Turn Back Time Read online

  “Not yet. There are some new clues, but nothing great. We have no idea where she is.”

  Zoey sat a little taller. “What kind of clues?”

  “Somehow that cult is involved.”

  She gave him a double-take. “You mean the one they were all in when Macy was kidnapped?”

  “Seems they’re having a reunion… or worse.” He shuddered.

  “What do you mean?”

  “If they’re kidnapping people, I don’t see how any good could come of it.”

  “People? As in, more than just her?”

  Alex nodded and filled her in on the details. “I also think we should tell Ari what’s going on.”

  “Yeah, that’s a—” Zoey’s eyes widened.

  “What?”

  “What if that cult takes Macy? She’s already having massive anxiety over Lottie.”

  “They know to keep an eye out, and they’re going to be cautious.”

  “Man, I hope so. That’s scary. I’m going to call her tomorrow.” Zoey yawned. “After I get some sleep. I’m half-tempted to stay here for the night.”

  “You’re more than welcome to,” Valerie called from the other room.

  “Thanks,” Zoey called back. She leaned back against the chair and closed her eyes. Alex studied her, his heart fluttering a little. She was just as beautiful as she’d always been with her jet black hair and mixture of Caucasian and Japanese features. Even tired and resting, she was perfection in human form.

  Her eyes fluttered, and Alex leaned back in his chair and picked at a nail, pretending it was the most interesting thing in the room.

  Zoey stretched. “I didn’t mean to doze off. Maybe I actually should stay here.”

  “Please do.”

  She tilted her head. “Are you worried about me?”

  “Of course. I don’t want to see you get hurt.” Didn’t she know that? He wanted to say more, but stopped himself.

  Zoey held his gaze for a few beats and then opened her mouth to speak.

  Ariana bounced into the room, holding out her phone’s screen. “Emily got a puppy! Look how cute he is.”

  “Okay,” Zoey said. “Then have a seat, because we need to tell you something.”

  Ari’s smiled faded into a frown. “I knew you guys were keeping something from me. What is it?”

  He patted the seat next to him.

  “What?” Ari plunked down next to him.

  “You remember Miss Lottie, right?”

  “Yeah, Uncle Luke’s mom. She’s gonna take me so I can help feed the homeless.”

  Zoey and Alex exchanged a look. Alex cleared his throat. “Actually, that might have to wait.”

  Ari’s eyes widened. “Why?”

  His stomach twisted in a tight knot. This conversation had been easier in his mind. “She’s missing.”

  “What?” Ariana’s mouth dropped. “Is she gonna be okay? Like I was?”

  “We hope so. The police are working really hard, just like they did when you were gone.”

  Her eyes widened until they couldn’t get any bigger. “What about your blog? You have to tell people!”

  Alex pulled her close and hugged her. “I have. Now we just have to wait.”

  “Just wait?”

  Zoey and Alex exchanged a worried glance.

  “For now, yes. That’s all we can do.”

  Raging

  The ground beneath Jonah’s feet shook slightly from the nearby construction. His pulse raced and his breathing grew fast as he stared at the small building—if it could even be called that. It was more like a few beams sticking out of the ground.

  “What’s taking so long?” He stopped and stared at Boaz, the lead of construction.

  Boaz stepped back, his face paling. If Jonah had been in a better mood, seeing the fear in him would’ve made Jonah feel better, but now it only served to irritate him further.

  “Well?” Jonah stepped closer, narrowing his eyes.

  “Great High Prophet, these things take time.”

  “And you’ve had plenty of that, now haven’t you?”

  Boaz stepped back. “It’s been difficult to find trees tall enough for your specifications. You want ceilings almost taller than these trees.”

  “Yes, I want a tall, impressive courtroom that will instill fear into everyone who passes by. Nobody, and I mean nobody, will ever again consider getting away. Trying to shut us down. I want our people to cower in fear when they get near my courtroom.”

  “And that will take time.” Boaz took in a haggard breath. “Right, men?”

