Traffic (Complete two-hundred pages) (Moving to Kindle Vella in 30 Days! )

12

STRANGER

ALMOST REGRETFUL, Mr. Golem shook his hand. "The pleasure's all mine." He nodded. "You have a lovely home."

Quickly Katelyn said, "Thank you," but Jack was quick to bite back:

"Her dad bought it." Jack lowered his eyes and Katelyn knew somehow he knew she had lied about her history knowing Mr. "Wolfenstein."

Addressing to Jack, Mr. Golem said in a stern tone, "You wouldn't happen to be leaving to the airport at this very instant would you?" His eyes proved that he was not asking a question, but rather giving Jack an order.

Katelyn did not understand. "What kind of question is that? Today is our daughter Elise's birthday. My husband has no reason to go to the airport."

As though he could not hear his wife, Jack answered, "Now would be a peculiar time to take a vacation."

Mr. Golem's face did not move. "I think now's the perfect time, Mr. Dantes."

Jack licked his lips because suddenly they were dry and cold. He looked to his wife nervously and then back again at Mr. Golem. He could not deny an order from his superior. No matter the circumstance. Even his daughter's third birthday party. The best he could do was leaave quietly, sort out this mess concerning suspicion of his causing the accident that killed Penelope and hopefully come back home before his daughter's bedtime. "I would have to find my passport before I can think about leaving," Jack said.

Mr. Golem agreed. "Then you better find it."

That second was tense. And at that moment Jack looked over Mr. Golem's shoulder and spotted a stranger in the crowd. A man he did not know talking in a group of people suddenly lifted his eyes to spot Jack and send him a message. We've got our eyes on you, Jack.

Mr. Golem had not come alone.

Jack's eyes panned to the other corner of the room, and this time, another stranger in the crowd looked up at him. The man locked eyes with Jack for as long as it took to make sure Jack got the message.

Jack returned his attention to Mr. Golem. Jack nodded. And suddenly took a step back to the stairs.

Katelyn looked horrified, as though seeing Mr. Golem hypnotize her husband. "What's going on," she whispered to "Jacob Wolfenstein." But Jack could not hear her and hurried up the steps toward his room. He ran across the hall and into the master bedroom.

He shut the door.