Page 42 of Mountain Freedom
“What about her?”
“How sad it is that she’s never had anything like what I saw tonight. She’s been married four times since she left Dad. Never for love. Each marriage has been to someone a little more successful than the last, someone who can offer her a little more. She’s bought herself security, but never happiness. Not like what those couples tonight have, I’ll tell you that,” Allison said, shaking her head. “That’s something different altogether.”
“They’re an exception,” I agreed. “Lucky devils.”
She laughed out loud. “That’s the truth.” Then she got quiet again. “You ever wonder if people like us might find something like that someday?”
I swallowed hard. “No. I try not to wonder about that at all.”
She glanced over at me like she wanted to say something, but she didn’t. Then she turned her head back to the window, sitting quietly as we drove to her house.
I had a hard time not getting lost in my own thoughts. Truth was, I’d found myself wondering about that same thing tonight, though I’d never admit it to Allison. Having her there had made it the most fun dinner party I’d experienced. She’d fit in with our group so well, and it had felt nice to be part of a couple—even ifwe weren’t. I’d enjoyed taking care of her the way the other men took care of their partners, and it had been too easy to imagine what it might be like if she was mine.
I’d never ask, but I was dying to know if any part of her had imagined having that withme.
When I pulledinto Allison’s driveway, the first thing I noticed was that the front window was open. I frowned, not wanting to lecture but needing to say something. “Allison, it’s not a good idea to leave your windows open. Even if it’s not Memphis.”
But Allison was frowning too. “I didn’t,” she said. “I’ve never opened that window.”
“Stay here,” I said, instantly going into cop mode. I slid my service weapon out of its holster. “I’m going to check it out. Give me your keys.”
Her face was pale as she pulled the keys from her purse. She handed them to me as I swung out of the truck. I stuffed them into my pocket and headed toward the front, weapon in hand.
Chapter Seventeen
Allison
My heart was poundingas Jackson approached the door. I hadn’t thought to check the locks on the windows. Raccoons—or even bears, for that matter—were sometimes ingenious when it came to getting into things. Was it possible an animal had opened my window and gone inside in search of food? Maybe the same animal I heard scratching at my window before? As much as I dreaded cleaning up whatever mess a wild animal might have made inside, I hoped with all my heart it was as simple as that.
Jackson turned his face toward me, making eye contact as he frowned. He pointed to the doorknob and made a motion with his hands indicating that it had been unlocked before he got there.
My heart sank. A raccoon might open a window, but it would go out the same way—if it left at all. Only a human would open a window in order to unlock a door.
I reached over and made sure the truck doors were locked, sinking into my seat even as I strained my eyes to catch a glimpse of Jackson. He had gone inside, and from what I could see through the open front door, he was methodically clearing rooms with his gun raised.
I was beyond grateful he had brought me home tonight. I probably would have run straight inside, thinking only of the bat, never even noticing the window. Someone could have been inside waiting for me. My body went cold at the thought.
Time stretched slowly as I waited for Jackson to return. When he came back outside, he didn’t come to the truck—not right away, at least. He used a flashlight to look around the house, disappearing again as he slowly made his way around the back. When he finally returned and opened my truck door, his face was grim.
“Whoever it was is gone now,” he said flatly. “Nothing is visibly disturbed, but I’ll need you to walk me through and make sure you don’t see anything missing. I’ll dust for prints, though the odds of that turning up anything are slim. Are you completely sure you’ve never opened the window?”
“One hundred percent,” I confirmed.
“Any chance you left the door unlocked?”
“No,” I shook my head. “Locking up is so ingrained in me after living in Memphis that there’s no way I would have left without locking that door and double-checking it.”
“You left your car unlocked the other day,” he pointed out.
I frowned, feeling defensive. “I told you I don’t know what happened that night.”
He looked at me and sighed. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to question you. I’d just rather this be a mistake on your part than a break-in. You shouldn’t have to go through that.”
“Story of my life,” I said, attempting a smile. But he didn’t smile back. He just held my gaze, like he could see right through me.
“You ready to go look around?” he asked, his voice softer than before.
No. Not even close.But I swallowed hard and nodded. “Let’s do this.”
