Page 39 of Out of Time (Undaunted Courage #3)

TWENTY-TWO

brAD PLANTED HIS FISTS ON HIS HIPS and surveyed the woods behind Natalie’s house in the early morning light.

If last night’s intruder had dropped anything in his haste to escape, it was well concealed. A thorough search had turned up nothing.

Nor had the hour-long hunt helped his ankle, even though he’d stopped at home to wrap it in an elastic bandage during the waning hours of his patrol last night. While compression had kept the swelling in check, tramping through dense wood on uneven terrain had only ratcheted up the pain again.

“You find anything?” Alan pushed through the brush and joined him in the small clearing.

“No. You?”

“Nothing a human would have dropped. But I did manage to find a pile of deer scat.” He grimaced and lifted a boot.

Brad averted his head from the stench. “Get rid of it before you leave or you’ll stink up the cruiser.”

“That’s my plan. You want to search anywhere else?”

“No. We covered a wide area in the vicinity the guy ran. I have no idea what direction he went from here.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “This was a long shot anyway.” But one he’d hoped would produce something. Anything.

“You going home to crash?”

“After I stop in to talk with Ms. Boyer.”

Alan scanned his watch. “Isn’t it kind of early?”

“A light came on in the kitchen about ten minutes ago. I’d say she’s up. Thanks for lending your eagle eyes this morning.”

“My eagle eyes didn’t notice the deer scat.”

Brad called up a weary grin. “You weren’t looking for evidence of animals.”

“True. If we’re done here, I’ll get back to my patrol duties.” He struck off for the path that would take him past the cottage and around the house.

Brad followed at a slower pace, favoring his foot. It might not hurt to pay a quick visit to urgent care, on the off chance he’d done more serious damage than he thought.

Near as he could tell, though, it was a sprain. And he knew the treatment for that—rest, ice, compression, and elevation.

Like three of those four would happen anytime soon.

The light was still on in the kitchen, so rather than trek around to the front of the house on his sore foot, he climbed the stairs to the back galérie, grunting with each step.

Maybe he’d try the ice after he got home and take an aspirin ... or two ... or three.

He stopped at the back door and knocked.

Fifteen seconds later, a curtain was pushed aside on the window beside the door and Natalie’s startled face appeared.

The fabric dropped back into place, the lock rattled, and the door opened.

“Brad! What on earth are you doing at my back door at this hour? And where’s your car? I didn’t see it out front.”

“If I can come in, I’ll be happy to answer all your questions.”

“By all means.” She pulled the door wide. “Have a seat. May I offer you coffee?”

He limped inside. “I’d be forever in your debt if you did. It’s been a long night.”

“You were on duty?”

“Yes.” He gave her the short version of the rampaging flu bug and the department scheduling issues as he winced his way over to the table.

“What’s wrong with your leg?”

“That’s part of the story I have to tell you.”

“Let me get your coffee and I’ll give you my full attention.

” She crossed to a coffeemaker on the counter.

“I like to have a pot at the ready for Steven. That boy is hooked on the stuff—the higher the octane, the better. I’m a tea woman, myself.

” She filled a mug and set it in front of him.

“Black, as I recall from the dinner we shared the night of Micah’s service. ”

“You have an excellent memory.”

“Thank you.” She sat beside him, lifted her tea, and waited.

“You didn’t see my car because I parked it out of sight, farther down the drive. I didn’t want to alarm you if you got up at the crack of dawn and saw it in front of the house.”

“If you were on duty last night, why are you working again at this hour?”

He took a long, fortifying swig of coffee and gave her a full report on all that had happened during the night.

She listened as her tea grew cold, features taut, forehead furrowed. Only after he finished did she speak.

“This is most upsetting. The idea that someone is skulking about the property doing who knows what is—”

At a sudden, muted crash, she jerked.

Brad sprang to his feet. “Any idea what that was?”

“No, but I believe it came from the basement. Perhaps a box fell over. I’ve been down there rooting around lately.”

“I’ll check it out.”

“Do be careful. We don’t need any more excitement around here.”

No kidding.

“Where’s the basement access?”

“In the hall. First door on the right.” She waved a hand that direction.

“Wait here.” He left her at the table and moved quietly to the door. Eased it open just as Steven reached for the handle from the other side.

His pulse ratcheted down.

False alarm.

Or was it?

He frowned as the gash on the other man’s temple registered.

“What happened? Are you hurt?”

