Page 52 of Christmas Homecoming Secrets
“Is that what you were dreaming about?”
He stiffened, then stood. “I’m going to get some water.”
“I’ll get it.” He wasn’t going to budge on telling her about his dream. “Someone planted those bombs in my house,” she said, “and they had to have some kind of timing device.”
“Because they went off at a specific time. What about a remote detonator?”
“Maybe. ATF will take a look and be able to tell us more.” She paused. “It had to be someone I know, Bryce.” She walked into the kitchen and looked in the refrigerator. The open concept allowed her to talk to him at the same time.
“Why’s that?”
“Because the person had access to my home.” She took two water bottles back into the den and handed him one. He’d seated himself once more on the couch. “Someone who wouldn’t be considered a stranger around here—although with as many people as we have coming and going, that’s going to be hard to narrow down. There’s trainers and boarders and riders and feed people, the vet…” She waved a hand. “The list goes on.”
“So it wouldn’t be hard for someone to get on the property disguised as help or whatever.”
“No, not hard.”
Brows furrowed, he nodded and swigged the water. “But to get inside your home, that’s another matter altogether. Do you hide a key anywhere?”
“No. In fact, I hate to admit this, but I rarely lock the door.”
“Why wouldn’t you lock it?”
“Because Mia goes back and forth so much that I just don’t.” She walked to the door that led to the covered walkway and gazed at the burned remains of her home. Sickness twisted inside her. “This is the only way to get to my place from here without going outside. There’s a ground floor door from the garage that leads inside to stairs. If you go up those stairs, you’ll find yourself at my front door.”
“But you keep that locked, right?”
She shrugged. “Most of the time.”
“Seriously? With what you do for a job and you don’t lock your doors? How is that even possible?”
She turned. “Look around, Bryce. We’re in the middle of twenty acres. If someone were to come up the drive, we’d know. And like I said, when someone comes up, it’s usually someone we know.”
“What about when you’re not home? It wouldn’t be too hard to figure out your family’s schedule and check when you’re working. And what about someone sneaking through the woods? You know as well as I do where those woods come out.”
She bit her lip. “The main road that goes into town.”
“Exactly. Someone could park a car…”
“Yeah, I’ve thought about it, too, but we’ve lived out here since this place belonged to my great grandparents. Not once has there been an issue.”
“Times are different now.”
“Boy, are they.” She shook her head, her mind only halfway on the discussion. The other half was trying to decide what to do now about telling Bryce that he was Mia’s father. PTSD and a man in denial. Great. Been there, done that—and she had no intention of revisiting that place.
“Captain Colson was on that list Frank gave me.” Bryce said. “He thought the captain was much too involved in the drug ring investigation.” He paused. “What’s your impression? Do you really think he could be guilty?”
She groaned. “I don’t know. Of course I don’t want to think so, but…” A sigh. “I don’t know what to think about him—or any of the others on that list.”
He studied her. “You need a break.”
“I had a break. I’m still having that break thanks to the person who tried to strangle me and burn down my house. Captain’s orders.” She stuck her bottom lip out. “I feel like I’ve been benched for something I have no control over.” Jade rubbed her eyes. “Can we talk about something else? I think I need some distance before I can come back and try to sort everything out.”
“Sure. Tell me about Mia’s father, then,” Bryce said softly.
Jade jerked. “Why?”
“I’m curious. He must be a great guy for you to fall in love with him.”
