Page 78 of Capturing You

“Yeah.” She cleared her throat, trying to make her voice sound normal. “I tried to reach Lenny’s partner, but Lenny took the call. He wouldn’t tell me anything. In that respect, you and he could be twins separated at birth.”

“I’m nothing like your stalker.”

Stalker.

She didn’t argue this time. She needed to keep in mind who Lenny really was. And no, Ford didn’t seem to have stalker tendencies, but in other ways? “Right. Because where he keeps things from me, you’re an open book.”

“I have a… I’m trying to…” He clamped his lips closed and continued to the kitchen. “Come.”

She froze.

He disappeared through the door, sighed loudly enough that she could hear it, and then poked his head into the doorway. “Will you please help me?”

“Happy to.”

Ford went straight to the stovetop and scooped a big spoonful of noodles onto a plate. “Could you get us drinks? Please?”

She joined him in the kitchen. By the looks of things, he was a messy cook. An empty noodle box, spice containers, and a half-full jar of something—the label was turned away—were surrounded by dirty pots, dishes, and silverware.

“Lemme guess. You’re expecting the servants to clean?”

“Something like that.”

Chuckling, she filled two glasses with ice and water, then carried them toward the breakfast nook.

“We’re not eating there.”

She paused and watched as he put the two plates onto a large tray and added silverware and napkins.

“What am I missing?” He seemed to be talking to himself.

She was the one missing something.

“Salt and pepper.” He answered his own question, snatching the shakers, then grabbed a bottle of soy sauce from the counter. He opened the pantry and shoved something into his pocket. “I think this is it. Come on.” Halfway to the far door, he turned and again said, “Please?”

He was trying to be polite. That was something.

“Where are we going?”

“I’ll show you. Trust me.”

He led the way back up the stairs, down the hallway toward the family bedrooms, and through a narrow door she’d assumed opened to a closet.

She shouldn’t assume anything in this house.

They climbed a staircase that rose two flights. At the top of the second, Ford turned back to her. “Stay close to the wall, and you should be fine.”

“Why? What’s happening?”

With all the craziness of the last few days and the news she’d received in the last half hour, a wave of fear rolled over Brooklynn as Ford reached for the knob on yet another door.

Leading to…she had no idea what. Did she trust this man?

If not, she was in too deep to save herself now. She’d go where he led and pray he didn’t lead her into trouble. Or to the men who’d terrorized her friend.

* * *

Brooklynn followedFord onto a small rooftop patio that had her pulling in a lungful of clean, fresh air, inhaling the scents of summer and sea.