Page 122 of Capturing You

Carrying the book, Brooklynn turned and reached for the knob, but a voice stopped her.

“Don’t forget your backpack.” Owen held it out to her. “Where are you going?”

He’d been observing so quietly that she’d forgotten he was there. She took her bag. “Thank you.”

“Delaney’s worried about you,” Owen said. “Is there anything I can do to help? Can I take you somewhere or?—”

“Thanks for asking. I’m fine, really.”

“You have a safe place to stay? It’s not safe there.” He nodded in the general direction of her apartment.

“Yup.” Or she would, as soon as she figured out where it should be. Alyssa’s, maybe. She could hole up there.

“You let me know if you need a ride.” He stepped forward and wrapped her in a hug, whispering, “Let me know if there’s anything I can do.”

“I will.” Her eyes burned with tears. She hardly knew Delaney’s boyfriend, but that didn’t stop him from offering her comfort.

Brooklynn stepped back and ducked into the stairwell and scooted up the stairs.

All she’d wanted was to get in and out without being seen, and instead, she’d bumped into three townspeople. As kind as all of them had been—especially Owen—she couldn't shake the thought that Ford—Forbes—believed Shadow Cove residents might be involved with The Network.

Their information about the seagull logo lent credence to his theory.

Were her friends and neighbors…criminals? Maybe killers?

As Brooklynn made her way back to her apartment, she prayed.Protect the innocent, Lord. Let Maury, Owen, and Graham not tell anybody they saw me. Keep them safe. Keep the whole town safe. And if any of them are involved in this terrible smuggling operation, expose them.

Almost against her will, she added,Keep Forbes safe and help him find what he’s looking for.

CHAPTERTWENTY-SIX

By the time Dr. Shelley called, Forbes had been cruising Center Street for hours as if Brooklynn might just appear in front of him.

He parked on a side street and answered.

“I hired two nurses on your behalf,” the doctor said without preamble. “They’ll each take twelve-hour shifts.

“When do they start?”

“One’s already here.” Dr. Shelley gave him the nurses’ names and a rundown of their experience. “They come highly recommended from one of the visiting nurses organizations in Portland.”

“Thanks for handling that.”

“Mrs. Ballentine woke up from her nap to find one of them in her room, and she’s not happy.”

As if Grandmother had sensed him talking about her, his phone buzzed with an incoming call. “That’s her. I’d better answer.”

“Good luck.” The doctor sounded amused as she ended the call.

He took a deep breath and pressed the accept button. “Good afternoon, Gran.”

“Don’t youGranme. Why do I have a babysitter?”

“Not a babysitter, a nurse. And you know why.”

“Because of a silly fall? Old ladies fall all the time, young man. I will not be treated like a child.”

He absorbed that, inhaling a breath, exhaling it slowly. “Do you remember what happened this morning?”