Part 31 (1/2)

'As it is, Harrison threatened to call the cops on us. I'm not sure he has the guts to go through with it, though.'

She looked down at Melanie. 'Did you actually hear him admit to hitting Dad with the car?'

'Yes.'

'What about Joyce?'

'She was in on it. They did it together, just like I thought.'

CHAPTER NINETEEN.

Pen finished packing and waited in the living room. Bodie came down a few minutes later, carrying luggage. Melanie was behind him. She had washed the blood from her face and changed into a clean white blouse. 'Can we stay with you?' Melanie asked.

'Of course,' Pen said. She looked at Bodie. 'Are you sure you shouldn't drive back tonight?'

'Wella'

'I'm not eager to get rid of you, but if Harrison presses charges you'd be better off out of state.'

'He won't press charges,' Melanie said. 'He knows we'd tell everything.'

'It probably would be better,' Bodie admitted, 'to get a good night's sleep before starting out. We'll leave first thing in the morning.'

'Fine.'

Not fine, Pen thought. She didn't want them to leave at all. But she'd known they couldn't stay long. Starting tomorrow, they would both be missing school and Bodie had cla.s.ses to teach. Also, it was best that they go back as soon as possible before Melanie got a chance to make more trouble.

She was surprised, however, by Melanie's apparent willingness to return in the morning.

We'd better watch her, she thought.

'I'll stop by a fast-food place,' Bodie said, 'and get us all some supper.'

'There's a Jack-in-the-Boxa'

He nodded. 'I saw it. What would you like?'

'Tacos would be fine. They've got great tacos.' Outside, Pen hesitated in front of the door. 'I wonder if we should leave the house keys.'

'Screw that,' Melanie said. 'It's still Dad's house. Joyce doesn't have any right to be kicking us out.'

'I suppose not.'

Melanie went with Bodie to his van. Pen climbed into her car and followed them out to San Vicente.

Driving back to her apartment, she wondered if Melanie would change her mind about leaving in the morning. It hardly seemed possible that she would abandon her hopes of nailing Joyce and Harrison, especially now that she'd apparently heard them admit their guilt.

She must have a plan. Maybe she intends to sneak out, tonight. And do what? G.o.d only knows. She'd been crazy enough to hide in Harrison 's house - and attack Joyce.

We'd just better make d.a.m.n sure she doesn't get away from us. Even if it means staying awake all night.

When Pen parked in front of her apartment building, she considered waiting in her car for them to show up. The stop for food should only take them five minutes.

Don't be a chicken, she told herself. If you're not going to move out - and that was the whole point of buying the shotgun - you'd better get used to the place again.

He took my panties. He was here this afternoon. Maybe he's a tenant like Manny.

But not Manny. Someone else.

I can't go on living here, she realized.

Nor could she move out of her car seat.

It'll be all right with Bodie here.

Tomorrow, I'll find a new place. I'll stay in a motel for as long asa Tomorrow, Bodie will be gone.

He has to go. He has to get Melanie away from all this.

I wouldn't mind getting away from all this, myself.

I can't go anywhere, though. Not while Dad's the way he is.

Should call the hospital. Maybe go over there tonight.

What if Joyce is there?

We have to do something about those two. They can't get away with it.

I could go to the police tomorrow and tell them everything. If they focus their investigation on Harrison , they might turn something up. I'll do that. Unless they show up here, first, to arrest Melanie and Bodie.

At least we got her out of Harrison 's house in one piece.

Bodie was right, we should've left her there. She probably would've managed to sneak out on her own with n.o.body the wiser.

Or maybe not.

They might've caught her. G.o.d only knows what Harrison would've done.

It was the right move.

What's their next move? They know the three of us are onto them. What'll they do about it? Maybe nothing.

Harrison's an attorney, he knows we haven't got any evidence.