The Hollowing (COYWOLF Series Book 2) Read online

  "Can you please put these flowers in the living room with the others, hon?" asked Chloe, gesturing to the roses on the kitchen counter. "They smell lovely, but it's a little too strong for dinner."

  Savi picked up the vase and brought it into the living room, but every surface was already covered with clusters of red, white, and pink roses. "I'll put these in my bedroom," she said, going down the hall.

  "A dozen roses every day this week," Chloe called after her. "This Marley's certainly trying to make a good impression."

  Savi returned to the kitchen as the toaster chimed. "Trying a little too hard, I think," she said, although she couldn't help smiling.

  "I think it's sweet. His parents obviously taught him well."

  His mom was a coyote, thought Savi, and his dad's a werewolf. I doubt either taught him much about romance.

  "Hopefully some will still be alive when Dave comes back and he'll take the hint," Chloe continued. "Can't let your boyfriend show him up." Her mom elbowed Savi lightly with a grin, then went back to cooking their eggs.

  Boyfriend? The word made Savi's heart flutter. Tomorrow was their first official date. She couldn't call him her boyfriend before then, could she?

  Sneaking a peek at her mom, Savi grabbed a plate and started buttering the toast. All her mom knew about Marley was that they'd met last weekend when she and Hettie were "camping." Savi didn't want to open the door to more questions about him, so she changed the subject.

  "Where did Dave go again?" she asked, although she remembered perfectly well.

  "Florida," said her mom, turning the burner off and reaching for one of the plates in front of Savi. "Tallahassee. Are you done with the bread?"

  Savi handed her a plate with one piece of buttered toast sitting on it. "And what do they need him for? Training, or something?"

  "A non-profit called The Den runs a drug rehab clinic for young people, and they need assistance getting their on-site psychiatric program up and running for the kids -- I mean, young adults -- living there." Chloe handed Savi the plate, now with two over-easy eggs sitting on the toast, and took the second plate Savi had been waiting to give her. "Dave was saying they operate under the premise that a healthy body leads to a healthy mind, but apparently they've been a little too focused on the body part -- ha! Body part!"

  They both took a moment to appreciate the pun before Chloe continued. "Dave is going to help with the healthy mind part."

  "Do they not have psychologists in Florida?" asked Savi, bringing her plate to the small dinner table next to the kitchen.

  "He didn't come right out and say it -- you know how humble Dave is -- but I got the impression he's kind of a big deal when it comes to teenage psychiatric standards. He should be landing around 7:30 this evening.” She sat opposite Savi and grinned at their eggs. "Breakfast for dinner: great idea, honey."

  Savi took a bite, grateful it was just her and her mom. Tonight was supposed to have been the first dinner with all three of them after her mom dropped the bomb that she and Dave were getting serious enough to merit overnight stays, but he had ended up coming over the last two nights anyway. Between her mom working Tuesday night, and Dave being there Wednesday and Thursday night, Savi hadn't had any time alone with her mom in over a week. Of course, no Dave meant that Savi no longer had an excuse to keep quiet about what really happened last weekend. Could her mom handle it?

  "You know," said her mom, "I met your dad at October Mountain State Forest."

  Savi stared at her mom in shock, but Chloe was smiling dreamily into the living room and didn't notice.

  "Now that I think of it," her mom added, "Monty also sent me buckets of flowers not long after."

  Savi couldn't believe it. Was this the same woman who, when Savi was a kid, ran into the bathroom sobbing whenever Savi dared ask a question about her dad? Her mom never, ever volunteered unsolicited information about him. Yet here she was, enjoying the memory of their first meeting.

  Did that mean she was really, truly over him? Part of Savi resented the possibility. But perhaps that meant her mom was at the point where she could actually deal with learning the truth about him...

  Savi put down her fork. "About last weekend, I --"

  Chloe's phone chirped from the counter. Her mom started to get up, but then sat back down. "If it's important they'll leave a message," she said.

  "You should get it," said Savi, welcoming the interruption.

  "It's dinnertime. We haven't had any time to ourselves all week."

  "It's fine. We've got all night. It could be Dave."

  Chloe glanced at the phone, then back at Savi. "I'll just see who it is."

