Strangers by Crystal V. Rhodes

Author:Crystal V. Rhodes
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: african american, fiction romantic suspense
Publisher: Crystal V. Rhodes

CHAPTER 16

Ray watched as Dana and James went around the side of the house where Sin had disappeared earlier. The neighborhood was beginning to come alive, and he was ready to go. A man and woman next door to Andy’s house came out of their home, got into their car and drove away. They seemed mildly curious about Ray sitting in the car across the street, but hadn’t acknowledged his presence as they drove by. A short while later a teenage boy came out of the same house. He walked in the opposite direction and never looked at the car parked across the street—so much for curious neighbors.

The car was parked in front of an empty lot that once held a home. The crumbled front steps were still visible among the weeds and trash. Another empty lot was next to that one. Two lots down was another occupied house. He turned back to Andy’s house with the thought that at least privacy shouldn’t be an issue for him.

It was then that he noticed Dana rushing back around the front of the house. The look on her face propelled Ray out of the car and across the street. She met him at the sidewalk and threw herself into his arms. She was shaking.

“He’s dead!” She shrieked.

Ray loosened his grip on her and stepped back, holding her at arms length.

“What are you talking about? Who’s dead?”

“In there!” Dana pointed toward the house.

Ray looked to see James coming around the corner of the house. He was on his cell phone and he looked grim.

“What happened?” Ray looked anxious.

Putting his phone away, James folded a still trembling Dana into his arms before addressing Ray.

“Somebody beat and tortured the guy inside the house. If that’s Andy Vegas in there it doesn’t look good.”

Stunned, Ray’s jaw dropped. “Dana said that he’s was dead.”

“Close to it,” James tightened his hold on Dana. “I called 9-1-1. An ambulance is on its way.”

“You mean he’s alive?” Dana sounded hopeful.

James nodded. “Sin’s with him. I came out to see about you.”

Still uncertain about what was happening; Ray took a shaky breath and decided to see for himself. He started around the house.

“Don’t touch anything,” James called out to him. He took a thin pair of plastic gloves from his jacket pocket. “Use these.” He ordered with no further explanation.

Ray took it from him and James returned to comforting Dana.

Entering the opened back door, Ray found it was dim inside the house. The only light emitted was filtering through the closed kitchen curtains. Inside appeared to be smaller than the outside. The place was hot and stuffy and it smelled like fried food. Ray’s stomach roiled. The distance between the kitchen and the cluttered living room was only a few steps.

“Sinclair?” he called cautiously. There was no sign of him.

“In here,” a voice called to Ray’s left.

He followed the sound, turning into a short hallway. Straight ahead was a bedroom with an unmade bed that looked as though it was blocking the doorway.

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