Thirty-FourA noise outside the front window stirred Doug from his troubled sleep. A few hours before he'd dragged himself from the driveway, stumbling through tear-soaked eyes to Jake's sofa. He'd lay there until exhaustion had mercifully taken away his pain. He'd fallen into a deep sleep, with clouded dreams. His eyes opened slightly as he heard two car doors slam. “Jake. Is that you?” he said groggily. A rattle of keys in the front door made Doug almost leap from the sofa.
“Hello.” Jake said.
“Son,” Doug said, crossing the lounge to embrace Jake.
“Dad,” Jake said, flicking on the main lights. He noticed Doug's dishevelled appearance and blood shot eyes. “Oh no.”
“I'm sorry Son. He was here. Last night. He's taken them.”
Jake slumped against the wall as an older, grizzled man in stra
