Page 27 of Silent Threat
The hallway stood deserted. Next to the door, a little red light blinked on the magnetic card reader. Only staff could enter.
Cole reached into his pocket and pulled out the card he’d lifted from Annie’s bag while she slept on their way back from her house.
For the breadth of a second, he thought about the trust she’d put in him: letting him go home with her, then sleeping next to him as he drove her back.
If she found out that he was using her like this, their budding friendship would end in a hurry. Cole ignored a twinge of regret. He wasn’t at Hope Hill to make friends.
The man sat in his car two houses down from Annie’s house. She’d brought a patient home with her.Cole Makani Hunter.
The man in the car slammed his fist in the steering wheel.
He didn’t follow them when they left, after they’d spent a full hour in that damned garage. Alone. Together.
He knew where they were going. Hope Hill.
He needed time to calm the rage that flowed in his veins. He pictured Annie Murray, on her knees in front of him, offering a tearful apology. He pictured himself slapping her. Hard enough to make that smart little brain of hers rattle.
That would shock her, wouldn’t it? She thought he was all kind and soft and mild—as if he were half a man. He was a good guy, but that didn’t mean he was a wimp. One of these days, he was going to introduce her to the real him.
He found the thought arousing. He finally turned the key in the ignition and pulled into the street. He took the scenic route by the reservoir, the road deserted this time of night.
He saw one car, a white pickup, coming from the opposite direction.
Then the flash of a fox trotting out onto the road.
The pickup braked, but the back tire hit the fox with a glancing blow.
As the pickup moved on, the fox flopped on the road, stunned but alive—a large, beautiful beast.
The man angled his steering wheel and crossed into the opposite lane.Thump.
He stopped the car and looked into the rearview mirror.
One leg was still twitching.
The man put the car in reverse and backed over the stupid animal for good measure.
Then he pulled over and got out to inspect his kill.
Perfect.
Chapter Seven
Wednesday
ANNIE WOKE DISORIENTED,in a strange bed. A confused moment passed before the events of the previous day came back to her in a staggering rush. She groaned into her pillow.Oh God, the house.
Her house was missing awall.
The temptation to stay in bed and in complete denial was overwhelming. Except, the contractor was coming this morning. With another groan, Annie threw off the covers.
She grabbed her phone from the nightstand to check the weather. Local weather—clear all day. Rupert, however, had been upgraded to a category 2 hurricane, heading north to Cuba.
Annie said a prayer for the people affected by Rupert, then pushed herself out of bed and opened the window that faced the courtyard and the weeping willow. She did a few stretches and breathing exercises. She kept her eyes on the tree, determined to put herself into a positive frame of mind to start her day.
“The hurricane is turning away. There is no structural damage to the house. It’s going to be an easy fix. I’m going to have a great day.”
Some days her morning affirmations were more elaborate, but this was all she had in her today. She cleaned up, dressed, then hurried down the hallway.
