The Perfect Match

“I miss you all right. Like a toothache.”

“You never write, you never call. Yada, yada, yada.”

“What the hell are you calling me for in the middle of the night? I’m working, you know.”

“More like you’re about to fall asleep, and I’m saving your butt again, junior. It’s a tough job, but somebody’s got to keep you on your toes.” Vinny chuckled. “Quiet night, huh? Been listening to the scanner.”

“Not much happening.”

“Good, because you’re going to have to be ready to party down when you drag your sorry ass in come morning.”

“Party?” Cash echoed. “I didn’t miss a holiday…or a birthday—no. Charlie’s isn’t for months. What’s up?”

“Can’t say for sure. Big secret. The girls are up to something for sure.”

“What girls?” Cash asked tiredly.

“Mac and Charlie. You know. Your pride and joys. The fruits of your loins. Your—”

“Yeah, yeah. I get it. My girls. But both of them? Doing something together?”

“You got it, dude.” Cash could almost hear Vinny grimace. “Damn. I’ve got to quit watching those Mary Kate and Ashley reruns with Mac.”

“You made them, right? I mean, Mac and Charlie. Play together.”

“I know I’m brilliant, but I can’t take the credit. Charlie came up with this one all on her own—whatever this one is. I’m not quite clear about specifics. She had Mac in the corner whispering away the minute they came in from the bus, then out they go to Mac’s playhouse. Tight as two ticks on a dog all evening. Even begged me to let Mac sleep in her room with her. Figured it couldn’t hurt. Charlie’s got that extra twin bed in there. Hope it’s all right with you.”

“No. I mean, yes. That’s fine.”

“It’s a hell of a lot better than fine. It’s a goddamned miracle if you ask me. Checked on ’em an hour ago and they were sleeping like angels. Charlie even insisted on leaving the window wide open so Mac could see the stars.”

“Did she?” Cash felt a stirring of hope. One of the things Cash had hated most in the past two years was how his girls had grown apart. Charlie played with her sister out of duty now instead of love. Nothing could hide the wall that had grown between the girls or the fact that Charlie would far rather be alone.

“So they’re playing together,” Cash said. “That’s good, right? So what’s worrying you?”

“Nothing. Just wanted to give you the heads up. Had to swear in blood not to set foot in the playhouse or it would ruin the surprise.”

“So why didn’t you sneak out back before you hit the couch and see what they’re up to?”

“You’re kidding, right?” Vinny’s dead seriousness made Cash crack a smile. “That cross your heart, hope to die bit is serious stuff. You want to stick a needle in your eye? No sir, Deputy Lawless. I don’t think so.”

“I see what you mean. But I didn’t swear, so maybe as soon as I get home, I’ll phone in to the Sheriff’s office, have them stake out the playhouse.”

“Might be a good idea.”

He could hear Vinny yawn. The nights Mr. Google stayed over to watch the girls had to be hard on the older man. Stubborn cuss insisted on sacking out on the couch instead of using Cash’s bed. Vinny said the couch kept him from getting too soft.

“Go to sleep, old man.” Cash said with gruff affection. “I’m awake now.”

“Good. I’m heading in to check on them one last time right now. Their father is a real pain, you know.”

Cash heard the hall floorboards creak.

“Hey, Cash?”

“What?”

“It was fun watching the girls today. All that bustling back and forth, bowls and plates of food and such. Don’t be eating any donuts on your way home. Probably have a heck of a tea party out there before they’ll let you go to sleep. The works, you know? Stale bread and grape jelly and a bottle of pickles.”

“I can’t wait.”

“It’ll do your heart good to see them…happy, you know?”

Happy…

That was one emotion that had been in short supply at the Lawless house for quite awhile.

Hell, Cash didn’t care if they’d used up a week’s worth of peanut butter sandwiches and he had to take a handful of Tums to tamp down the heartburn he’d get from eating all those pickles. If he could just see his little girls smile…

The way they had before their whole world had shattered.

The way they had before they’d learned the truth. That their daddy couldn’t protect them from the ugly things out there in the world. That their mommy wouldn’t always be there to tuck them in at night.

Sometimes there really were monsters under the bed.

And even daddies could be afraid.

“Listen, buddy,” Cash said. “I’m going to sign off now.”

Cash heard Charlie’s bedroom door squeak, and put oiling the hinges at the top of his to do list.

“See you when you get home,” Vinny whispered. “Charlie kicked the covers off again. They’re lying in a heap by her—sonofabitch!”

In a heartbeat, the world on the other end of the phone erupted. Vinny roared, a bloodcurdling cry of pain, the girls’ startled screaming buried in the sounds of a horrific crash.

Cash’s belly turned to ice.

“Vinny?” Cash yelled into the phone. “Vinny! Talk to me! What the hell’s going on?”

Vinny didn’t answer.

The cell went dead.

CHAPTER SIX

CASH’S TIRES SQUEALED as he turned down Briarwood Lane, his radio spitting static. He’d tried three times to connect to the house by the land line as he’d sped across town, but the relentless busy signal had ratcheted up his alarm.

“Got a 9-1-1 from your house, Cash,” his radio warned through bursts of static. “Can’t get much out of Charlie—she’s hysterical—some kind of intruder. Cash, Vinny’s down.”