  Grateful for the delay, no matter how brief, Savi kept her eyes on her meal.

  "It's Jolie," said Chloe, surprised.

  "Isn't it 1:30 in the morning in Paris?" Savi asked, looking at the stove. "Oh -- do you think she finally popped the question?"

  Savi's Aunt Jolie was planning on proposing to her girlfriend, and had been keeping Chloe apprised of all the developments in orchestrating the perfect moment.

  Chloe shook her head. "Juliette's birthday isn't for another few weeks." She answered the call. "Jolie? Is everything alright?" Her face fell. "Oh, no." Chloe covered the mouthpiece and whispered, "Juliette's been in a car accident. She’s okay, but… I’ll be right back."

  As her mom disappeared down the hallway, someone knocked on the door. The antique stained glass panels running alongside their front door -- "Why I bought the house," her mom would say -- were pretty but not functional in the least, affording only a distorted and untrustworthy view of visitors. Savi had learned not to even bother looking through them, so when she opened the door wide, she was caught completely by surprise by the person standing on their front steps.

  A short, stocky man wearing a ratty Red Sox t-shirt and gym shorts, grinned at her.

  "Heya, kid. Ya got that ten bucks yet?"

  Savi slammed the door, but Baxter met it with his shoulder and stuck his sneaker in the gap.

  "This is how you greet an old friend?" he grunted.

  "Friend?" Savi scoffed. Then lowering her voice, she said, "Get out of here before I scream."

  From the living room, her cell phone started to ring.

  "Don't answer that!" Baxter cried.

  His odd demand only served to confirm his bad intentions. Savi pushed on the door with all her strength, while at the same time searching the yard to see if anyone was with him.

  "C'mon, kid, I'm tryin' to help you here."

  "Last time you helped me I ended up trapped in a basement with a lunatic."

  Baxter pushed the door open enough to slip through.

  "No!" Savi cried, and ran down the hallway, nearly colliding with her mother.

  "Savi? What's going on?" Chloe asked, the phone still to her ear. "Who's this?"

  Baxter walked toward them, offering his hand to Chloe with a friendly smile. Jumping between them, Savi shrieked, "Don't touch her!"

  "Savi?" Chloe asked, half reprimand, half concern. "Jolie," she said into the phone, "I'm so sorry hon, but I have to call you back."

  Savi's phone stopped ringing. Baxter looked over his shoulder toward the living room, and cringed when the ringing almost immediately began again.

  "Do not answer that phone," he said sternly to Savi.

  "Get out of here!" Savi barked, unable to contain her panic. Having Baxter here was living proof of what she had suffered. She'd been trying all week to suppress it, and here he was, flaunting it in her face, in her home, where she was supposed to be safe.

  Chloe gave her daughter a frightened look and gently shifted Savi behind her. "Who are you?" Chloe demanded. "Why are you in our house?"

  Her phone stopped ringing again, and this time it remained silent.

  "Baxter Reilly, ma'am. I'm here because some nasty people are comin' for you -- both of you -- and I'm trying to get you outta here before they do."

  Keeping her eyes on Baxter, Chloe started dialing 911
. Right when she was about to press send, her phone started ringing.

  "Don't answer!" he cried, but it was too late -- she'd already accidentally accepted the call. Everyone stared at the phone. No one spoke.

  "Hello?" The house was quiet enough for all of them to hear the woman's voice. "Ms. Claudie? Are you there?"

  Bringing the phone to her ear, Chloe asked, "Who is this?"

  "This is Ms. Teri Perez with The Den down in Tallahassee. Is this Ms. Chloe Claudie?"

  Baxter's usually ruddy complexion went pale.

  At the mention of the Den, Savi's mom stiffened. "Yes, I'm Chloe. Did you say The Den? Dave -- I mean, Dr. Khan, Dave Khan -- he's flying to your facility, isn't he? Is he okay?"

  "Oh yes, Dr. Khan is on flight 5456 and estimated to arrive on schedule at 7:31 PM."

  "So why are you calling me?"

  "Is your daughter with you?"

  Chloe straightened even more. "Why?"

  "Would you be so kind as to put the phone on speaker?"

  "Can you please just tell me what this is about?"

