Every Precious Thing

CHAPTER SEVENTY — FIVE

Someone was approaching the car again. Harp had no idea what was going on, so he braced himself, preparing for the worst. The door next to Alan opened.

“You guys just going to stay there? Or are you coming out?”

It was Logan.

Without another thought, Harp pushed Alan out the back and crawled out after him, pausing only long enough to pick up the copy of Lost Horizon that had been pushed partway under the front passenger seat. The book had gone to war, come home with Len, hung around for another sixty-plus years, and it had been damaged more in the last few days than in any of that time before. It hurt him to see it so, but he was glad to be holding it again.

He was even gladder to see his son, and gave him a big hug.

“Not a lot of time right now, Dad,” Logan said.

Harp pulled back. “I thought you were still in Arizona.”

Logan ushered both of them onto the sidewalk. “I heard the real action was in Simi Valley.”

“Evening, Mr. Harper,” Pep said.

“Hey, Harp,” Dev chimed in.

“Dev. Pep,” Harp said, his surprise continuing. Then he noticed Markle’s body on the ground. “Is he dead?” He turned to his son. “Did you kill him?”

“What makes you think I did it?” Logan asked. He pointed at Dev.

“Still alive,” Dev said.

Alan shook himself, his eyes refocusing. He looked at Logan and Harp, then turned and headed for the house.

Logan reached out and grabbed him. “Where do you think you’re going?”

“They’re inside getting Emily. I’ve got to stop them.”

“They may be inside, but they’re not getting Emily.”

“What?”

“She’s not there.”

“Where is she?”

“With your sister and Sara.”

“Sara?” Alan all but shouted.

“Quiet!” Logan said. He pointed up the street. “I need you two to go get Barney. He’s in Dev’s Jeep around the corner. Dad, when you get there, call Callie. Tell her to call the Simi Valley Police and that FBI contact of hers she mentioned when she told us about Alan. Get them here now. Once you’ve done that, come back here and the three of you watch this guy. I don’t want him wandering off. But be careful. Don’t let anyone else see you.”

“What are you going to do?”

“What do you think?”

Harp frowned but said nothing.

“I’m coming with you,” Alan said.

“No, you’re not. You’ll get us killed.”

“I won’t.”

“You will. Trust me. Now get going!”

Harp grabbed Alan by the arm. “Come on. They know what they’re doing.”

Alan didn’t look happy, but he finally allowed himself to be led away.

When they reached the corner, Harp looked back. Logan and the others were gone.