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One

Boone

“If you don’t hear from me in twenty minutes, I’m probably dead”

My Audi roars as I hit the gas The sound drowns out my brother’s reaction to my statement—one I’m sure he’ll discount as dramatic

In all actuality, it probably is a little dramatic What are the odds that Ibecause a woman is at my house? I’d say that the odds are in my favor

I knock on the faux wood on the car door to be safe before hitting the gas again, enjoying the push back into the seat from the accelerator

Coy sighs “Are you done?”

“Done what?”

He sighs again

“Are you done?” I e tree branch in the street “My life is on the line here, and you act like you don’t care All you do is sigh”

“Oh, cut the shit,” he says, trying to hide a chuckle “Where are you going, anyway? Our whole fa back?”

I flip on nal and press the brakes “I don’t know Let’s see if I live”

My home, a riff on an Italian villa, looks no worse for the wear as I pull into the driveway I stop at the garage and hit the button to lift the door Then, just as quickly, I rethink ain

Ito end up fine, but why take unnecessary chances? There’s no need to ask for trouble Garages are where the serial killer hides and stabs you in the back as you get out of the car I’ve watched enough movies to know that

I take a deep breath and survey the area

The flower beds appear to be undisturbed There aren’t any cars that scream trouble parked in front of lass or faces peeking through the blinds No red flags whatsoever

Good, but weird

“Sarah, the lady that lives to the west ofinto o,” I say and slide out of the car

Coy laughs