Every Precious Thing

CHAPTER SIXTY-TWO

Logan’s phone buzzed. It was Pep.

“Someone just pulled into Alan’s driveway.”

Logan sat up. “Who? Paskota?”

“No. It looks like just one guy. Hold on. He’s getting out.”

Logan glanced out the window. They had just passed Victorville and were about to hit the Cajon Pass, putting them no more than forty minutes away from Riverside.

There was movement on the other end of the line.

“Logan?” It was Barney. “It’s Alan. He’s come back.”

“What? Are you sure?”

Both Sara and Diana looked at Logan, concerned by his outburst.

“I’m positive. The light came on in the garage after he drove in, so I got a quick look at his face.”

“What’s he doing there?”

Though Logan meant the question for himself, Barney seemed to think he wanted an answer. “You want us to find out?”

“What’s who doing where?” Sara asked.

Logan looked at her. “Alan. He’s at your house.”

“I thought he was supposed to leave. Where’s Emily?”

He had been wondering the same thing. “Is Emily with him?” he asked Barney.

“I…I don’t think so,” Barney said. “He drove into the garage, then just went straight into the house. Didn’t even look back into the car.”

Why was Alan there? Callie had assured Logan he was taking Emily someplace safe.

“Okay,” he said. “You need to get him out of the house and-”

More movement from the other end, and Pep came back on the line. “The others are coming back up the street.”

Dammit! Logan closed his eyes. This was exactly what he’d been trying to avoid.

“What is it?” Sara asked.

Ignoring her, Logan said, “Can you get to the house?”

“Not without being seen.”

No way could he send a retired doctor and a recuperating sixty-year-old vet into harm’s way. They wouldn’t have a chance. Not that Alan had much of one, either. “Is the garage door still open?”

“No. He closed it.”

“What about lights? Can you see any from the garage or the house?”

“No.”

“Okay, hold your position. If it looks like before, they shouldn’t stop.”

“Here’s hoping.”