  His crew scattered, none daring to tell Jonah what he didn’t want to hear.

  “How long will it take?” Anger pulsed through Jonah. “I want this done!”

  Boaz flinched. “It will be. It’ll just take time.”

  Jonah paced, not saying anything. They’d managed to build plenty of houses, the meeting hall, and several other buildings in the time it had taken Boaz’s crew to get up three beams. “Make it happen faster!”

  “Yes, Great High Prophet. Do you have more men to help look for trees tall enough?”

  “You want more people?” Jonah spun around and got in the other man’s face. Though he was a full six inches taller, Boaz shook and his breathing grew even more labored.

  “I-it would help.”

  “Well, too bad. You need to get creative. I want my courtroom exactly to the specifications I gave you.”

  Boaz swallowed. “It could take months.”

  Fury tore through Jonah. Why couldn’t things simply move faster? It wasn’t like he was asking them to build an ark! It was just a courtroom and gallows.

  Gallows. He’d nearly forgotten.

  Jonah turned back to Boaz. “If you’re having trouble with the high walls in the middle of the courtroom, at least work on the gallows. I don’t even see the start of the platform!”

  “I… I thought we needed to erect the building first.”

  “Use your head!” Jonah exploded. “I want it all. You know where the courtroom is going! You know where the gallows go. Put them up so I can at least admire them while I wait for the beautiful building.”

  Boaz swallowed and nodded. “I’m on it.”

  “Will I have the gallows by tomorrow?”

  “I-I don’t see why not.”

  “Good. Get to it!” Jonah spun around and stormed away, heading toward the main part of the community. It was amazing how incompetent some people could be. They knew what he wanted. All they needed to do was to give it to him. How complicated was that? Not very. Get orders. Follow through. Simple!

  He stomped down main street. Most people scurried away, but a few stopped to pay him proper respects by bowing. Jonah threw open the door of his large, luxurious study—luxurious by the community’s standards. He’d seen plenty of impressive, expensive places in the world, but to Jonah, nothing held a candle to his standards. No, he didn’t have leather furniture, marble tables, or fancy framed artwork. The community was a place of rustic beauty. The carvings on his walls were more intricate than anything he’d ever seen. They told a story—the story of their history. The way they had once thrived, but then had been taken down. But that was only the first part of the story. The rest told of the upcoming glory days of the establishment.

  The new Community would outshine the old one so much that people would forget all about the old days. The only reminders would be in Jonah’s study.

  He paced around, admiring the carvings. Part of him wanted to calm down, but more of him wanted to remain furious. It was beyond ridiculous that his courtroom still wasn’t finished. He’d pictured it being done sooner than even this—look how much of the great and magnificent community had been restored already.

  Sure, the courtroom was new, but that wasn’t an excuse. At least he would have his gallows the next day. That brought some solace. Even if the building of judgment had to wait, at least the execution platform would drive fear into people’s hearts—deep into their very souls. />
  Only one more day.

  Knock, knock.

  Jonah groaned. “It had better be someone with good news.” He walked over to the window and pushed aside the curtain. Abraham and Isaac stood outside, looking at each other. Jonah flung open the door and waved them in without a word.

  The two other men stepped inside.

  “What’s the update?” Jonah demanded.

  Abraham took a deep breath. “The good news is that we got a few more people.”

  “What’s the bad news?” Jonah clenched his jaw.

  “It would appear we’ve exhausted all the homeless in the area. Anyone else who belongs in the community appears to have either blended in with society or moved away.”

  Every muscle in Jonah’s face tensed. “But you know where they are?”

  “Some. We’re working on it.”

  “Have you found everyone who needs to be judged?”

  “No.”

  Jonah threw his arms into the air. “Why not?”

  “These things take time, Great High Prophet.”

  “I’m sick of hearing that! I want them here now! Yesterday, in fact.”

  “You didn’t build our grand society on impatience. Patience is what makes us strong. Great. Soon everyone will be ready, but not even the courtroom is ready.”

