BooksBarbecue
Back The Neighborhood
Chapters (59)
  1. Part I Reconnaissance
  2. Chapter One
  3. Chapter Two
  4. Chapter Three
  5. Part II Incursion
  6. Chapter Four
  7. Chapter Five
  8. Chapter Six
  9. Chapter Seven
  10. Chapter Eight
  11. Chapter Nine
  12. Chapter Ten
  13. Part III Under Siege
  14. Chapter Eleven
  15. Chapter Twelve
  16. Chapter Thirteen
  17. Part IV Course Correction
  18. Chapter Fourteen
  19. Part V Balance of Power
  20. Chapter Fifteen
  21. Chapter Sixteen
  22. Chapter Seventeen
  23. Chapter Eighteen
  24. Chapter Nineteen
  25. Chapter Twenty
  26. Chapter Twenty-One
  27. Chapter Twenty-Two
  28. Chapter Twenty-Three
  29. Chapter Twenty-Four
  30. Chapter Twenty-Five
  31. Chapter Twenty-Six
  32. Chapter Twenty-Seven
  33. Chapter Twenty-Eight
  34. Chapter Twenty-Nine
  35. Part VI Spy versus Spy
  36. Chapter Thirty
  37. Chapter Thirty-One
  38. Chapter Thirty-Two
  39. Chapter Thirty-Three
  40. Part VII Winds of War and Flame
  41. Chapter Thirty-Four
  42. Chapter Thirty-Five
  43. Chapter Thirty-Six
  44. Chapter Thirty-Seven
  45. Chapter Thirty-Eight
  46. Chapter Thirty-Nine
  47. Chapter Forty
  48. Chapter Forty-One
  49. Part VIII Strong to the Finish
  50. Chapter Forty-Two
  51. Chapter Forty-Three
  52. Part IX Spy Games
  53. Chapter Forty-Four
  54. Chapter Forty-Five
  55. Chapter Forty-Six
  56. Part X What Goes Around
  57. Chapter Forty-Seven
  58. Chapter Forty-Eight
  59. About the Author

The enormity of the realization that his beloved son was maturing before his very eyes into an astute young man hit him in the heart like a blow, a mixture of pride and sorrow at the loss of innocence. Not that watching an elderly man get murdered and four other people shot and killed likely hadn’t already done that. The pride outweighed the loss and David smiled, his eyes glinting slightly from emotion. “That’s exactly what your mom and I have been talking about. You sure you two aren’t in cahoots?”

“There you go again, Dad, showing your age. I’m pretty sure no one says that anymore.”

“Well, they should. If it’s good enough for me, then it’s good enough for everyone.” He smiled again, reflective and silent. “Fine. Since this family is a democracy, I guess two out of three votes have it—I’ll talk to my partners next week and see what they have to say about it. God knows I’ve brought them a ton of business and made all of us very well-off.”

“So, no New York?” Ben asked, hopeful that the idea of his father in NYC was no longer a consideration.

“No promises, but don’t worry. Whatever happens, I’ll make sure you’ll finish out high school here with your friends . . . and with Sam,” he added, grinning like the younger man in love he once was.

Ben felt himself blush, but he didn’t care. He looked around at the assembled hostages, feeling positive about his future. It will all be okay. You’ll see her soon. It—will—all—be—okay.

At least that was what he thought until the Falling Rock Sheriff’s SUV pulled into the neighborhood and parked on the grass near the pavilion. A fierce-looking man stepped out, hair pulled back into a ponytail, dressed in khaki cargo pants, a dark gray pullover, and a Kevlar vest similar to the ones the remaining gunmen wore. Every single person knew immediately that he was the real man in charge, not the one that had threatened to execute Mr. Simmons. The near-executioner moved quickly to greet the newcomer, who’d walked to the back of the SUV and lifted the tailgate.

Ben watched him as he left the rear of the SUV to greet his friend, the menacing psychopath. When Ben saw what he carried from the vehicle, the positivity he’d felt moments before evaporated, quickly transforming into a cold irrational fear. He wouldn’t do that. He couldn’t.

Fortunately for Ben, he had no real insight into the true depths of Griffin Huntsmen’s pathology. If he had, the fear he felt would’ve been a full-blown panic.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Chapter
TWENTY-SEVEN

Sam led the way for several minutes, her feet pounding on the trail she’d already run just a short while before.