Page 31 of Capturing You

She dialed the gallery.

“Light and Shadows. This is Jewel.”

“I’m so glad you’re there.”

“Omigosh, Brooklynn?”

“I’m sorry I wasn’t?—”

“I’ve been so worried about you! You wouldn’t believe the rumors. They said you witnessed a crime or something? And now you’re on the run?”

So much for her anonymous tip. News traveled too fast in small towns.

Brooklynn stepped into the office and settled on a leather chair, putting the phone on speaker so Ford could hear.

His gaze flicked up, and he gave her the teensiest nod, almost as if he approved.

“Say that again, Jewel?”

“A cop came in demanding to know where you were, said he thought you were in danger. He practically accused me of hiding you, like you’re some kind of criminal. He wanted me to unlock your apartment for him, but I refused.”

“Let me guess. Officer Taggart?”

“How’d you know?”

She’d hired Jewel a few months before, which was after Lenny had given up on her—or was convinced she really would seek a restraining order if he didn’t leave her alone. She’d never needed to fill her employee in on the ugly details of her previous relationship.

“What’d you tell him?”

“That I didn’t know where you were.” She sounded defensive. “Which I didn’t. And still don’t.”

“That was perfect. Even if you did, though, do me a favor. Never tell him anything about me, okay? Even if he claims it’s police business. If he says that, tell him you’ll talk to someone else, but not him.”

“Is that…? Did he do something?”

“No, no. I did witness something unusual, though I didn’t see any faces, and I have no idea what they were up to.” As Brooklynn said the words, she thought of her camera. Had those men seen it?

Could the photos help figure out what was going on?

She needed a way to study them—and her camera’s small screen wouldn’t do it—and then to send them along to the police.

“I hope you don’t mind,” Jewel said, “but after he left, I checked your apartment, just to make sure you weren’t there and hurt or something.”

Ford looked up, curious, she supposed, as to why her employee would do that. She hadn’t told him that her apartment was on the second floor above the gallery.

“That’s why I gave you the key,” Brooklynn said, “in case of emergency. I assume you didn’t see anything that worried you?”

“No. It looked like it always does.”

Nobody had broken in. Yet. But if that was the plan, they’d probably wait until after dark. She hated the thought of those men pawing through her things.

“I’m going to have to lie low for a little while. Can you handle the gallery?”

“Sure thing. Where are you?”

Across the room, Ford shook his head.

“You’ll be better off if you don’t know,” Brooklynn said. “Suffice it to say, I’m safe.”