"What do you mean he's escaped police custody?" I shout. I suddenly realize that the rest of the house is still trying to enjoy their peaceful sleep and I need to keep my voice down if I want to keep it that way. They don't need to be made aware of what is happening just yet.

I want to keep this a secret for as long as possible so that I won't have to worry them with this troubling news just yet.

"On the way to the hospital to treat his head, the transport van was involved in an accident. It overturned in a ditch on the side of the road." He explains. "The driver and other officer was killed in the accident. So somewhere between the time of the accident and when police arrived at the scene, your father had slipped from his restraints and escaped."

I am in total disbelief right now. How could this have happened? It seems like something that would only happen in a movie. I sit down in the chair at the kitchen table, for fear that I might fall on my face if I stand any longer.

"I don't want you to worry though." He steps closer.

"Don't want me to worry? My serial-murderer dad has escaped from prison and the police don't know where he is. Tell me why that isn't a really good reason to worry?" I try to remind him of the situation I have somehow found myself in.

"We are doing everything in our power to locate him and do it as soon as possible." He assures me. Although, I have a feeling that he isn't going to be caught anytime soon. He is just too smart.

He got away with murdering five women for over fifteen years, cheating on my mother for a decade, and hiding a lot of other things from everyone. He can hide from the cops for as long as he wants. I know he can.

"He tried to run me over with a car Josh." I remind him. "And when that didn't work, he tried to drown me in it. He tried to knife Peter for God's sake. He wasn't successful but all it takes to add another murder to his list is one wrong move from any of us." I shake my head. "Both of us almost died. And it could be anyone else next. We aren't safe if he isn't in prison."

"I understand that Avery, I do. I am not going to let him hurt you. Any of you." He grabs my hand and squeezes it tight. "I promise you that."

I shake my head. "Josh-" he needs to see things from my perspective here.

"I'm not going to let it happen Avery. There's no use in arguing about it." He repeats.

"And how exactly do you plan on stopping him from hurting any of us if you don't know where he is?" I ask, pulling my hands away from them and crossing my arms over my chest.

"I'm going to have officers posted in your driveway from the moment I leave until the moment he is securely back in his cell." He shares his plan with me on how exactly he is going to keep my family safe.

I sigh. I believe he wants to help. I really do. I just think my dad is a lot smarter than Josh is giving him credit for. Posting an officer outside my door is not going to be enough to deter my father if he really wants to get inside.

"And you promise that having someone outside at all times will stop him? They'll catch him if he gets inside?" I want to make sure.

"He won't even make it inside. My officers will stop him before he is even on the lawn." He says.

"Thank you." I smile softly. "I really appreciate everything that you're doing for us. Really, I do."

Author's notes: what are your thoughts on where this story is going? Are you still enjoying the story?

I've got lots of exciting things planned for you!