Marc (Bowen Boys, #4)(23)

He’d worn them before, but this seemed more…scary. He hoped to Christ that the Thomases were home. He heard a small ding in his ear before Caitlynne spoke to them. The earpieces had been her idea to keep in contact with them.

“There are two people in the house. One in the kitchen and one in the upper room. Probably the bathroom, as it seems to be in the center of the house.” Marc heard the door in front of him open as Caitlynne continued. “I’m contacting Jonny now to get her ready to call if they need her to confirm you’re who you say. Stay with the program, guys, or they could be tipped off.”

He said “hello,” and the door slammed in their faces. He took in a slow breath and let it out as the moved to the next house. He had his clipboard ready, and when he knocked on the door, Dylan said he was ready. As soon as the door opened, Dylan touched the hand of the woman standing there.

“Hello, we’re in the neighborhood selling magazine subscriptions and wondered if you had a few moments that we could talk to you. Here is what we’re offering today.”

She took the clipboard just as who Marc assumed was John Thomas came down the stairs. Dylan put out his hand, and the man took it automatically. The woman paled when she read the note on the pad he’d handed her.

“May we come in?” She nodded at them and handed the clipboard to the man behind her. As soon as the door shut behind him and Dylan, Marc put his finger to his lips and handed them a second note. He took the first one that said, Jonny is safe and with us. She wants us to bring you to her. Let us in.

The second note was a little more detailed. Don’t say a word about what we’re doing here. We have a plan that will get you both out safely, but you have to trust us.

Mrs. Thomas, Erma, nodded and sat down. “What sort of magazines are you selling? I must confess….” Her voice stammered a little as she continued. “I must confess it’s been a long while since I’ve read one.”

Marc nodded. He handed her a notepad and pen. Dylan spoke to John as Marc talked to Erma. Both of them were doing a great job, and he thought he knew where Jonny got her integrity.

Is she all right? He nodded at the note. Those men came here two days ago. Are you with them? He shook his head and wrote his own note.

I’m her mate. Do you know what that means? Erma nodded. She’s safe at my brother’s house. Would you like to go there?

She nodded and wiped at her tears. He nodded and took the notepad from her. Pack only what you can’t live without. Once you’re both gone they will destroy whatever you left behind. Do you have a fireproof safe that you can store valuables in for now?

She nodded and pointed to the floor. She stood up and announced she was going to make some tea, would they like any per the script he’d handed her. Both he and Dylan told her yes. John watched his wife move up the stairs, and Marc handed him the note he’d given his wife.

While they were both upstairs, Dylan went to the kitchen and Marc sat in the living room reading the script. It was boring and long and told about each of the magazines that they were supposed to be selling. Dylan came in twice to read his part but for the most part Marc was alone while Dylan made noises in the kitchen like he was brewing up some tea. When the Thomases came down with three suitcases, he nodded for them to sit.

“Do you have any questions?” The last note he handed to John when he asked the two at the bottom of the paper. He looked up after reading it and smiled. The man was going to be just fine. Marc followed him into the kitchen, where he was going to hit him.

John braced himself against the counter. When he closed his eyes, Marc decided that this was by and far the hardest thing he’d ever done. Drawing back his fist, he hit the man and let him fall to the floor. As he tumbled forward, he grabbed onto the plates that had been on the counter and took them with him. Marc hurried back to the living room.

“John? Are you all right?” Erma went into the kitchen and screamed. She picked up her phone and Marc handed her the phone number. She screamed in the phone that her husband had fallen and he wasn’t breathing. Caitlynne, on the other end of the call, told her that they’d send an ambulance right away.

Five minutes later, their ambulance pulled up. Monica got out of the back, along with Walker, and Reed stood by the ambulance with the doors opened. And just like Caitlynne had said, every neighbor on the street came out to see what was going on.

When John was brought out of the house on a stretcher, Marc helped Erma into the back with her husband. In the cases that the “medics” loaded was everything they had packed. Walker was with John as Monica came out with the last of the equipment. Marc stood by, panicky, when one of the men from the car approached her.

“What happened? Is he dead?” She bumped against him and looked up at him. “He’s dead, and the woman might be having a heart attack too.”

Monica looked over at him and winked. She’d just made the man from the car believe that John was dead and that Erma might be close behind. He nearly laughed out loud, but just barely managed to stop it. When they drove off, the ding in his ear sounded.

“Now, if you and Dylan would be so kind, I’d very much be happy if you got the f*ck out of there before someone notices that you’re still hanging around. Simply walk to the next street over, and, if no one is following you, I’ll pick you up.”

“And if there is someone following us?” he asked her. He heard her laughter before she spoke.