Page 125 of Wicked Pickle

There’s a hallway at the back, and that’s where I find Merrick standing outside a closed door. I relax. “What’s going on?”

Merrick shrugs. “He hasn’t come out. Haven’t heard any sounds at all.”

“No drawers opening?”

“Nothing.”

My senses tingle again. What is he doing? “You sure he’s in there?”

“Yeah, I heard him talking on the phone when I first got here.”

“You think there’s a back door?”

“Might be. You could do recon.”

I head down the hall away from the living room. I end up in a kitchen. One side opens to the dining room, which leads back to the stairs. There’s a back door to a yard.

I unlock it and step outside. A long deck runs the length of the house. There’s no other back door. To be sure, I walk to the end and peer around the corner to check for a side exit. Nothing.

Unless Jude climbed out of a window, he’s in there.

I head back in right as a sharp rap sounds at the front door. I spot Merrick following Jude to the foyer and rush to catch up.

“What’s going on?” I ask.

Merrick shrugs.

We watch Jude open the front door.

Then we see it.

Dad is there. And behind him, Uncle Sherman.

“Is Greta here?” Dad asks.

I do not hold back. “What the actual fuck? Are you siding with this piece of shit?”

Merrick crosses behind me so we flank Jude at the door.

“Boys!” Sherman cries, beaming at us. “I’m so glad Greta had you two to look after her during this difficult time.”

My anger is so intense that I can feel the vein throbbing in my neck. “She didn’t come to you for a reason, and you’re proving her right.”

Sherman pushes past us. “Come on. Let’s all sit down and have a good chat. All marriages need work. I’ve got a great counselor on standby. Did you know Patricia and I saw a counselor once, between Max and Anthony? Heck, she might be the reason Anthony exists.”

Greta appears on the stairs. “I’m not having another baby to fix a bad marriage.”

“Greta!” Sherman cries. “You look tan! Did you and Caden have a vacation? I think time away can be a good thing for any couple.”

“I’m not interested in talking,” Greta says. “You all are acting like I did something impulsive, but it’s been a long time in coming.”

I grab Jude by the back of his collar. “Go pack your goddamn things, or we’ll throw you in the fucking street.”

“Such language,” Sherman says. “Come now. Let’s all sit in the living room.”

“No,” Greta says. “I brought Merrick and Dean here to help me get Jude out.”

Merrick leans forward menacingly. “And we’re happy to include you two in the forced exit.”