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CHAPTER FIFTEEN

B rooklynn replayed that moment a hundred times.

It wouldn’t have been wise to let Ford kiss her.

She knew that. She was attracted to the man—who wouldn’t be?

—but feeling a physical attraction and acting on one were two very different things.

Being holed up in this house with him and depending on him for her physical safety were not good precursors to a healthy relationship.

And anyway, who was talking about a relationship? It would’ve been a kiss. A good kiss, she was certain, but a very bad-idea kiss.

Probably.

Though she would have enjoyed it.

She ran a brand-new cordless vacuum she’d found in the closet with the cleaning supplies over the old hardwood floor of a guest room on the second floor, across from the office where she’d found the notebook the night before.

It was mindless work, which was not the distraction she needed from the almost-kiss.

She’d slept fitfully, giving up right after dawn.

Rather than wait on Ford for breakfast, she’d prepared boxed blueberry muffins and added a crumble topping.

For someone who was only here temporarily, Ford had a well-stocked pantry.

She’d scarfed one muffin while it was still warm and left the rest in a bowl on the counter before retreating to the second floor.

Not that she was trying to avoid him.

She just needed to get her head on straight.

For all the awkwardness after the power came on the night before, Ford had remembered her need for a phone charger and brought her one before fleeing, tossing a quick “G’night” over his shoulder as he headed for the stairs.

This morning, she’d checked her messages, responded when she needed to, before she resumed her cleaning. She’d scoured four rooms in this wing already and was on the fifth when her phone rang.

She checked the caller ID and then swiped to answer. “Hello?”

“Brooklynn? Are you all right?”

It was Lois, though she didn’t sound like herself. “I’m fine. What’s wrong?”

“You’re safe?”

“What happened?”

“We had a power outage last night. Bad thunderstorms.”

Brooklynn didn’t share that the power had gone out where she was, not wanting Lois or anyone to know she was so close.

“Is it still out?” Maybe they hadn’t restored the whole town’s power yet.

“No, but while it was out, some men broke into my house.” The older woman’s voice shook. “They demanded to know where you were.”

Brooklynn gasped. “Oh no. I never thought… I’m so sorry. I would never put you in danger.”

“I know, dear, and I’m fine.” Her voice was stronger now. “It was three men, and they wore masks. They didn’t hurt me, just scared me. When the power came back on, they took off.”

Brooklynn’s heart thumped with fear, imagining what her poor friend had gone through.

And fear that those men were as determined as ever to find her. “Did you call the police?”

“Lenny and his partner came, and I gave them a statement. Lenny insisted I tell you to call him for an update. He seems to believe for some unknown reason that you won’t answer his calls.

” The last was deadpanned. Besides Ford, Lois was the only person Brooklynn had confided in about her trouble with Lenny.

She’d been the one to suggest Brooklynn file a report against him.

“Leo wouldn’t put up with that from any of his officers,” she’d said, “and believe you me, he definitely won’t put up with it from his son. ”

Considering that Lois had known the police chief all her life, Brooklynn had trusted her instincts, and she’d been right. Just the threat of reporting Lenny to the police had gotten him to back off.

“Who’s Lenny’s partner now, do you know?” Brooklynn asked.

“It’s that younger one, the new guy? Charter or Chambers?”

“Church. Nathan Church.”

“That sounds right. You ought to call him .”

She needed to check with the police, anyway, to find out what they’d learned since she’d sent the photos. “I will. I’m so sorry it happened. I can’t imagine?—”

“Don’t you worry about me. I’m going to stay with my niece and nephew until this blows over.”

Would it blow over, though? Lois couldn’t stay hidden forever.

For that matter, neither could Brooklynn.

“Don’t they just live in Portland?” Brooklynn asked. “Maybe you should go farther.”

“I have a business to run. And I refuse to live in fear. I’m more worried about you. Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help you.”

She wouldn’t get her friend more involved than she already was, but she saw no need to say so. “Sure thing.”

“By the way, we got your photograph for the contest.” Lois’s voice brightened considerably. “What an amazing shot. If you don’t win, those judges are blind and dumb.”

“I’m sure there are a lot of great entries.”

“None as perfect as yours.”

“And you’re not at all biased.”

“Well…” She drew the word out, humor in her tone. “I suppose it is a good thing I’m not one of the judges.”

