she thought it through. “He said he would be at the store for most of the day. Something about a stakeout. That was right before I went out of groceries. So… a couple of hours? I went to Woodman’s. Help me bring the rest of the bags in.” She headed back for the kitchen.

“Where? Which store?” The two of them talked over each other as they followed her into the kitchen.

“What are you so worked up about? It’s not like he’s never stepped out of the house before. He’s just sitting in a parking lot.”

They gave each other dubious looks.

“Well, then call him.”

“It’s going straight to voicemail,” Drew answered.

“So maybe his battery…”

“You know, Suzie. It was a parking lot just like that for a case a lot like this when I got hooked on China Black.”

“And don’t forget the time Vin acted as decoy and got shot!” Miranda put in emphatically.

When they put it that way – when Suzie thought of all the ways things had gone wrong for her and her housemates – a cold frisson went down her back.

“Ben!” She leaned into the hallway. “Could you put the groceries away?”

“Yeah, Mom.” Her wonderful, dutiful son called back.

“Great! They’ll be in the driveway.” Turning to Drew and Miranda she said. “What are you standing there for? Let’s go check on him.”

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