Page 8 of Hargrave Health Kick (Brookwell Island)

Chapter Seven

The next morning, Veronica was still riding that hopeful high as she and Celeste walked into the Guardian Agency office for the meeting with Jess.

Her sister paused just outside the door. “Did you go out last night after dinner?”

“No, why?”

“You’re smiling. A lot,” she emphasized. “Nat suggested?—”

“Nat’s imagining things.”

“So, you aren’t thinking about dating, um, anyone in particular?”

“No.” Veronica spotted Brayden striding closer. He must’ve been waiting in his car for their arrival. Weirdly panicked, she reached past her sister and yanked open the door. “Let’s go,” she hissed.

She did not need this kind of distraction. Brayden was her friend . End of story. She still felt guilty for ogling him on the beach. He deserved better from her.

“Good morning.” Brayden smiled as he joined them at the door.

“Morning,” Veronica replied. Was he smiling brighter today? She caught a flash of something in his eyes that put her on high alert. “Everything went okay overnight?”

“Sure did.” He followed them into the office.

“Did they find who put that rat there? And how?” Celeste queried.

“Jess has all the intel for us,” he assured them.

After the cycle of good-mornings, Jess gathered them all around a conference table and turned on the wall-mounted monitor. “Since you’re most familiar with Brayden, I invited him to take the lead for the security team today.”

“Thanks,” Celeste said. “To both of you.”

With a nod, Jess continued. “We sent all the surveillance we have on the Hideaway to the experts in Chicago for analysis. As you know, there are things I can do here, but my primary responsibility is personnel.”

Veronica didn’t care for Jess’s cautious tone. What had they found?

She felt Brayden watching her, but she didn’t dare glance his way. In school they’d had a way of communicating without saying a word. Despite the silence, it often got them busted anyway. Did she want to know if that was still effective? Maybe. But this wasn’t the right place to test it.

“What they determined,” Brayden picked up the presentation, “is this.” The image on the monitor changed from the view from the camera at the back door, to one of the extra cameras at the edge of the property.

“That’s over near the fire pit?” Celeste asked.

“Yes.” Brayden did something and the image shifted slightly.

“And that’s a shadow of what we believe is a drone.

” The view on the monitor split. On one side a video rolled showing a clear patio one second and the dead rat in the next.

On the other side a shadow moved across the ground, but the object casting it was above the angle of the camera.

“The rat falls from that shadow,” Jess said.

Veronica swore. “Who would do that?”

“We’ll continue to investigate,” Jess said. “I’m coordinating with both the fire and police chiefs. Much like the arson incident, there’s no clear suspect yet. I’m doing what I can to track down any bored teenagers in the area who might be looking for trouble.”

Celeste frowned. “Why would teenagers target us?”

“No idea,” Veronica replied.

“The Hideaway is secluded. Easier to target folks who don’t live her full time,” Brayden suggested.

“We’ll continue with round-the-clock security until this is resolved.

Based on the shadowy movements—if this is a drone—I think it came from somewhere out on the water.

And, in the interest of full transparency, that’s the same general path we believe the arsonist used to escape. ”

Celeste’s hands wrapped around her coffee cup. “Not far from where the fire department found the missing fire extinguisher.”

“Exactly,” Brayden confirmed.

“How did the drone get by the security detail?” Veronica challenged.

“For this stunt, it didn’t have to be a big drone,” Brayden explained calmly. “It probably wasn’t any louder than the usual breeze moving through the trees. And at that hour, anyone with some skill operating a small and agile drone could’ve managed it.”

She appreciated that he didn’t go on the defensive, because she was angrier with the culprit than the security team. “All right.”

“We don’t want you to worry,” Jess said as the monitor went dark once more. “In my opinion, the drone coming from a boat offshore means the extra personnel is having an effect, preventing unwanted access to your property. We’ll get to the bottom of this, I promise.”

“What about the other wildlife incident?” Veronica asked. “Was that just bad timing?”

“Nash looked into it,” Jess replied. “There’s nothing to suggest it was anything deliberate.”

“That’s a relief,” Celeste said. “I guess we’ll let you both get back to work. Thank you.” She pushed away from the table, taking her cup to the coffee station. Because Celeste didn’t believe in making a mess.

When Jess followed her, Veronica found herself alone with Brayden. Why did that feel weird?

“You have more questions?” he asked.

She shook her head. “It’s just rough timing. But Celeste did her thing and our guests are leaving happy.”

“Why don’t you look happy?”

She shrugged, pushing back from the table. “How was your run today?” At his arched eyebrow, she added, “You told me it was a daily thing.”

“You want in?”

“Maybe.”

“You’ll need it.”

“Beg your pardon?”

He was grinning and something fluttered in her belly. “Have dinner with me tonight and we can go for a run in the morning.”

From any other guy, it would sound like a suggestive invitation. Maybe even an overnight proposition. But this was her old friend.

“Come on, Roni.” He walked over and propped a hip on the end of the table. “I haven’t been to Parker’s yet, but I remember you talking about it.”

He did? In her head, Nat was making kissy noises and doing some monologue about friends becoming more romantic. “It’s a good spot,” she said. “We should definitely go before you’re reassigned.”

“Yeah, okay.” He hesitated. “How about seven?”

“Sure.” That reply sounded normal. She didn’t want to create any shifts in her dynamic with Brayden. He was too important. “I’ll meet you there.”

He frowned. “I thought I’d pick you up.”

Her thoughts spun out. If he picked her up, that would give serious date vibes. With both sisters in residence, she’d be dealing with the fallout for a week. Probably more. “I’ve got a home visit assessment late this afternoon,” she explained. “It’s better timing if I meet you there.”

“Cool.” But the frown lingered in his eyes for another moment. “See you then.” He caught her up in a half hug and turned to walk out. Pausing at the door, he dropped his sunglasses over his eyes and his big smile hit her full force. “Dinner tonight and a run in the morning.”

“It’s a plan.”

“Sounds more like a date to me,” Celeste murmured in her ear. “Planning on breaking curfew?”

She whirled around. “You heard that?”

“Were you trying to keep it a secret?” Celeste pulled her car key out of her purse and headed for the door. “Coming?”

“It’s not a date,” Veronica protested once she confirmed Brayden was gone. “We’re just meeting at Parker’s to catch up.”

“And tomorrow?”

“Beach run,” she replied. “He’s challenging my fitness, per the usual.”

“I remember that.” Celeste grinned. “Made you both better athletes.”

Veronica shrugged. They’d been kids. Though he respected her, his bravado required him to regularly underestimate her grit and drive. She couldn’t complain. The extra challenge had helped her dominate her teammates back then.

“Well, since Natalie isn’t here, it’s on me to remind you to dive in head first if the opportunity presents itself.”

Confirmation that meeting him at the restaurant was the right choice. “Gee, thanks. To both my sisters. Nice to have permission from the peanut gallery.”

With Celeste’s laughter ringing in her ears, Veronica pushed the questions deep down where they belonged and got on with her day. Focusing on the work always brought her more peace than dwelling on everything outside of her control.

But when she packed for her afternoon appointments, she obeyed that soft flutter in her chest—the one that felt like a weird combination of curiosity and hope.

Carefully, she added her favorite sundress and sandals along with her makeup bag.

Dinner tonight didn’t have to mean anything or become anything more. She only wanted to be prepared.

Just in case.

The End…