“Just hanging with the Twisted Warriors. I stepped out back to give you a call. I wanted to make sure you’re okay. It’s fucking cold out here.”
She laughed. “Welcome to Ohio in the winter.”
“Have you talked to the police?”
“They’re coming by tomorrow morning. I hope they can catch Bobby, Victor, and Erik.”
“I wouldn’t bank on it.”
She walked back to the window. “The moonlight is pretty tonight. Do you see it?”
A pause. “Yeah.”
“We’re looking at the same thing right now. I miss you, Paco.”
An audible sigh. “I miss you too, baby.”
“How am I going to stand it when you leave?” she whispered.
“It’ll get easier in time. You’re strong.”
“Sometimes I’m not so sure about that. Am I going to see you tomorrow?”
“Yeah. Call me when the badges leave.”
“Can we spend some time away from the house?”
“Sure. Just let me know what you’d like to do and we’ll do it.”
I want to go back to Alina with you.“Okay.”
A pause. “I gotta get going. If you have a hard time sleeping, give me a call, okay?”
“All right. Goodnight.” She wanted to get off the phone because the lump in her throat was making it hard for her to talk. There was no way in hell she wanted him to know how lonely she was without him.
“Goodnight. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Then the phone clicked and sadness enveloped her. She put the phone down and switched off the light then shuffled back to the window and stared at the moon-speckled darkness.