Back Take Me Home Tonight
Chapters (54)
  1. Cover
  2. Title Page
  3. Dedication
  4. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  5. PART ONE 1:30 p.m.–4:15 p.m.
  6. CHAPTER 1
  7. CHAPTER 2
  8. CHAPTER 3
  9. CHAPTER 4
  10. PART TWO 4:15 p.m.–5:25 p.m.
  11. CHAPTER 5
  12. CHAPTER 6
  13. Meanwhile, back in Connecticut…
  14. CHAPTER 7
  15. CHAPTER 8
  16. PART THREE 5:25 p.m.–9:25 p.m.
  17. CHAPTER 9
  18. CHAPTER 10
  19. CHAPTER 11
  20. Meanwhile, back in Connecticut…
  21. CHAPTER 12
  22. CHAPTER 13
  23. Meanwhile, back in Connecticut…
  24. CHAPTER 14
  25. CHAPTER 15
  26. CHAPTER 16
  27. CHAPTER 17
  28. Meanwhile, somewhere in upstate New York…
  29. CHAPTER 18
  30. CHAPTER 19
  31. Meanwhile, somewhere on Highway 81…
  32. CHAPTER 20
  33. PART FOUR 9:25 p.m.–11:11 p.m.
  34. Meanwhile, in Brockville (Ontario) (Canada)…
  35. CHAPTER 21
  36. CHAPTER 22
  37. CHAPTER 23
  38. CHAPTER 24
  39. CHAPTER 25
  40. Meanwhile, back in Canada…
  41. CHAPTER 26
  42. CHAPTER 27
  43. PART FIVE 11:11 p.m.–3:00 a.m.
  44. Meanwhile, in [Redacted X X X X]…
  45. CHAPTER 28
  46. Meanwhile, back in Connecticut…
  47. CHAPTER 29
  48. PART SIX Saturday
  49. CHAPTER 30
  50. PART SEVEN February
  51. CHAPTER 31
  52. CHAPTER 32
  53. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
  54. ALSO BY MORGAN MATSON
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Teri saw that Parker’s overall straps had gotten crossed in front. She knelt down to help, straightening them. As she did, she brushed against a bulge in the front of Parker’s overall pocket. “What’s that?” The toddler’s eyes went wide and she clamped her hands over it.

“Hand it over,” Chris commanded with big-sister authority. Parker sighed, unsnapped the pocket, and handed a small black velvet bag to Teri.

“What is this?” It was heavier than she expected. She pulled it open and blinked in the sudden glare. She was looking at a bag of diamonds that sparkled back at her. “Where… did you get these?” Teri asked, feeling faint.

“Whoa,” Chris said, leaning down to look as well.

Parker folded her arms and stuck her lip out. So she was a magpie after all. “Did you take this from Gilroy’s jacket?” Teri asked. Her mouth felt dry.

Parker nodded, with a what’re you gonna do? shrug.

“You have to stop that,” Chris said. “Seriously. I’ll tell Mom and Dad.”

“Well, we’ll see,” Teri said quickly. The list of the things the Stones didn’t need to know about was large, and ever-expanding, and now included things like their toddler stealing several million in diamonds.

The bathroom door swung open and an older woman walked to the mirror, frowning at her bangs. Teri dropped the bag of diamonds into her purse. “Sorry,” Teri said to the woman, deciding to use this opportunity to get some information. “Can you tell me… where we are?”

“The Borderline.” The woman didn’t glance away from her own reflection.

“Right. But—the border of what, exactly? Connecticut?”

The woman looked away from the mirror, then threw back her head and laughed—which was not the reaction Teri had been hoping for. “This is Clayton, New York, honey. On the border of Canada.”

“Why are we in Canada?” Chris asked.

“We’re not. We’re just… next to Canada.” Teri was reeling. How had this happened?

“And what about the…” Chris nodded at the bag of diamonds, then mouthed bag of diamonds. “Isn’t Gilroy going to come looking for them?”

“I don’t think he could have followed us,” Teri said, with more confidence than she felt. “Let’s find your brother and get some directions.”

Daryl was standing by the pool table, looking fascinated. “Can I play, Teri?” he asked as they approached. “It’s a C-note buy in with an escalator, double if you run the table.”

“I don’t know what that means.” Teri tried to steer him away.

“Want a translation?”

Teri turned around, frowning at whoever just spoke—but her frown disappeared when she saw him. The boy standing across from her looked around her age. He was tall, with broad shoulders and bright aquamarine eyes. He had a nervous smile, and sandy hair underneath a green baseball cap that read ALBERTA’S GOODS. “Oh,” Teri said, smiling. “That’s okay.”

“Want to stake me?” Daryl asked. “I’ll give you a cut.”

The guy laughed. “Thanks,” he said. “But I’m working, so I probably shouldn’t.”