He scratches his head and makes humming noises like his brain is working on it.
Finally, he looks at me again. "Are those the only two options?"
"I don't see another way out."
"Why not take Mila and run? Get the hell out of here and away from her father." His voice takes on the old Malibu Elvis swagger, and the corner of his mouth turns down.
"I'm not the guy who runs from a fight. I run into it."
He shrugs. "I did it with Sherry. We took off and hid in our cabin for a week. Everyone went crazy looking for us. I didn't feel any shame at all. Was laughing at those fools we duped."
I hadn't considered the option to run, but now it's churning in my head. "Your cabin?"
"Out in the California redwoods. I still have it. Keep the utilities running. Rent it out in the spring. I'll never sell that cabin."
"We hide there?"
"It's not hiding. It's buying time. Let things cool down. Make a new plan."
"Her father would hunt her down."
"Change your name. Use cash. He won't find you in my cabin." Henry's so flippant about his crazy option. It's the kind of thing he would've done without hesitation.
"Shit. If I leave… Your health…" The doctor's appointments. His meds...
"My other kids can take care of me. It's their turn. You did more than your share."
I can't believe I'm contemplating leaving Henry when he needs me the most. Mila would be safe. Vaughn wouldn't know where to find us. I could report what I know about him to the police. It's not much but enough to start an investigation. He'll eventually face justice for his crimes. It could even turn into a new start for us.
"What if we did wit sec and tried to bring him down?"
"They don't give witness protection to just anyone. Do you have valuable evidence?"
"No. Shit. Nothing. Just a few messages from Vaughn and my word."
He shakes his head. "They won't give you wit sec."
"He said he's in with all the judges and cops too."
"Shit. He's more powerful than we both thought."
"Yep. Totally underestimated him." I hold my aching ribs and pace the room. I need to brace my broken finger, but first I need a solution to this. "All right. We'll go. I'll take Mila to your cabin."
"Good boy. Over in my nightstand, there's a box of papers. Bring me those." He angles his thumb back toward his bedroom. "It's a blue shoebox."
I find his box and bring it to him. He unfolds an old tattered paper with lines and handwriting scratched on it. "This here." He points to a square on the map. "This is Pleasure Mountain. You won't believe it till you see it. It's incredible. God made that place with the intent to blow your mind. Clean air, giant sequoias. Man, I loved it there. Now they've been building up around it but you still got ten acres all to yourself."
I'm about to interrupt him for going off track, but he surprised me. "Ten acres?"
"Most of it's trees."
"But still."
"There's a dirt road off the highway here. Then watch for the iron post. It might be a little grown over, but that post will be there." He hands me the map and a key. "The lake out back doesn't freeze over. Not cold enough in the winter. Can you imagine a lake out here not freezing over in the winter? Doesn't even snow out there."
"Sounds nice, but we need to hurry." He's giving me hope. Mila and I could hide out there for a while, wait for Vaughn Bianchi to get arrested, and then resurface and come back to Henry when it's safe. "I'll do it."
"Good. You pay it forward, we're even."
"We'll never be even. You've done so much for me."
"You've been better to me than the spawn of my seed." He smiles. He's joking about the spawn. He loves his bio kids. He pulls himself up in his chair and levels his gaze on me. "If you change your name, I ask one thing."
"Anything." Anything Henry asks, I give him.
"Become Foster Twist."
A lump clogs my throat. "You want me to leave you and take your name?" He'd suggested the name change when he adopted me, but I refused because I didn't want to impose on his other kids. I didn't know it was still on his mind.
"Yes. Take Mila, my name, my cabin, and go." He flicks his hand like he's shooing off a fly.
I nod and grip his shoulder. I'd be proud to take his name. "I'll be back for you, Henry. As soon as it's safe."
"Don't worry about me. This is your chance."
"I have to pack. I think I have a broken finger and some bruised ribs." It hurts to walk away from him in more ways than one.
"You survived. Go get her! Watch out for Pleasure Mountain. People tend to fall in love up there," he says as I'm walking to my room.
"I'm already in love with her," I call back.
"Then the mountain will seal it."
In my room, I splint my finger and clean up my face. The bruises haven't appeared yet, but I'm sore all over. I wince as I wrap my ribs and take some Tylenol. I gather a quick bag of warm-weather clothes. Truth be told, I've always wanted to ditch New York for someplace warmer. Never thought it would be California, but it works. I pack my gun and ammo and my pictures of Henry and Mila. When I'm done, Henry's relaxed and watching TV again. He's confident in me.
"I'm leaving."
He looks over his shoulder at me. "Michael's on his way to pick me up."
"I'm so sorry. I'll help you pack."
"No. Not necessary. It's fine. Besides, I like Michael's house. Lots of ice cream."
"Okay. Good."
"One more thing about the cabin."
"Yeah."
"Plant a tree for me there and I'll be with you."
His words punch me in the gut. "Got it."
I give him a long hug and head out to get my girl.
Chapter 18 One of Them
I've never climbed the fire escape of Vaughn's Manhattan apartment to get to Mila's room. The alarm system deterred me, but I need to talk to her in person right away so I'm risking it. The goal is to get in and out with her fast before Vaughn can react.
Tap-tap-tap.
Her shadow approaches the window, and the sheer fabric moves aside an inch. The whites of her eyes get wide and her head flinches back.
"Let me in." I tap on the glass again.
Nothing happens.
"Mila. Let me in."
"No."
What the hell? "Open the fucking window. Now."
She crosses her arms and shakes her head. Shit. What the fuck is wrong with her? The window rattles when my fist strikes it.
Her hands fly up to mess with the lock and the alarm sensor before inching the window open. "Shh!"
She's shushing me?
I jam my fingers through the gap and slam the thing up. "Step back."
Her feet shuffle aside and she grabs something off her bed. She tosses my old denim jacket at me and it drops to the floor.
"What the hell is your problem?"
"You're a cop?" Her eyes are red like she's been crying.