Brooklynn ended the call, checked in with her mom and sisters to let them know she was safe, and sent a text to Owen, Delaney’s boyfriend, who’d called and texted her a few times to check on her. She assured him she was all right.

And then she dialed the police department. She gave her name and asked for Officer Church.

“One moment.”

Less than a minute later, a man came on the line. “Brooklynn? Are you all right?”

At the sound of Lenny’s voice, she was tempted to hang up. “I asked for Nathan.”

“He stepped away.”

Sure he did.

“Are you safe?”

“I’m fine.” She wanted to call him on stalking her the previous day, but if she did that, he’d know exactly where she was. “What happened to Lois last night?”

He related the events from his perspective, and Brooklynn couldn’t help picturing the whole thing.

Lois lived in a two-story garrison-style house a mile or so from town on a little country road.

It sat on two acres, far enough from the neighbors on either side that, this time of year, their houses weren’t visible through the trees.

Lenny told her that, about an hour after the power went out, three men had burst through the door leading to the garage.

“Lois admitted she never locks the garage door that opens outside,” Lenny said. “Looks like they picked the lock that leads to her kitchen. She’d gone to bed. They dragged her out and made her sit in the living room and demanded to know where you were.”

Brooklynn squeezed her eyes closed, trying to block the image of her sixty-five-year-old mentor surrounded by masked men.

“Did they hurt her? She said they didn’t, but…” But would Lois have told her?

“Fortunately, no. They threatened to, though. Where are you?”

“I’m safe.”

“Brookie, just tell me?—”

“Don’t call me that. I hated it before, and I hate it now.”

His sigh was long-suffering, as if she were being unreasonable. “You need to tell me where you are.”

“What have you uncovered? Any idea who they were? Or what’s going on at the inlet?”

“Until you file an official report, I’m not authorized to share information with you.”

“Can I file a report over the phone?”

“You need to file in person.”

She didn’t know if that was true or not. “I’m not coming in. Those people are still looking for me.”

“Just give me the address where you are.” His tone was so reasonable, as if it were the perfect solution. “I’ll come to you.”

Was he keeping her in the dark as some sort of power trip? As a way to find her?

Brooklynn didn’t know, and it didn’t matter. She wasn’t telling him or anyone where she was. “Did you get any information from the pictures? Were you able to identify?—?”

“I’m not authorized to share?—”

“Sure you’re not.” Typical. When they’d been dating, he’d given her all sorts of information—not because he wanted her help. He’d liked sharing his cases, liked giving her an idea how good he was at his job. How competent and talented. Never once had he suggested he wasn’t authorized to tell her.

“Why do you have to make everything so difficult?” His words came out too loud. He lowered his volume before adding, “How can I take care of you if?—?”

“I don’t need you to take care of me, Officer Taggart. I need you to tell me what’s going on.”

She was sick of his trust me, I know what’s best for you attitude. As if she couldn’t be trusted to make her own decisions. As if she had nothing to offer or add to a conversation. As if she were irrelevant, and too much trouble.

She wasn’t going to let him get away with it anymore.

“I can’t do that.”

“Then I guess there’s no point in us talking at all. Bye, Lenny.” She swiped to end the call before he could say another word, then ignored the phone when it rang seconds later.

Her hands were shaking, and not because of Lois’s late-night invaders. She prayed she’d never have to talk to Lenny again.

She looked around the now-sparkling guest room. She’d stripped the bed and sprayed fabric freshener on the mattress to eliminate a musty scent. She’d wiped down all the furniture and vacuumed the floor. And of course, she’d snooped, but she’d found no hidden compartments or secret passages.

After gathering the linens, she swung the door open to find a man on the other side.

Gasping, she dropped the blankets and stepped back, pressing a hand to her chest.

Ford stood in the hall, fist up like she’d caught him one second before he knocked. He lowered his arm. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“It’s fine.” Though her heart was pounding. “You didn’t… I’m fine.”

“Okay. Good. And, uh, good morning.” He gathered the sheets and blankets from the floor. “Thank you for breakfast. The muffins were…good.”

“Good.” Apparently, everything was good today. “I’m glad you liked them.” Was this awkward enough?

“I haven’t had a chance to wash these.” He jiggled the linens in his arms.