Drake
Easy. So easy.
Out of curiosity, I'd tapped into the city cameras, watching a park that I knew Emily used to frequent when Alaric was little. I was right: she would watch Mikey's boy when his other 'parents' were working. Looking at the footage, I could tell she loves him.
He can be our baby, Emily. Wouldn't you like that?
But first, the child needs relocating. So, I scramble the cameras for the park and head out.
"Go play?" he asks me, curious but not fighting.
"Yes, Daddy is over there wanting to play. He asked me to come get you." I don't know how much the kid understands me, but I work to remain calm as I walk casually to my waiting vehicle.
The getaway car is the only flaw in my plan. That idiot Kyle is in charge of it. He doesn't ask questions and follows orders, and I pay him well. But a cave troll would look like a damn genius next to him.
Sh*t. I hear the mother call out for the kid, and I mildly quicken my pace.
"Mommy," he starts kicking his legs, trying to get down.
I hold him tighter. "Mommy will catch up. It's a game!"
Just then Kyle drives up--not at the rendezvous point. I roll my eyes and get in anyway. I'll chew him out later. Turns out he went to go get snacks, and when he got back, he saw me with the boy.
"Mommy?" he asks, and I assume he means 'where's mommy.'
"Mommy will be here later." As soon as I can get her away from her bodyguards. Emily will do whatever I say if I threaten to hurt the kid.
I put out the food that Kyle had given us.
"No. Want Mommy."
"I told you, Mommy will be here later. Don't you want to eat?"
He scowls at me. "No. Want Daddy."
He pouts. "Want... MOMMY!" Then he starts crying. Plum. I go to hug him, and at first, he tries to push me away.
"It's okay, Atticus." I need to keep repeating his new name so that he learns it. "We'll go get Mommy soon."
He's given up fighting me, and he wipes his eyes. His nose is running. "Puh... puppy!"
"You want a puppy? Daddy can get you a puppy, okay?" I loathe animals, but maybe a guard dog would be useful. He's still crying, so I pet his hair in a soothing way. "We can get a puppy tomorrow, would you like that?"
He sniffs. "Uh huh."
"Okay, then, that's settled. How about we eat now, hm?"
I finally convince the kid to eat, and I don't know what Kyle was thinking. Sushi? What an idiot.
After a disaster of a dinner, I take him to his room. "This is your new room, Atticus." Where did those rags come from? Oh well. I point to some blocks I thought would make good toys. "Look! Daddy got you some toys!"
He kicks to get free. "Play!"
There. Finally.
I sigh and turn to leave.
When I hear it click closed, I run my hand down my face and scratch my neck. Now what? I expel a puff of air. I have to get Emily isolated, but do I do it by admitting I have the boy? That's the most logical. But the trick is going to be how to do it in a scary enough way so that she doesn't alert the authorities, her husband, or anyone.
But first, I need clothes for Atticus, something more suited to a Goth. I'll order some stuff off Samizon and have it delivered to a house nearby--one without one of those damn camera doorbells.
In all, it's been a busy day, and I'm exhausted.
No comments:
Post a Comment