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s a gain st t h e r o om ’s o th er w in dow , w atc h in g m e c lo se ly . I ’m r estle ss t o n ig h t a n d, a s a lw ays, s h e c a n s e n se it .
The p la gu e h as h it th e L ak e s e cto r h ard . I n th e g lo w o f th e
Ju m boT ro n s, T ess a n d I c a n s e e th e s o ld ie rs a t th e e n d o f th e s tr eet a s th ey in sp ect e a ch
h om e, t h eir b la ck c a p es s h in y a n d w orn lo ose in t h e h ea t. E ach o f t h em w ea rs a g as m ask . S om etim es w hen t h ey e m erg e, t h ey m ark a h ou se b y p ain tin g
a b ig r ed
X on t h e f r o n t d oor. N o o n e e n te rs o r le a ves t h e h om e a fte r t h at— at le a st, n ot w hen a n yon e’s lo ok in g.
“S till d on ’t s e e t h em ?” T ess w his p ers. S had ow s c o n cea l h er e x p ressio n .
In a n a tte m pt t o d is tr a ct m yse lf , I ’m p ie cin g t o geth er a m ak esh if t s lin gsh ot o u t o f o ld P V C p ip es. “ T hey h aven ’t e a te n d in ner. T hey h aven ’t s a t d ow n
b y t h e t a b le in h ou rs.” I s h if t a n d s tr etc h o u t m y b ad k nee.
“M ayb e t h ey ’r e n ot h om e? ”
I s h oot T ess a n ir rit a te d g la n ce. S he’s tr y in g to c o n so le m e, b ut I ’m n ot in th e m ood . “ A la m p’s lit . L ook a t th ose c a n dle s. M om w ou ld n ev er w aste
c a n dle s if n o o n e w as h om e.”
Tess m oves c lo se r. “ W e s h ou ld le a ve t h e c it y f o r a c o u ple w eek s, y ea h ?” S he t r ie s t o k eep h er v oic e c a lm , b ut t h e f e a r is t h ere. “ S oon t h e p la gu e w ill
h ave b lo w n t h ro u gh , a n d y ou c a n c o m e b ack t o v is it . W e h ave m ore t h an e n ou gh m on ey f o r t w o t r a in t ic k ets .”
I s h ak e m y h ea d . “ O ne n ig h t a w eek , r em em ber? J u st le t m e c h eck u p o n t h em