Page 44 of Capturing You

Another grunt as he filled his mug with coffee.

“Hungry?”

He turned, nodded.

“Eggs and bacon?”

“I can cook.”

“But unlike you, I have nothing better to do.” Which wasn’t strictly true, but there wasn’t a whole lot she could accomplish without her computer. That was a problem that needed to be solved.

She’d made some calls the evening before, reaching out to the people who’d left messages with Jewel. All of them had heard that Brooklynn was in trouble and asked what happened and where she’d been.

Graham, who owned the biggest hotel in Shadow Cove, practically grilled her for details about what she’d seen.

Elvis, owner of the shop next door, had worried drugs would flood into the community. “Back in my day, we experimented, dabbled here and there.”

Brooklynn pictured the sixty-something woman as a hippie, her long, straight hair parted down the middle, bellbottom jeans, and a multicolored polyester shirt.

“Not that they were good for us, mind you,” Elvis was quick to say. “But they weren’t laced with poison like the drugs nowadays. I know you’re holed up somewhere…nearby?”

Brooklynn, of course, hadn’t told her where she was.

The mayor had assured her that he’d directed the police chief to put his best men on the case. “We’ll get you back soon,” Ian had said. “Not sure we can pull off Old Home Days without you.”

Good to know where his priorities lay.

Only Lois Whitmore seemed truly concerned. “Call Leo. He’ll figure out the best way forward.”

Leo was the chief of police—and Lenny’s father. He was also an old friend of Lois’s.

“I might do that.”

“Do you have his direct number?” When Brooklynn said she didn’t, Lois rattled it off. “Did you get that?”

“It’s in my phone.”

“Call him, dear. He’ll help you. And if there’s anything I can do for you, just ask.”

“I’m safe for now. There is one thing, though. I’m worried my mother’s going to find out what happened.” Lois and Mom had been friends as long as Brooklynn could remember.

“You know she’ll want to know.”

“Yeah, but I’m afraid she’ll rush back home, which could put her in danger. And if she does, Cici and Delaney will come too. They need to stay in Paris for the time being.”

“I hate to break this to you, dear, but they’re going to find out. I won’t talk to them without your permission, but you’d be wise to get ahead of it.”

“I will, but when she freaks out and calls you, talk her off the ledge, will you? I’ll do my best to assure her that I’m safe, but I’d appreciate your backup on that.”

“I’ll do what I can. So… Did you get it? The picture?”

Excitement bubbled inside. “I did. It’s perfect, exactly what we planned.”

“Wonderful! I can’t wait to see it.”

Brooklynn couldn’t wait to send it. The contest was the least of her worries at the moment, but if she won the prize money, she could keep the gallery door open. And the prestige of winning the contest wouldn’t hurt business.

She was considering how to break the news to her parents when Ford interrupted her thoughts. “If you don’t mind cooking, I’d eat.”