Page 12 of Heartsong
Anna blinked up at him. “Well, I like it and it’s pretty close to work.”
“I meant it is not very defensible. It is high, yes, but the trees obscure the best viewpoints. You cannot even see the front entrance. Is there not somewhere better, safer I can take you?”
“This is my apartment. My home.” Anna shook her head and crossed her arms over her chest, the weight of the day starting to pull on her shoulders. “Look, there are security cameras on the front door. We’re safe.”
“Cameras…?”
Anna sighed. “A surveillance device. It records things.”
She could tell from his blink that she’d only brought up more questions with her answer, so instead beat a hasty retreat to the fridge.
“You hungry?”
That stony face softened a little, the corners of his lips tipping up in a fond grin that made Anna’s stomach swoop. For the first time, she remembered that this washerstatue. The one she’d gawked over and ate lunch next to like a girl with a crush. All the inherent dynamism and charm was still there, but infinitely more dangerous now that he was flush with life. She’d never have guessed the quick cunning of those eyes that cut to her nor those oddly soft-looking lips that curled in a smile.
That showed off fangs.
Shudder.
“I do not require food as of yet, my Anna, but thank you.”
Anna swallowed hard. “Okay.” She grabbed a yogurt out of the fridge to give her stomach something to work on other than her nerves.
As she walked to the couch, she finally stole a glance at her phone. She put down the yogurt, regretting it as her stomach swirled seeing all the messages from Carrie.
And the alarming last message:
“Shit shit shit…”
With a few quick taps, Anna held her phone up to her ear. The last thing she needed was her bosses here.
Frey watched on curiously as she chewed her bottom lip, listening to Carrie’s phone ring. He jumped almost as much as Anna did when, on the second ring, Carrie picked up and screeched down the line, “ANNA!”
“Carrie, oh my god, I’m so sorry!”
“Anna, oh Anna, I’m so relieved to hear your voice! Please tell me you’re safe.”
“Yes, I’m at home right now.”
The phone crackled as Carrie puffed with relief. “When we saw the security feed cut off—we were so worried! Are you all right? Are you hurt?”
Anna considered lying, saying the thieves must have come after she left, but—June.
“No, I’m fine. Is June okay? We got separated and I…” God, she’d just left the other woman there. True, she hadn’t really had a choice, but she hadn’t even thought of the art historian until now.
“Miss Parkhurst is safe. She was the one who called authorities. They arrived just after Gavin and I did.”
Anna sighed in relief. “That’s good. I’m so sorry, I don’t know what happened. There was smoke, a gas or something. It had something in it, we were moving so slowly and we got separated. I got outside and just…stumbled home.”
Her gaze couldn’t help flicking to the very big part she was leaving out of the story. Frey looked on with a frown, obviously able to hear Carrie on the other end. His mouth had gone downturned again, this time with suspicion.
“I’m relieved to hear it. We were so worried about you. We never thought anything like this could happen.”
Art theft was always a real possibility, but that it happened so soon after the museum opened was disconcerting. Given all the tactical gear, Anna had to assume the raid was well planned. How had they managed it in the ten weeks the museum had been open? Especially with all the high-tech, advanced security Gavin Gwyneth had embedded throughout.
“I’m so sorry this happened, Anna. Please let me know if you need anything. We found your things and have them safely with us. I hate to ask this, but can you come tomorrow to give a statement to the police?”
“Oh, sure, of course I can!”