  "I intend to, but what I have to say is pertinent to both you and your daughter. Could you put her on, please?"

  Savi's mind was racing. What would a rehab center want with her? Did Dave somehow find out about her drinking? Was he going to have her sent down there for detox? She hadn't touched anything since Sunday, and wasn't planning on drinking ever again. Would they believe her? But what did that have to do with Baxter? Was he the one who told them?

  Chloe pulled the phone away from her ear, but instead of putting it on speaker, she muted it. "Get your shoes on," she said to Savi, and turned to Baxter. "We're leaving, and so are you." She brushed past him, pulling Savi by the hand behind her.

  Leaning against the wall, he stayed where he was. "It's too late," he moaned, running his hands through his thinning blond curls. "I tried to tell you."

  "Okay," Chloe said after unmuting the phone and putting it on the kitchen counter. "You're on speaker." She joined Savi in the entryway, putting her shoes on.

  "Thank you Ms. Claudie. Savannah, are you there?" Ms. Perez asked, with an accent in her polite voice that matched her name.

  "Yes," Savi said, "I'm here."

  "Wonderful. Now, it is my pleasure to inform you that there is a car waiting outside your house to escort one or both of you to the Albany airport."

  Savi and her mom stopped in the middle of getting their jackets on. "Outside our house? Right now?" asked Chloe. She opened the front door just enough to peer out on the street, then closed it and gave a confused nod to Savi.

  My transport to Florida, Savi thought. Why won't this woman come out and say it?

  "Correct," said Ms. Perez. "There you will check in at the United Airlines counter and pick up first class tickets to Tallahassee, Florida, courtesy of Mr. Herberto Almeida."

  I have to tell her. I can't let a stranger tell her I have -- used to have -- a drinking problem.

  "Mom," said Savi, but her mom didn't hear.

  "Mr. Almeida is the one who requested Dave's assistance," said Chloe.

  "Correct."

  "Why do you want us to fly down also?" Chloe asked.

  "Mom, I --" Savi started again, but Ms. Perez started speaking at the same time.

  "Mr. Almeida has been notified of your specialty from Mrs. Marcia Solas, and has need of your talents here at the Den."

  Marcia? Savi looked at Baxter, who was sitting in Chloe's seat at the dinner table, his hands covering his face. What did a rehab center in Florida have to do with Marcia?

  "What do you mean, specialty?" asked Chloe.

  "How do you know Marcia?" Savi interjected.

  "Mrs. Solas is an acquaintance of Mr. Almeida," said Ms. Perez. "The efforts of our organizations at times overlap."

  Savi stared at the phone, trying to make sense of this woman's non-answer. "Are you Alters?"

  "We are supporters of Mrs. Solas's wildlife sanctuary and her work to preserve natural habitats."

  With a groan of frustration, Savi muted the phone. "Are they, Baxter?"

  He lifted his grim face off the table and met her gaze, nodding. Savi shivered and dropped the phone back on the counter.

  Her mom's warm hand rubbed Savi's back. "What's going on, honey?" Chloe asked in a low voice. "What are Alters? Who's Marcia?"

  Before Savi could answer, Ms. Perez asked, "Are you two still there?"

  Savi unmuted the phone and said, "I'm never going near Marcia again, and neither is my mom."

  "Mrs. Solas is not at the Den," came Ms. Perez's calm reply, "and we have no reason to expect her. It should also be noted that what you experienced this past weekend, Savannah, in no way reflects the manner in which Mr. Almeida conducts his affairs. Although we only request one of you to accept Mr. Almeida's offer, there are two tickets available at the airport in case you want to make a family vacation out of it."

  Savi stared at the phone. "Either of us?" For a fleeting moment, Savi let herself hope there had been some sort of mix-up, and they had the wrong information. If this was about being veru malar, why would they want her mom?

  "Correct. Mrs. Solas informed Mr. Almeida that you know very little about your talent. Perhaps you're also unaware that your mother shares that nature?"

  "What are you talking about?" Chloe demanded, picking up the phone. "What nature? Give me a straight answer here or I'm hanging up."

  "Suffice it to say that we are desperately in need of the help that only the two of you can give. Savannah is well aware of the circumstances and can fill you in on the details."

