Page 34 of Shadow Strike
Stubborn woman.
He walked to the entry, grabbed the shotgun, and opened the door to the stranger approaching the porch.“You’d best stop right there.”
The man, dressed in jeans and a hoodie, did.His hands were in his pockets, and he started to withdraw one.
CB racked the shotgun.
The man’s hand froze.“Just delivering a message,” he said.“It’s from your dad, CB.”
CB lowered the weapon.“Jimmy?What are you doing here?”
Jimmy Loftlin—a man who’d been tight with Wade and Ray for as long as CB could remember—stood on the sidewalk.His wife had always snuck CB and Ryder caramel candies when they were around.
He slowly removed a white piece of paper from his pocket.“You know Wade’s not good at using a phone much anymore.He told me to bring you this note, and to do it tonight.He’s in one of his…moods.”
CB heard Regan exhale hard behind him.He walked down the steps and took the paper.
“You should come by the campground next weekend,” Jimmy said.“Guys would love to see you.”
CB gripped the note tighter.“I’ll think about it.”
Jimmy turned and got back on his bike.It roared to life in the quiet summer night, and CB watched him ride away.
Back inside, Regan eyed the note.CB returned the shotgun to its place in the closet.Lucy and Desi came down from upstairs.
“What’s going on?”Lucy said.“Is everything all right?”
“Fine,” CB told her.“Sorry we woke you.”
She narrowed her eyes at him, glanced at Regan.“Don’t lie, young man.”
“It’s nothing, Mom,” Regan said.“A man dropped off a note for CB from his father.That’s all.”
“A note?It’s two in the morning.”
“My father doesn’t keep normal hours,” CB said.“He had a stroke a while back and gets things mixed up.”
The irritation was replaced by self-reproach.“I’m sorry.I’d heard about that.Must be rough.”
He waved it off.“I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
She glanced at the note.“Does he need you?”
CB dreaded reading the message, but knew neither of these women would let it go until they all knew what the note contained.He flipped it open and scanned it.He couldn’t stop the annoyed chuckle that escaped his lips.“It’s just a request for his favorite crackers.I usually bring him groceries on Thursdays.”
Lucy and Regan exchanged a look.It was technically Thursday.
“Don’t worry,” CB said.“I’ve already arranged for a delivery.I won’t be leaving my post.”
“If you need to see your father,” Lucy started.
Wade was more concerned about his crackers than seeing him, and CB knew it.“I’ll see him when this is over,” he promised her.“Don’t worry about it.He’s in good hands.”
Regan made a disbelieving snort.
Lucy hesitated, then nodded.“All right then.See you in the morning.”
CB stood in the hall.Regan brushed a hand over his arm.“Goodnight,” she said.
