Page 27 of Shattered Secrets

Daisy took a few seconds to consider her two options. “Princess. Can we have pancakes for breakfast?”

“You got it.” She ushered her daughter into the bathroom with said undies and a waterproof cast cover.

After giving Daisy a bath with lavender-scented bubbles, brushing her tangled black hair out, and helping her brush her teeth, it only took two bedtime stories—and a dose of children’s Tylenol—before she conked out. Scarlet glanced at the clock.

Eight thirty on a Friday night.

In her old life, the evening would have been just getting started. Now? She was hitting the shower, changing into her sleep shorts and tank, and falling into bed. Maybe she’d crack the slider and live vicariously through the tourists having a fun Friday night.

Her gaze landed on her sleeping daughter, and her heart ached with guilt. But Daisy was taking everything in stride. Perhaps she could learn a lesson from her child.

A crash had Scarlet’s eyes flying open. Disoriented from sleep, she tried to make out the noise that had woken her. It wasn’t unusual to hear breaking glass in the middle of the night—unfortunately, the staff at Monty’s Tavern tended to dump their empty bottles in the recycle bins at all hours. Tonight, however, Scarlet’s racing heart told her that wasn’t it.

She grabbed her phone from the nightstand, and the display illuminated.

Three fifteen.

Dread crawled over her skin. At the latest, Monty’s closed at two. The crew was always out of there thirty minutes after they closed their doors.

Her phone’s display darkened. Now the only light came from the streetlamp outside, through the sliding glass door’s sheer curtain, which billowed gently with the breeze. She could makeout her daughter’s sleeping form next to her, and she could hear Daisy’s soft, steady breath. Otherwise, the apartment was quiet.

What had woken her?

A thump, followed by a muffled curse, sent her gaze flying to her closed bedroom door. Her heart knocked hard in her chest.

Holy. Shit. Someone was in her apartment.

Sitting up in bed, she stared at the door. They were trapped. Her breathing accelerated—until she remembered the billowing curtain.The balcony!

As silently as she could, she moved the accent chair from beside her bed to block her closed door, grateful for the carpeted floors. Then, grabbing her phone, she carefully scooped up Daisy, grateful her child was a heavy sleeper, and crept to the sliding door. She prayed it wouldn’t choose this moment to squeak.

Luck was on her side as the door noiselessly slid open. She shut it behind her and hustled to the opposite end. With her sleeping daughter tucked in her arms, she huddled down and hid behind the large wicker chair. Her hand shook as she pressed three numbers and put the phone to her ear.

“9-1-1. What’s your emergency?”

Scarlet flinched at the woman’s loud, sharp voice and immediately turned down the volume. “Someone broke into my apartment,” she whispered, tears springing to her eyes. She rushed to tell the dispatcher her address. “Please send someone. My daughter and I are hiding on the bedroom balcony.” Her blood turned to ice as she realized she’d further trapped them. “Ohmygod, there’s no way down. It’s too high to jump.”

“Ma’am, please stay where you are. I’m contacting the authorities, and they’ll be on their way shortly.”

Her apartment was literally across the street from the sheriff’s department, but every second felt like a lifetime.

Scarlet squeezed her eyes shut. Still, tears leaked through.Please, please hurry.

“Ma’am, are you there?”

It took a few tries, but Scarlet managed to croak, “Yes.”

“Good. Stay on the line with me. Now, do you know how many people entered your apartment?”

She shook her head before realizing the dispatcher couldn’t see her. “No. I only heard one person, though.”

“Can you tell me what you heard?”

“There was a crash,” she whispered, mind racing. What else had she heard? “Um, then it sounded like the person ran into something and muttered a curse.”

“Could you tell from the voice if it was a male or female?”

“No.” Terror had her arms trembling. “Are the police on their way?”

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