Page 27 of Spotted at Lighthouse Bay (Spotted Cottage #4)

The Lighthouse Bay office stood on the outskirts of town overlooking a gravel lot littered with decaying ships. There was no lighthouse, no bay.

The emptiness was spooky, but Addy had been smart about getting here. Joey had dropped her off at their usual spot, and she’d caught a ride with the unofficial cab guy who hung around the docks.

She pulled her hood over her head and walked on. If the cameras perched around were working, they’d have no way to trace her.

The ships stood like gravestones. Addy ducked cracked propellers and hopped over dislodged buoys until she reached the office.

The sign on the lopsided trailer read LIGHTHOUSE BAY: YOUR INSURANCE STOP . From the corner of her eye, she saw a camera perched above the door. Its light blinked red.

Addy pulled on the door. Locked. Hopefully that meant no one was inside.

She walked around the back and peered in the window. The lights were off. A fridge stood against the wall, and a chair sat askew from a brown desk.

Addy pushed on the window. It wouldn’t budge. She tried the next two with the same result.

If Rick were here, he’d be able to pick the lock…

But Rick wasn’t here. If he knew she were there, he’d be livid. Heat flashed up her face. What would she say? How could she excuse this?

Or worse—he wouldn’t care at all.

Addy had to do this on her own. No one else thought it was worth it, but it was worth it to her.

Online, it said the office would be open.

She thought she could distract whoever was working there and at least get a glimpse of the safe.

Get an idea of what chance they had getting into it.

She kept telling herself it wasn’t stealing if she was taking back something that was hers – or, at least, her mom’s.

But the longer she stood in this eerie graveyard, the more it felt like stealing.

After half an hour of her poking around the trailer, the sound of seabird calls were interrupted by wheels on gravel. Addy stood, peering out from behind the building.

It was a white van. Her whole body got hot. Maybe it was time to go. This wasn’t the way she’d wanted things to go.

The car stopped and the engine shut off. Addy strained to listen, peering around the edge of the trailer, the hood of her sweater obstructing part of her view.

“They forgot ketchup!”

Addy gasped, darting backwards. It was Julian.

She thought she could hear Sebastian too, but she wasn’t sure.

Her throat tightened. Sweat poured down her back and chest. She hadn’t expected to see them, but even more, she hadn’t expected to be so afraid of them.

Maybe her body understood something she didn’t.

This plan would have to wait, or even be canceled entirely. She peered around again. They were arguing, their faces obscured by the van’s open back doors. If she could just sneak out without them seeing her…

Addy moved swiftly, keeping her head down and sprinting toward the road. If she could just get past the trees, they wouldn’t be able to see her.

Her foot caught, and she jolted to the ground. Addy slammed into the rocks, catching herself with her hands. Her bad shoulder screamed in pain.

“What the –”

Jaw clenched, Addy scrambled to her feet, stumbling forward, but it was too late. Footsteps pounded in her ears until both Julian and Sebastian were at her sides.

“Lookie what we have here!” Sebastian said, grinning.

“I’m just leaving,” Addy said, pushing the hood off her head.

Julian stared with wide eyes. “Did you follow us here, you creep?”

Addy shook her head. “I came to get boat insurance.”

Sebastian smirked. “Yeah, right. Do you want me to believe you got a magic unicorn too?”

She hated that smirk. “No.”

“Sebastian,” Julian said in a low voice, “you know what Cliff said.”

“Yeah, but she showed up here herself.”

She wrestled her arm out of his grip. “I’m going now.”

Sebastian stepped in front of her. “You’re not going anywhere.”

He smelled of french fries and pickles. Addy cradled her arm. “Just let me go.” She hated how her voice sounded pleading.

Sebastian shook his head, taking a deep breath as he stepped toward her. “I don’t think so. I think we should talk.”

She was quickly losing control of the situation. Rick would never have let this happen.

Whatever was going on, she couldn’t let them bully her.

Addy drew herself up. “The way you talked to Judge Kearn?”

Julian smacked a hand to Sebastian’s chest and muttered something in his ear.

“What do you know about that?” Julian said.

“Everything,” she said, keeping her stare fixed.

“You’re bluffing,” Sebastian snapped.

She took a deep breath. It was like facing off with two hyenas. She couldn’t show her fear. “I’m not. Now get out of my way or everyone will know just how much you paid the judge.”

Julian shook his head. “Just let her go, man. We don’t need to deal with this.”

Addy’s hand shook ever so slightly as she pulled her phone out of her pocket. “Should I call the police and tell them what I found?”

Sebastian slapped her phone to the ground. Julian bent to pick it up.

“Get out of here,” Sebastian said. “Before I change my mind.”

Julian walked off, back to the van. He pulled the door open and tossed her phone inside.

She hadn’t expected that. Rick’s voice ran through her head. Criminals don’t think like normal people. They don’t act like normal people …

“I better never hear from you again.” Sebastian leaned in close, his sour breath hot on her face. “Or you won’t be talking to anyone ever again.”

Her mouth dropped open, and he laughed in her face. Then he and Julian turned and walked to the trailer. They unlocked the door before disappearing inside.

Addy stood there, holding her breath for what felt like minutes. She was afraid if she breathed, she might sob and get their attention.

She finally managed to take a shaky breath. This was quite possibly the dumbest thing she’d ever done. If she could just get out of here alive, she’d give this whole thing up. She’d never utter their names again, she’d wish her mom good luck. She’d move far, far away, out of their reach.

Her heart rate slowed. Maybe she could still get her phone so she could call for help. Call Joey. Sheila. Anyone.

Addy walked quietly to the back of the van and tried the door. It opened. She paused, looking at the trailer.

No movement. She had to work quickly.

Paint cans, old take-out containers. Tarps. A ladder. The front seats were separated from the back with a metal partition. It looked less like a murder van and more like a working van, albeit a messy one. She could do this.

She crawled inside, combing through the garbage until she found her phone wedged between a bucket and a toolbox. As she leaned forward to grab it, the door shut itself behind her

“Great,” she muttered.

She pocketed her phone and shuffled back, pulling on the door handle.

Nothing but hollow resistance. She pushed, she kicked. The door wouldn’t budge.

Addy shut her eyes.

No, this was the dumbest thing she’s ever done. She was about to crawl to the front when the driver’s door opened.

“He said they need the van,” Julian sighed.

“Yeah, but we’ve got things to do,” Sebastian said, climbing into the passenger seat.

Addy ducked down, covering her mouth with her hand. She was going for a ride.