Page 43 of Legends: Easton
“Hello?” The familiar voice carried through the Jeep, and Roxy barked in response.
“Gran. Is everything okay?”
Easton admired the calmness in Bailee’s tone when he was sure she was anything but. His eyes shifted from checking out his mirrors to checking the side streets and parking lots he passed. The last thing he wanted was to be followed or blindsided while getting Bailee to safety. He didn’t believe for a moment that Roxy had somehow found a way out of his locked house or a way to bypass his security system. Not without help anyway.
“Yes, of course, Bailee Anne. Are you all right?”
Bailee’s shoulders relaxed. “Yes, we’re fine. I just wanted to check in. All of this has me jumpy.”
“No need to worry about us. Becky and I have spent the day baking goodies for everyone watching out for us. Just to say thank you. Jackson’s friend sent over the sweetest boy to keep us company. His name is Turner. He was raised by his grandmother who was an elementary school teacher. He bought her a condo in Florida so she could retire to warmer weather. Isn’t that sweet? She used to make him fried apple pies all the time, so Becky and I whipped up a batch for him. The house smells like Christmas with all the cinnamon in the air.”
Easton shared a quick glance with Bailee, who was fighting a laugh. He knew Turner Drake with Atlas Security, and sweet wasn’t a word he would use to describe the man. Tough, maybe dangerous, definitely cocky. But sweet? That was a new one.
“I’m glad you’re enjoying your time with Becky. I’ll check in with you again later. Love you, Gran.”
“I love you too, Bailee Anne. And you Easton. You two be careful, or you’ll be answering to me.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Easton responded, and Roxy barked again.
“You be good, too, Roxy girl. See you soon.”
Bailee ended the call and leaned her head back against the seat. Roxy leaned forward, sniffing her owner’s face until Bailee scratched behind the dog’s ear.
“I have a bad feeling, Easton.”
He made a sharp turn and watched his rearview carefully. “Me, too. I’m not sure what we walked into, but I intend to find out.”
He slowed down as they approached his family’s garage. He pulled into an empty repair bay, and when he stepped out, he closed the automatic doors to the bay, hiding his Jeep. He met Bailee and Roxy at the front of his Jeep and shouted a greeting to his brother’s main mechanic, who worked under a hood in one of the other bays.
“Hey, Chum. Where’s Luke?”
Peter Chumley peered around the hood, unfazed by the sudden appearance of his boss’ brother or by Easton closing the garage doors. “His office.”
“Thanks.”
“No problem,” the man responded before going back to work.
The repair shop had a front office that was used for handling customers and general business. Further back, away from public access, was a secondary office that was Luke’s alone. He often used the space for research purposes when the Legends were on a case, and Easton guessed that’s what his brother was doing now — researching Bailee’s case.
“Hey, Luke, it’s me,” Easton called through the closed door after knocking a couple of times.
He heard a muffled response and took that as permission to come inside. Roxy began sniffing around the room, conducting her own canine investigation.
Luke scowled as he looked up from his laptop. His eyes rested a moment on Easton and Bailee’s joined hands before traveling up to meet his brother’s. Easton didn’t realize until that moment that he had grasped Bailee’s hand as he led her to the office and hadn’t let go. He rather liked the feel of her hand in his and decided that’s where it would stay for now.
“What’s up?” Luke’s demeanor changed when he looked in Easton’s face.
“Pretty sure someone broke into my house while we were gone. Either that, or Roxy has learned how to unlock the door and lock it behind her before going on a run of the neighborhood.”
“Roxy okay?” Luke asked as he watched the dog sniffed every nook and cranny.
“Yeah, we think so, but I’d like a vet to check her out to be sure.”
“Alarm system?”
Easton shook his head. “Nothing.”
“Cameras?”
