The Devil's Wire by Deborah Rogers Page B

thought she would say no. Oh God how she wished she had said no.
    Overhead she hears the shower still going. McKenzie has been in there for forty-five minutes. Finally, the water squeaks off and McKenzie comes down, skin glowing red, hair wet, smelling of antibacterial soap.
    "We're out of hot water," she says.
    "Terrific," says Jennifer.
    McKenzie heads to the cupboard and retrieves a bowl for her cereal. "That's disgusting," she says, staring into it.
    McKenzie takes out another and another. "They're all dirty. God, this whole place makes me cringe."
    She takes the stack to the sink and runs the tap and starts cleaning.
    Jennifer looks at McKenzie and a new fear develops. What if Hank tried to take her? What if they became one of those nightmare parental abduction cases when a former spouse absconds with a child across state lines? What if Jennifer wakes up one morning and McKenzie was gone?
    "Maybe you should stay home from school today. It's been a tough couple of days," she says.
    "But you have to go to work. I'll just be bored here on my own."
    "You can come to the clinic with me."
    "That's stupid," says McKenzie, squirting dishwashing liquid over the final two bowls. "I'm going to school."
    A car door slams. They both look out the window. The locksmith's van is in the drive.
    McKenzie turns to Jennifer. "You're changing the locks?"
    "It's just a precaution."
    "For what?"
    Jennifer doesn't know what to say.
    "Mom?"
    "I want to keep us safe."
    "Dad wouldn't hurt us, would he?" There's a knock on the front door. "Mom?"
    "I better get that," says Jennifer.
    *
    The day passes in a blur. Jennifer is a mess of nerves, glancing out her clinic window every ten minutes, constantly checking her phone. Over the course of the day, Jennifer calls McKenzie four times to check she's okay and she is and it's a relief when it's closing time and Jennifer makes it back to the safety of their newly fortified home without incident.
    It's dark by the time Jennifer remembers it's trash night. She tells herself to leave it but then gets angry – now he's got her afraid to take out the garbage. Still, she feels better when she sees Lenise over the road, putting her own bin out. Lenise looks up and gives Jennifer a curt nod then turns to go back inside.
    Jennifer jogs across the road. "Hey, Lenise"
    Lenise just folds her arms and looks at her.
    "I'm sorry," says Jennifer finally. "I shouldn't have gone off at you like that."
    "No, you shouldn't have."
    "You were only trying to help."
    "That's right."
    They fall silent then Lenise reaches into her pocket and takes out a pack of cigarettes.
    "I could use one of those," says Jennifer.
    "You smoke?"
    "Not in years."
    "Then you shouldn't start again."
    "Please."
    "Suit yourself."
    Lenise gives her a cigarette then lights it for her. Jennifer sucks and her tongue burns, but God it feels good.
    "You're shaking," says Lenise.
    "It's the cold."
    "I see."
    "He broke into the house."
    Lenise nods. "I saw the locksmith."
    "I thought it would be best."
    Jennifer takes another drag. "He could be watching us right now," she says.
    Lenise steps forward and looks out into the night. "Asshole."
    "I won't argue with that."
    "You don't think he would do something stupid?"
    "I got a restraining order," says Jennifer. "They went to serve him at work but he wasn't there. He's lost his job."
    "I've seen this sort of thing before. Men who can't let go. They can be very dangerous when cornered."
    "He's too weak for that."
    "Don't be naive," snaps Lenise. "And don't think that restraining order will save you, either. A piece of paper will mean nothing to him and police can't be there 24/7. You know how the rest goes."
    "I'm scared he might take McKenzie."
    "Or worse."
    They fall silent and look out at the woods.
    "Do you have a gun?" says Lenise.
    "What? Of course not."
    "A gun in the hand of a woman is a great equalizer. In fact, women have the advantage because men never think a woman will have the guts to use it."