The Neighbor by Lisa Gardner

Author:Lisa Gardner
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, azw3
ISBN: 9780553906639
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 2009-12-12T23:00:00+00:00

| CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE |

Jason swiftly unlocked the front door and thrust Mr. Smith inside. He put his hand on Ree’s shoulder. “Inside.”

“But Daddy—”

“Inside. Now. The cat needs dinner.”

Ree’s eyes widened, but she recognized his tone, and did as she was told. As she stepped into the house, Jason shut the door behind her, locked it again, and turned to the white-haired man.

“Get off my property.”

The newcomer tilted his head to the side, appearing puzzled. Jason had met Sandy’s father only once before, and he was struck now, as he was struck then, by the man’s crinkling blue eyes and bright, flashing smile. “Now, Jason, is that any way to greet your father-in-law?”

Max extended a friendly hand. Jason ignored it, stating firmly, “Get off my property, or I will have you arrested.”

Max didn’t move. His expression fell, however. He twisted his hat in his hands, seeming to debate his options. “Where’s your wife, son?” the judge asked at last, his tone appropriately somber.

“I will count to five,” Jason said. “One—”

“Heard she’s been missing for over a day. Saw it on the news and skedaddled straight for the airport.”

“Two.”

“That my granddaughter? She’s got her grandmother’s eyes, she does. Beautiful little girl. Shame no one thought to call me about her birth. I know Sandra and I have had our differences, but I can’t think of anything I did that deserves not knowing about such a sweet child.”

“Three.”

“I’m here to help, son. Truly. I may be an old man, but I have some fight in me left.”

“Four.”

Max’s gaze grew narrower, more appraising. “You kill my only daughter, Jason Jones? Because if it turns out you harmed my Sandra, hurt one little hair on her head—”

“Five.”

Jason stepped off the porch. Max didn’t follow him right away. Jason was not surprised. According to Sandra, her father lived as the proverbial big fish in a little pond. He was a highly respected judge, an affable Southern gentleman. People instinctively trusted him, which is why no one had ever intervened to help his only daughter even as her mother poured bleach down her throat.

The reporters saw his approach, and optimistically stuck their microphones into the air, screaming louder.

“Where is Ree?”

“Who’s the man on your porch?”

“Do you have any words for the person who may have abducted Sandy?”

Jason stopped next to the uniformed officer farthest from the press and gestured him over with his finger. The officer’s nameplate read “Hawkes.” Excellent, Jason could use a hawk.

The officer dutifully huddled close, having no more desire to share their conversation with the greater free world than Jason did.

“Old guy on the porch,” Jason murmured. “He’s not welcome on my property. I have asked him to leave. He has refused.”

Officer arched a brow. Looked from Jason to the reporters to Jason again as a wordless question.

“If he wants to make a scene, that’s his choice,” Jason answered in a low undertone. “I consider him a threat to my daughter, and I want him gone.”

The officer nodded, pulled out a spiral notebook. “What’s his name?”

“Maxwell Black from Atlanta, Georgia.

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