Page 10 of Shadowed Witness (The Secrets of Kincaid #2)

Pressure.

Allye tried to shift to a more comfortable position, but a weight seemed to rest on her. She couldn’t lift her arms. Couldn’t move her body.

“Boo.”

She jerked fully awake at the whispered word. And froze.

A masked face hovered barely a few inches above hers. An unearthly green glow filled her bedroom, creating almost a halo around the intruder. He was on top of her, his weight pressing her hips into the mattress, hands pinning her upper arms.

“I got away with it.” He rose slightly, though the pressure didn’t ease.

With the increased distance between their faces, she found her voice. “Got away with what?” Her words came out with a breathy quality.

Instead of answering her, he lifted one hand and traced the bruised area of her neck. “We have unfinished business.”

Him. It was him. Chill bumps rose over her entire body. A lump formed in her throat, nearly blocking her airway. She couldn’t scream. Could barely think.

He’d come after her again. Here, at her house.

Her fight response finally kicked in. She screamed and simultaneously struck out with her left arm and kicked her legs.

But her limbs tangled in the heavy quilt she hadn’t realized still lay between her body and the intruder’s, and what little noise escaped her bruised throat before his hand clapped over her mouth was pitiful.

He let her flail, seemingly unperturbed. After a long moment of desperate but futile fighting, she collapsed into an exhausted stillness. With her mouth covered, she could barely draw in enough air, and her chest heaved.

He lowered his face to hover just above hers again. “Are you finished?”

She didn’t even try to respond, but a tear leaked from the corner of her eye.

“Good.” He looked over his shoulder and nodded, then turned his attention back to her. “Now, I’m going to get up, and so are you. You try anything, and you will regret it. Get anyone’s attention, and they will die. Understand?”

She managed a nod.

He lifted his hand, letting it hover over her mouth as if testing whether she would attempt another scream. When she remained silent, he stood and allowed her to do the same.

A wave of lightheadedness hit, but he gave her no time to linger.

Wrenching her hands behind her, he shoved something hard against her back and marched her out of the bedroom.

The night-light she kept plugged into the hallway outlet was out.

Everything was dark other than the weird green glow that seemed to be following them now. What was that?

She stumbled as they entered the living room. The tight grip he had on her wrists kept her upright but wrenched her shoulders. A small cry escaped her lips, and the hard object dug into her spine.

“None of that, remember?” His hard whisper cut through the air.

“I’m . . . sorry,” she gasped.

Without responding, he propelled her toward the front door.

The pressure against her spine lifted, and she caught a glimpse of a gun as he reached around her for the knob.

Cool night air greeted them as he opened the door and pushed her through.

It snicked shut behind them, cutting off the green light.

She quickly cast her gaze around the area—unsure whether to hope for someone to try to rescue her or hope there wouldn’t be anyone around to be put in danger.

No lights shone from any of her neighbor’s houses, and as far as she could see without her glasses, no one was out and about.

Maybe that was for the best, but she couldn’t help the despair that rose in her as her captor prodded her onward.

When they reached the edge of the porch, he abruptly turned her back toward the house. Without warning, he released her wrists and shoved her forward. She fell flat, unable to catch herself. Quickly, she rolled to her back, expecting a new attack.

But he wasn’t there. Grabbing a nearby patio chair, she hauled herself upright and searched the semidarkness. Movement partway down the street caught her eye as a dark, blurred figure blended with the shadows. Then he was gone.

She sank into the chair. What just happened? Had he gotten spooked?

But there still didn’t seem to be anyone about. A breeze ruffled her hair, and she shivered. The movement kicked her brain into gear. He’d let her go, but she was still outside and exposed. He could come back at any moment.

Springing to her feet, she launched toward the door and wrenched the knob. Locked.

Locked?

She tried again, twisting and pushing with all her might. Nothing budged. Something out in the yard snapped, and she spun to face it. The movement triggered a burst of dizziness, and she braced herself against the uncooperative door. She didn’t see anything. No returning captor or any other threat.

But she couldn’t stay out here. Nor could she get inside. And she didn’t have her phone.

She had to get help. Surely the danger to other people was past if he’d chosen to leave, right? Before she could talk herself out of it, she scurried down the few porch steps.

The cold grass was damp beneath her bare feet as she crossed the yard to the other side of the duplex, where her best friend had lived before marrying Bryce. The new tenants had only recently moved in, but Allye had met them on a few occasions. They’d help her until the police arrived.

FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER, Allye was stationed on her neighbors’ living room couch with a much-too-large, borrowed hoodie swallowing her.

She’d spent a lot of time here during the two years Corina had lived next to her, but even if she hadn’t, the place would feel familiar as it was basically a mirror image of her side of the building.

She could use some familiarity at the moment.

Shannon Howard offered her a cup of hot cocoa. Allye accepted it gratefully, wrapping her hands around the mug and willing the warmth to seep into her. “Thank you. I’m so sorry I had to wake you up.”

Her neighbor waved a hand at her. “Stop apologizing. I would be horrified if you were in trouble and didn’t ask for help.

It’s bad enough something like that happened next door, and I didn’t hear a thing.

Besides, like I said earlier, I’d only just gone to bed.

I wasn’t asleep yet, and Cornell is on night shift this week.

Is there anyone else you want to call while we wait on the police? ”

Allye glanced at a clock. She couldn’t make out the time without her glasses, but that didn’t matter.

Even though Shannon had still been awake, it had to be late.

Bryce and Corina would be in bed. Her mom too.

She shook her head. She’d get a lecture or two .

.. or three, for not contacting them right away, but there was nothing they could do.

Someone might as well get sleep tonight—and it didn’t look like she would.

Police lights flashed outside the window. They were finally here. Allye started to rise.

“I’ll let them in,” Shannon said. “You stay right there.”

She sank back into the cushions. She should greet the officer herself, but the ordeal had drained her more than she was willing to admit.

“She’s in here, Officer.” Shannon beckoned him in. Allye nearly groaned when Officer Moore cleared the doorway.

His gaze immediately landed on her, and he stepped closer. “Ms. Jessup, I hear you’ve had another incident?”

“Someone broke into my house.” She’d already told the dispatcher that, but she had no idea what had been relayed to him.

“I’m sorry to hear that. Were you there?”

“Yes. I was in bed.” She went through the details of what happened, hoping she wasn’t forgetting anything important. As she talked, Moore’s eyebrows drew together, but he didn’t look up from the tablet he was taking notes with.

“Sounds like something spooked him,” he said when she got to the end.

“I suppose? I didn’t see anyone around, but that’s the only thing that makes any sense.”

Moore snapped the cover shut on his tablet. “Hopefully, he left evidence behind. I’ll need to go over your house.”

She grimaced. “It’s locked.”

“Locked?”

“After he left, I tried to get back in, but he must have locked the door behind us. My keys and everything are inside.”

“Is there someone you can call who has a spare?”

“Oh! I guess I do.” She gave herself a mental kick. “It’s hidden in my backyard.” A must, as often as she misplaced her keys or locked herself outside. She set the remainder of her hot cocoa on the coffee table and rose.

“Hold up,” Shannon said. “It’s too chilly for you to be walking around out there barefoot.” She hurried down the hall and returned a moment later with a pair of flip-flops. “I’d lend you real shoes, but I’m pretty sure they’d be way too big.”

“These are fine. Thank you. And thanks again for letting me wait here.”

“Anytime.”

Allye slipped on the sandals and led the way outside and around the back of the house. Moore followed her, flashlight in hand, and illuminated the area for her. She pulled the key from its hiding place.

“Do you want me to unlock the door, or do you want to?”

Moore extended his hand. “I’ll take care of it. I need you to wait outside or back at your neighbor’s while I examine things, then we’ll do a walk-through together to see if you notice anything out of place.”

“Okay.” Allye viewed the dark backyard. She didn’t want to bother Shannon any more tonight, but staying back here alone would give her the creeps. “Is it all right if I wait on the front porch?”

“That’s fine.” Moore headed for the door, leaving her to make her own way there.

She wasted no time circling back to the front of the house.

At least there was the bit of light from the street.

And the deterrent of the flashing lights from Moore’s patrol car.

She settled into the chair she’d sat in before and replayed the night’s events in her mind.

A shadow moved at the edge of the yard, and she nearly jumped out of her skin.

But it was just a tree blowing in the breeze.

No one was skulking in the shadows, waiting to grab her.

Not that she’d be able to see them if they were there.

She really needed to retrieve her glasses.

But her attacker was out there somewhere. He knew where she lived, and he’d made her a target. Despite the borrowed hoodie, she shivered.