Chapter 2 - THE MAN AT THE DOOR
The front door opened upstairs.
“Brenda?”
A man’s voice.
Deep.
Impatient.
Brenda backed away from the basement stairs.
Shawn grabbed the iron gate.
“Where’s the key?”
“I don’t have it.”
“Then who does?”
Brenda looked upstairs.
That was answer enough.
Shawn’s jaw tightened.
“Stay here.”
“Shawn, don’t.”
He climbed the stairs.
A tall man in a black winter coat stood in the living room.
Late thirties.
Broad shoulders.
Close-cut hair.
The kind of smile that looked friendly until you noticed the eyes.
Kyle Mercer.
Shawn remembered him.
Kyle had been two grades ahead of Brenda in school.
Always in trouble.
Fights.
Drunk driving.
Petty theft.
“You must be Shawn,” Kyle said.
“Where’s the key?”
Kyle’s expression didn’t change.
“What key?”
“The basement.”
Brenda rushed up behind Shawn.
“Kyle, he found them.”
For the first time, Kyle’s smile disappeared.
He slowly removed his gloves.
“You shouldn’t have come home without calling.”
Shawn stepped closer.
“You locked two elderly people in a basement.”
Kyle shrugged.
“They’re confused.”
“My father knew my name.”
“That doesn’t mean he’s well.”
“My mother’s heart medication is upstairs.”
“We take care of her medication.”
“We?”
Kyle looked at Brenda.
“She told you about us?”
“No.”
“Typical.”
Shawn took another step.
“Give me the key.”
Kyle laughed softly.
“I don’t think you understand what’s happening.”
“I understand enough.”
Kyle’s face hardened.
“Your parents signed documents giving Brenda power of attorney. They can’t manage their own affairs.”
“So you put them behind bars?”
“It’s temporary.”
“For how long?”
No answer.
Shawn pulled out his phone.
Kyle’s eyes narrowed.
“What are you doing?”
“Calling the sheriff.”
Kyle moved fast.
He slapped the phone from Shawn’s hand.
It hit the floor.
Shawn stared down at it.
Then at Kyle.
“That was a mistake.”
Kyle stepped closer.
“You come back after twelve years and suddenly you’re the hero?”
Shawn’s voice stayed low.
“I’m not a hero.”
“Good.”
“I’m the man standing between you and prison.”
Kyle swung first.
Shawn saw it coming.
He ducked, drove his shoulder into Kyle’s chest, and slammed him into the wall.
A picture frame crashed to the floor.
Brenda screamed.
Kyle grabbed Shawn’s coat and shoved him backward.
They hit the dining table.
Glass shattered.
Kyle raised his fist again.
Then Don shouted from below.
“STOP!”
Everyone froze.
His voice was weak, but it carried.
“There’s a gun.”
Shawn looked toward the basement.
Kyle’s face changed.
Don continued.
“He keeps it in the kitchen drawer.”
Kyle bolted.
Shawn moved after him.
Kyle reached the kitchen first.
He ripped open a drawer.
Shawn grabbed a wooden chair and threw it sideways.
The chair smashed into Kyle’s legs.
Kyle fell.
A handgun skidded across the tile.
Brenda screamed.
Shawn kicked it away.
Kyle lunged at him.
The two men hit the kitchen island hard.
Then blue lights flashed through the front window.
Everyone stopped.
Sirens.
Kyle stared at Brenda.
“You called them?”
Brenda shook her head.
“No!”
Someone pounded on the door.
“SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT!”
Shawn breathed hard.
Kyle’s face drained.
The front door opened.
Sheriff Daniel Ruiz entered with two deputies.
His hand rested near his holster.
“Everybody stay where you are.”
Shawn pointed toward the basement.
“My parents are locked downstairs.”
Ruiz stared at him.
“What?”
Kyle immediately raised his hands.
“Sheriff, there’s been a misunderstanding.”
Ruiz ignored him.
Two deputies went downstairs.
Seconds later, one shouted back.
“Sheriff!”
Ruiz’s face darkened.
“What?”
“You need to see this.”
Brenda began crying.
Kyle whispered something under his breath.
Shawn looked at him.
“What did you say?”
Kyle smiled.
“You think the basement is bad?”
Shawn’s stomach tightened.
May you like
Kyle leaned closer.
“Wait until they open your father’s safe.”