“My pride more than anything else.” Steven touched his forehead. Examined his bloody fingers. Paled. “But I did have a nasty encounter with a falling box.”

“Come on up. Let me take a look.”

He edged aside to allow the other man to emerge from the basement as Natalie appeared in the doorway.

“I heard voices and I—” She gaped at her cousin. “Steven! Was that you in the basement? And what happened to your head?”

“I woke up early and thought I’d make another attempt to find that box of your mother’s personal items we were searching for last week. I lost my grip on one of the cartons on a top shelf. I was hoping to locate the one you were after and surprise you.”

“Well, you succeeded on the surprise part.” She laid a hand on her chest. “Come into the kitchen and we’ll attend to that cut.”

“I’ll be fine. I’m sure I can take care of it myself.”

“Humor me. Besides, I’d like Brad to weigh in on whether it requires stitches. You didn’t black out, did you?”

“No, and I don’t want to bother the sheriff with this. I imagine he has far more important things to do than deal with a scratch.”

Brad inspected the cut. “It’s more than a scratch, and I can spare a few minutes.”

“Well...” Steven shrugged. “If you’re willing.”

He followed Natalie into the kitchen and sat at the table.

She continued to a pantry on the other side of the room, removed a box, and set it beside her cousin. “First aid supplies. What do you think, Brad?”

“I’d like to clean it up, take a closer look. That okay with you, Steven?”

“Sure.”

“There are latex gloves in here too.” Natalie took the lid off the box. “Leftovers from the Covid era.”

Brad pulled out a pair and tugged them on. After spraying a sterile gauze pad with antiseptic, he swabbed the gash. “Good news. No stitches required. But it should be cleaned and bandaged.”

“Will you handle that if I play nurse?” Natalie positioned herself beside the box.

“I’ll be happy to.”

As Natalie handed him supplies while he took care of the cut, she filled Steven in on the events of the night.

He stared at her as the story wound down. “I can’t believe all this is happening in such a quiet, out-of-the-way place.”

“Me neither.” She pulled a large bandage from the box. “We were lucky Cara had to come back or we’d never have confirmed that we have a trespasser. Brad, I believe I’ll reconsider those cameras. Why don’t we try two initially?”

“Sounds like a plan. I know a reputable firm that can handle installation for you. I’ll have someone stop by.” He reached past Steven and held out his hand for the bandage.

She passed it over. “Thank you for everything—including your housekeeper recommendation. I met with Margie Tues day, and she’ll be starting next week. She was very pleasant and struck me as a hard worker.”

“Accurate on both counts.” He finished securing the bandage and addressed Steven. “I don’t expect you’ll have any repercussions from that, but blows to the head can be tricky. If you get a severe headache or experience any nausea or dizziness, you should go to urgent care.”

“Thanks. But you seem more in need of medical attention than I do, with that limp.”

“I may stop there on my way home. Natalie, I’ll be in touch.”

“I’ll walk you out. Steven, there’s coffee on if you want a cup.” She took the lead to the front door. “How far away are you parked?”

“Just over the rise.”

“Would you like Steven or me to give you a lift to your car?”

“I appreciate the offer, but I can manage.”

“Thank you again for all your efforts to get this puzzle figured out. And take care of that ankle.”

“I will. Enjoy the rest of your day.”

He two-footed it down the steps, leading with his uninjured foot on each one.

Despite his cautious descent, however, the ache in his ankle was inching up to an eight on the pain scale.

So before he went home, he’d drop in at urgent care.

And hope he got better results there than he had chasing his elusive quarry through the murky woods last night.

IT HAD WORKED LIKE A CHARM.

Steven smiled and sipped his java.

Reopening his early-morning wound hadn’t been pleasant, but the story he’d concocted had given him a credible explanation for the cut. One both Natalie and the sheriff had bought without question.

On to step two.

“I’m so sorry about your injury, Steven.” Natalie reentered the kitchen, clumping along with her cane. “But it was sweet of you to continue to search for the box of my mother’s items. I know it’s in the basement somewhere.”

“We’ll keep rummaging around until we find it.” He set his mug down and feigned concern. “Natalie, after what happened last night, I’m more worried than ever about you being in this isolated place alone.”

Her brow wrinkled. “I’m beginning to get a little worried myself.”

That was the best news he’d had in weeks.

“You really ought to think about relocating to St. Louis. Help of every kind would be close at hand, and I’d be nearby too.”