  Chloe glared at the phone in her hand, clearly deciding whether to follow through on her threat.

  "Which of you will be accepting Mr. Almeida's invitation?" asked Ms. Perez, calling Chloe's bluff.

  "Neither!" Savi shouted.

  "I believe I already mentioned Dr. Khan's imminent arrival."

  Savi and Chloe locked eyes on each other. "What about him?" Chloe asked, her face turning red.

  "We hope his stay will be brief, but the red tape related to establishing the kind of enduring program we hope to build here can unfortunately be quite restrictive."

  The woman's tone hadn't changed. She still spoke with the utmost professionalism, but the threat was evident.

  "I'm sure he would appreciate your company," Ms. Perez added.

  Chloe pressed her lips together, staring at Savi but not really seeing her. Savi shook her head, mouthing a silent, "No."

  "What time is the flight?" Chloe asked.

  "The flight leaves at 9:35 PM from Albany, and TSA guidelines suggest you arrive at least ninety minutes prior to ensure a leisurely check-in. You arrive in Tallahassee at approximately 3:10 AM, where there will of course be a car waiting to drive you to the Den."

  "No, Mom," Savi said quietly.

  "Can you give us a sec?" Chloe asked the woman.

  "Of course. Take as long as you need. I will note that Mr. Almeida requests that you keep in mind the sensitive nature of our work here. Providing sanctuary for minors and youths with troubled pasts requires a high degree of privacy to ensure their safety and dignity."

  Chloe muted the phone and turned to Baxter. "Will they hurt him?" she asked.

  Baxter had put his forehead back on the table beside Chloe's plate of untouched eggs. It took him a moment to realize she was talking to him. He straightened up, eager to be of use.

  "Berto's like Miss Nice on the phone there: nothin' but smiles til you don't do as you're told. He's all sweet talk, but he's not above the dirty stuff."

  Berto.

  Savi had heard that name before. When? It had to have been when she was with the Alters, but the memory slipped out of her grasp.

  "Is that a yes?" asked Chloe.

  A red blotch appeared on Baxter's neck as he gave her a sheepish, "Yes, ma'am."

  "I suppose calling the police wouldn't be very respectful of their privacy," she muttered. Turning to Savi, she said, "I'm going."

 
Savi still couldn't remember when she'd heard it before, but the name Berto filled her with panic. "Mom, you can’t go.“

  "What choice do I have?" her mom asked.

  Staring into her mom's eyes, Savi was surprised to find more resolve than fear. She tried to think of a way out of this, a way that would protect her mom from the world of fear and pain that she was about to enter, but with Dave as their hostage, there was nothing to be done.

  Chloe unmuted the phone. "We're back," she said to the woman. "I'll be flying down alone, but there's no need for your car service. My daughter will drive me to the airport."

  "Mr. Almeida will be glad to meet you, Ms. Claudie. Regarding the car, he hopes you will accept his offer of transportation by a professional, ensuring a safe and hassle-free commute."

  Chloe narrowed her eyes at the phone, but when she replied, her tone was dripping with as much honey as the woman's. "You can tell Mr. Almeida that while I appreciate his thoughtfulness and concern for my well-being, you haven't left me much time before I leave. I have a lot of catching up to do with my daughter, and the hour drive will help ensure I'm properly informed before my visit."

  All eyes were on the phone as they waited for the woman's reply.

  "Very well," she answered. "However, the service car will follow, ensuring you encounter no automotive trouble and arrive at the airport safely."

  "I'm sure that's not necessary," said Chloe.

  "Mr. Almeida insists upon it, and he looks forward to meeting you. Savannah?" the woman added before Chloe could hang up.

  "Yes?" Savi answered, a lump in her throat.

  "Mr. Almeida would appreciate it if you remained in contact throughout your mother's stay, in case we require your expertise as well."

  "I'm going down, you don't --"

  "That's fine," Savi said, cutting her mom off and taking the phone. "Bye."

  She was about to hang up, but her finger hung over the red button when the woman spoke again.

  "I hope the three of you enjoy the rest of your evening," she said, and ended the call.

  Savi and her mom looked at Baxter, who was staring at the phone with obvious dread.