  “Don’t talk to me about the courtroom!”

  Both Abraham and Isaac jumped.

  “What would help you to be pleased about the events?” Isaac asked.

  “Everything moving faster.”

  “There’s still a lot to be done,” Abraham said. “Let’s focus on what’s going right, shall we?”

  Jonah picked up a stack of books and threw them across the room. “Let’s focus on making things happen faster, shall we?”

  Arrival

  Nick dropped his mocha into the garbage as he walked to the conveyor belt full of luggage. People crowded around—all adults and taller than his kids. He scanned the throng of bodies for his three children. There were children intermingled with the grownups, but none were his.

  His throat closed up. If his kids weren’t there, he was going to buy the first plane ticket he could get and go see them himself. Even if he had to fly to Florida, purchase Disney tickets, and weave his way through all of the parks to find them. Corrine was not going to keep him from his children.

  The crowd thinned, and a young flight attendant with a streak of blue in her hair caught his attention. Ava, Parker, and Hanna stood next to her.

  Nick froze, staring in disbelief. The kids were actually there. Only the space of about nine yards separated them. He sprinted over.

  Little Hanna’s face lit up. “Daddy!”

  Nick picked her up and spun her around. She giggled and nearly choked him as she wrapped her tiny arms around his neck.

  “Um, sir,” said the flight attendant. “I’ll need to see your ID.”

  “Daddy, Daddy!” Hanna squealed, squeezing him tighter.

  “Sir.”

  “Hold on, sweetie.” He set her down, but she wouldn’t let go of him. “I need to show this nice lady my driver’s license.”

  Hanna continued clinging.

  “I don’t want to let go, either, but I have to.” He managed to pull her off, hating that it was necessary. Hanna threw her arms around Nick’s leg and then wrapped her legs around his ankles. A lump formed in his throat as he pulled out his wallet and showed her his license. He had to flip his badge away from it first—he kept it that way so anyone seeing his ID would know he was an officer of the law.

  The badge didn’t impress the woman, however. She scrutinized his license, comparing it to a paper in her hand. Finally, she stepped back. “Thank you. Have a wonderful visit.” She walked away, her heels clacking on the floor.

  Hanna was still attached to his left leg. He stepped toward Ava and Parker, reaching out for a hug. Scowling, Ava gave him a stiff hug. Parker folded his arms and refused to return Nick’s embrace.

  Nick’s heart felt like it would shatter into a million pieces. He knew from recent phone conversations that those two were growing distant, but it didn’t really hit him until that moment. Nick tried to push the disappointment away as he studied his beautiful children. They both had grown so much. Parker was two years younger than Ava, but almost as tall now. And Ava, she really looked grownup. She looked closer to fourteen than twelve.

  That’s when he noticed the makeup. She had black eyeliner all around her eyes, and it scooped out at the end like cat eyes. She also had long black lashes, shimmery eyelids, and what looked like faded lipstick.

  He and Corrine had agreed Ava would be at least thirteen before she could wear makeup, and even then, it was supposed to be a slow, gradual process of starting with one product at a time.

  “Are we just going to stand here?” Ava ran her fingers through her long, slightly wavy hair and rolled her eyes dramatically.

  “I need some coffee,” Parker said.

  Nick just about choked on air. His ten-year-old needed coffee? Needed coffee?

  Was Corrine trying to completely ruin their children just to spite him? It was beginning to look that way. He cleared his throat. “Let’s get your suitcases.”

  They made their way to the conveyor belt. Hanna kept herself attached to Nick’s leg. He didn’t complain.

  Ava had two extra-large suitcases, and the other two both had three medium-sized ones. He found a cart and loaded it up. Ava dug into one of her bags and puffed out her lips, applying lip color. It crushed him to see his little girl acting like a woman. She was only twelve! Parker pulled out a baseball style hat with a raunchy rapper on the front, and stuck it on backwards.

