“Hello?” Spencer Lawson’s voice rang clear in Jeremy’s ears. For a second his mind was clouded with anger at her for landing him here. But unlike his father, he knew when he was beaten, and knew when to admit defeat.
“Spencer, don’t hang up I need to tell you something important.” Jeremy said quickly.
“Jeremy? What the hell?” she exclaimed. There was a male voice in the background who sounded just as surprised and angry. Not her father. This voice was younger.
“The guy she was sleeping with probably.” Jeremy thought, but he pushed the angry aside.
“Spencer, hear me out. You’re in trouble.”
“Am I? You’re out of my life, I’d say things are going quite nicely.”
“No, they aren’t. My dad and one of his crazy Army buddies are coming for you guys.”
“You guys?”
“You and your dad. I don’t know what they’re planning, but I know he’s out for blood.” Jeremy said. He knew his father. Jeremiah Sr. was the kind of man who didn’t just get even. He wanted to remind everyone he was at the top of the food chain. And mutilating a man was a sure fire way of doing that.
“How do you know?” Spencer asked. Behind her, Eric was fuming, and repeating over and over that they should call the police.
“Apparently he’s got some plan that involves me running away to Canada. Sent some guy to tell me about his plan.” Jeremy said.
“Let me just see if I’ve got this straight. Your father and some goons of his arm coming to town to kill my entire family, and you’re warning me about it?”
“I know you probably don’t believe me, and…”
“No I believe you. I just don’t get why you’re telling me any of this.” Spencer said.
“I’m not entirely sure myself. We have history together, granted it’s a pretty fucked up history, but whatever. And as much as I hate you for putting teeth marks in my skull and brain, my father’s out of his mind.”
“You’re just figuring this out now? Jeremy, the guy drives around with ‘Keep honking, I’m reloading’ bumper sticker on his car! Sane people don’t do that.”
“Ya, that is a bit extreme.”
“This is too weird. My dad’s stopped acting like a prison warden, you’re not acting like a madman, and Er… never mind.” Spencer shut up when he realized she was about to mention Eric. She knew that would set Jeremy off.
“Maybe you cracking my skull open did some good, or something like that.” Jeremy said.
“What are you going to do now?”
“Just used my one phone call. Go back to my cell and hope someone t-bones my dad’s care I guess.”
“Alright. Well… thank you Jeremy.” Spencer said, the words feeling so odd. She never thought she’d be thanking him for anything. This was the guy who almost ended her life. Now he was trying to save it?
“I really did fall through the looking glass.” she thinks.
“Spencer, wait!” Jeremy said before she hung up.
“I’m… I’m sorry. I should have left well enough alone. I’ve got too much of my dad in me.” Jeremy said.
Spencer was even more surprised to hear Jeremy say that. She doesn’t what to say. There’s a silence between the two, made all the more uncomfortable for Spencer since Eric is sitting next to her on the couch.
“I… I know.” Spencer finally said.
“Thanks. Take care of yourself kid.” Jeremy said before hanging up. The prison guard escorts him back to his cell. There, Jeremy lies on his bed and thinks. About Spencer, about his abusive father, about what he’d just done.
“On a road to retribution….” Jeremy muttered, closing his eyes and slipping into a deep sleep. And for once, it’s a peaceful sleep.