Gone by Mallory Kane

head with it.” She poured milk from the cooler over the oat rings.
    “Oh, no. Tupid Howarr,” Joshy said, running over to the cot where Rhoda was sitting. “Me hold it.”
    “No. I’ll hold it. Now be a good boy and eat.” She let Joshy pick up the spoon and feed himself while she held the bowl close to him in case he spilled. While she waited for him to finish, she looked around the small wooden building. She knew what this place was. Howard slept here when he spent several nights on Bayou Picou, fishing. She didn’t know whom it belonged to, but she’d been there on a couple of rare fishing trips with him. It had dark shutters on the windows, a portable chemical toilet and a gas generator. The lights were on right now, but she knew he couldn’t run the generator 24/7, so she wondered what his plans were. If he had any. Knowing him, he hadn’t thought past getting her and Joshy away from her house and making sure there was nothing in this place she could use as a weapon or a means of breaking out.
    Joshy was finished with his cereal. He leaned down and slurped at the bowl, then peered up at her. “Gramma, look. I’n a good boy.”
    Rhoda smiled and kissed him on the forehead. “Yes, you are. Are you done now?”
    He nodded as milk rolled down his chin.
    A loud banging echoed through the building. Joshy jumped and started crying. “It’s okay, darling,” Rhoda said. “It’s just stupid Howard.”
    Rhoda set Joshy’s bowl on the counter while she listened to Howard undo the padlock that kept the cabin locked. Joshy clung to her side.
    “Rhoda!” Howard called. “Get away from the door. I ain’t about to have you trying to attack me and getting out the door.” The door swung slowly open, revealing Howard standing on the balls of his feet, apparently ready to rush her if she tried anything.
    Rhoda laughed at him. “You’re such an idiot, Howard. I’m not going to try anything that might put Joshy in danger. You’ll screw up soon enough and Joshy and I will just walk right out of here.”
    “Rho, I need help,” Howard said. “I’ve gotta figure out a foolproof way to get the money and get us out of here without getting caught and hopefully without getting anybody hurt.”
    “Right,” she said. “Good luck with that. I hope you brought us some water. I couldn’t find any. And what are you going to do about that generator? I know you can’t leave it on all the time, but we’re going to need light, and if there comes a late cool spell we’ll need heat.”
    “Aw, woman, quit your bitching. I’m going to take care of everything. I’ll turn the generator off at night when you two are tucked in, and I’ll turn it on in the morning, about the time you get up. We’re supposed to have a thermostat and timer for it, but there’s a couple of folks who haven’t ponied up the money yet.”
    “We’re going to need more blankets then. Howard, why’d you have to bring us out here? What do you think I’m gonna do? Call the police? It wouldn’t take them ten minutes to figure out who he is,” she whispered.
    “No, I don’t think you’ll call the police. I think you’ll take that kid and run. And I don’t want that, Rho.” He sat down on the cot. “I told ’em half a mil, Rho. Half a million dollars. I told Powers if he didn’t have that kind of money he knew where he could get it. I was talking about the Delanceys,” he finished with a sheepish grin.
    “And now you need me to plan how you’re going to get the money? Well, forget it. I’ve never been so mad at anyone in my life than I am at you right now. And I promise you first chance I get, I’m going to K-I-L-L you. Now get up. Joshy needs to go to sleep.”
    Howard stood with a grunt.
    “Come on, Joshy,” she called. “Let’s get in the bed. Time for you to go to sleep.”
    “But, Gramma, it’s light out. Play ball?” Joshy said, peering around Rhoda’s back at Howard. “Howarr, you go.”
    Howard laughed. “Hey, Rho,