  If Corrine was there, he’d ring her neck right there in the airport. In fact, it took all of his self-control not to say anything to the kids. He knew that if he did, they would only despise him more than they clearly did. At least he had the week to try and win them back. Nick was just grateful that his ex hadn’t managed to turn Hanna against him. Perhaps it was time to speak with his attorney about the custody arrangement again.

  They made their way through the airport as Nick pushed the luggage cart with Hanna still attached to his leg.

  “I said I need coffee,” Parker said as they passed a stand.

  “It’s late, you three are jet lagged. What you need is sleep.”

  “Dave would let me have coffee,” Parker muttered.

  “What did you say?”

  Parker looked Nick in the eyes. “You heard me.”

  Corrine’s boyfriend was the one behind Parker’s newfound caffeine addiction? Had he been the one to suggest Ava start wearing makeup, too?

  “We’re not getting coffee.” Nick clenched the cart’s handle so tightly his knuckles turned white. “I don’t care what Dave would do. I’m your father.”

  Ava mumbled something Nick couldn’t make out.

  “What did you say?”

  “Nothing.” She glared at him, daring him to ask again.

  “Can I ride on the cart, Daddy?” Hanna asked.

  “Don’t be stupid,” Parker snapped. “It’s for suitcases.”

  “Don’t call her stupid,” Nick said.

  Parker glared at his younger sister. “Stupid.”

  Nick stopped the cart and narrowed his eyes at his older children. “We can either have a good spring break or a miserable one. We haven’t seen each other in a long time, and I would like to have a good time with you guys, but it’s up to you.”

  Parker folded his arms.

  Ava flipped her hair behind her shoulders. “Whatever.”

  He stepped closer to them. “This isn’t a conversation I want to have in the airport while you guys—”

  “I’m not a guy.” Ava popped her gum. “Neither is Hanna. Maybe you noticed.”

  Nick ignored her. “—are exhausted. We’ll talk about this later. Maybe over breakfast.”

  Ava looked away and shrugged. Parker stared at him, his expression growing tenser.

&
nbsp; “I have some fun things planned, but only if your attitudes change—severely.”

  “You planned?” Ava asked. “What about what we want?”

  “I’m certainly not going to force you to enjoy yourselves.”

  “Daddy, pick me up!” Hanna jumped around, reaching up for Nick.

  He glanced back and forth between her and the cart he needed to get to the car—and they’d all be lucky if everything fit into the Mustang with them. His stomach tightened, realizing Corrine had probably done that on purpose, too. She knew that was the only car he drove.

  “Piggyback.” Nick knelt down, and Hanna climbed on his back. He adjusted her and reached for the cart. “Let’s go.”

  Ava whistled. “He’s hot.”

  Nick followed her gaze to a twenty-something skinny punk covered in tattoos. He ignored her and pushed the cart. If it took all of his energy, he would make sure the kids didn’t see how much they were getting to him.

  Refreshed

  Luke rolled over and opened his eyes. Macy lay next to him, breathing softly. He watched as the quilt moved up and down in time with her peaceful breaths. Luke stretched and realized he felt better than he had in days. His entire body was relaxed and a warmth spread through him, starting at his core and radiating outward.

  One of Macy’s eyes cracked open. “Good morning, babe.”

  He ran the back of his fingertips along her cheek. “Morning, beautiful.”

  “Last night was…” She scrunched her face like she was searching for the right word. “Wow.”

  Luke grinned. “Yeah, it was.”

  She scooted over and kissed him. He wrapped his arm around her and they lay in silence. Little particles of dust danced around the room through the cracks from the blinds. Luke rested a hand behind his head and took a deep breath, catching a whiff of what remained of Macy’s perfume from the day before.

  “Do you want some breakfast?” he asked.

  She pushed herself up onto her elbows and smiled at him. “If you mean more of this…” She trailed kisses from the corner of his mouth to his ear and nibbled. It was hard to say no to that. He flipped her over and covered her in kisses.