Run Like Hell by Elena Andrews Page B

gazing at me with his hypnotic brown eyes. I’ve never loved him more than I do now. I pull his shirt over his head and love the hardness of his bare chest under my palms. Jack touches my face and is about to say something when the door bell rings.
     
    Will we ever have a moment alone?
     
    “Are you expecting anyone tonight?” Jack asks suspiciously and puts his shirt back on.
     
    “I don’t know, but whoever it is needs to go away.” I peek out my window but don’t see a car other than his and Rory’s in the driveway. The door bell rings again and I go downstairs to answer it. “I’ll get it,” I tell Rory. Jack trails behind.
     
    “Who is it?” I yell, but there’s no reply.
     
    Jack steps in front of me protectively and peeks through the peep hole. “I don’t see anyone,” he whispers.
     
    I run to the kitchen and grab the portable phone, ready to dial 911.
     
    “Who’s at the door?” Rory asks, coming up behind us.
     
    Jack slowly opens the door but the porch is empty. I hold Tiger back so he can’t run out of the house. We stare at each other blankly. It’s too late for the neighborhood kids to be playing ding-dong-ditch on a Sunday night.
     
    “Do you think it’s the same person who returned your wallet?” he asks.
     
    “I don’t know.” I have my suspicions though. After we close the door and go back to the living room the doorbell rings again. Jack runs and opens the door but no one is there. How could someone have run away quickly without us seeing them?
     
    “This is ridiculous,” Rory mutters and pushes past us through the door. “Knock this off or we’re calling the cops!” she yells outside and slams the door. “Punks,” she mumbles.
     
    Jack peers through the peephole waiting for someone to return but the porch remains vacant of visitors. Then there’s a knock on the sliding door in the living room.
     
    “Call the cops and report them,” Rory advises, heading to the living room to survey the deck and backyard.
     
    I call the police and tell them someone is ringing our doorbell and banging on our windows. I’m told a police car will stop by shortly. Tiger is agitated and barking and running around the house.
     
    The knocking continues, on various windows, but when we glance outside we don’t see anyone. Rory doesn’t want us going outside, especially since the cops will be arriving soon.
     
    Ten minutes later, the doorbell rings and it’s the police accompanied by two young teens with their heads hanging low. I’m relieved to see the cops. The officers tell us they found the boys hiding in the bushes outside our house. I breathe a sigh of relief. One officer peers over my shoulder and looks in the house.
     
    “Anyone here with you?” he asks.
     
    “My aunt.” At the mention of her, Rory rounds the corner and walks over and says hello.
     
    The officers exchange a glance. “We found these two lurking around. We’re planning on hauling them back to the station. Their parents can pick them up.”
     
    The boys glance at one another and then stare at me. I know them. One kid lives across the street and the other is his friend who hangs around with him. I think they’re about thirteen years old.
     
    “Why were you bothering us?” I ask my neighbor.
     
    He looks nervous, but shrugs and admits, “I know your folks are out of town and I thought it would be funny to scare you.”
     
    At least he’s honest. Knowing it was the two of them lurking around rather than that freak from last night is a relief.
     
    I eyeball Rory and she nods in understanding. “Officers, we’d be happy with an apology and a promise that they won’t prank us again. Perhaps you can avoid taking them back to the station.” My neighbor looks at me gratefully.
     
    “Boys, it sounds like she’s giving you the opportunity to repent.”
     
    The boys immediately mutter apologies. It’s good enough for me. One officer escorts them across the street to speak to the kid’s