Page 62 of Capturing You

Even if she had found something he’d missed.

Though this room had a wall of windows, they didn’t let in much light. The sun had set, and the moon was hidden behind clouds. Nothing but an occasional flash of lightning brightened the space.

“Sit.”

She froze halfway across to a chair. “I think you’ve mistaken me for the family dog.”

Nothing about Brooklynn saiddog.

And anyway, dogs were obedient.

He blew out an audible sigh. “Would you please sit down so you don’t crash into something and break a bone or an antique lamp?”

“Why, thank you, kind rescuer.” He heard a smile in her voice as she settled on the sofa near the fireplace.

The woman was cheerful to a fault.

He checked his phone and confirmed that the power was off in most of Shadow Cove. Then, he scrolled the video feeds. His security system was working and all seemed…

Wait.

Was that…? It looked like someone was lurking outside the garage. Or maybe a fallen branch had blown in the heavy wind.

He didn’t want to worry Brooklynn, and if someone was out there, if they breached the building, the alarm would sound.

“Don’t move,” he told her. “Just…just stay there until I get back. If you hear anything unusual…” He crossed to the hiding space he hadn’t peeked into since that terrible night so many years ago. He swung the grate open.

He didn’t look inside. Never wanted to see in there again. “You can hide in here.”

“Ooh, another secret.”

“Just stay put.” His words were too gruff. When she said nothing, he added, “Please?”

“With no flashlight, where am I going to go?”

There was no telling with this woman. “I’ll close the door to keep the heat in. I’ll be right back.”

“Okay, but Ford? Don’t be long.”

She sounded as nervous for him to leave her alone as he was. Sure, the alarm system would alert him if anyone came. But could he get back to her in time?

* * *

Forbes madehis way down the steps to the basement and to the door that let out into the side yard, opposite the garage. Silently, he paused the alarm long enough to step outside, knowing it would re-engage in seconds.

He killed his flashlight and stowed his phone. The wind whipped, and rain stung his face.

Heart thumping, he pulled out his handgun.

That shadow on the video feed had probably been nothing. Even so, he proceeded cautiously.

He crept toward the back of the house. He couldn’t differentiate the sound of the surf from the heavy wind whipping through the trees.

On the far end of the house, he rounded the garage.

The side door was open just a crack.

Thanks to the storm, Forbes couldn’t hear anything coming from inside. He glanced through the window in the door.