Page 26 of Something to Believe In
He chuckled and led them around the side of the cabin toward the driveway. His blood ran cold as he neared his car. Maddyn gasped, and anger flew through his body. Someone had keyed his car. All along the driver's side were deep scratches. He stalked around the back of the car and looked at the passenger side, and there he saw the word, Slut scratched into it.
Maddyn slowly walked around the car, and when she saw what was written, tears formed in her eyes. Her hands flew to her face, and tears spilled. He'd never known a rage like the one that raced through him at the sight of Maddyn's horror when she saw that word, which obviously meant her.
He put his arm around her and led her to the house. "Let's go inside. I don't know if they're watching us now."
"Oh my God."
She hurried into the house, and he locked the door as soon as they were inside. He pulled his phone from his back pocket and called the police.
"911, what's your emergency?"
"My name is Axel Peters. I'm a guest at an Airbnb outside of Leesburg. The address is N981 County Road Y. Someone keyed my car."
"Is your car in the driveway?"
"Yes."
"So not in a garage?"
"No. There isn't a garage here."
His shoulders tightened as he heard Maddyn in the bathroom blowing her nose.
"Okay, are you inside right now?"
"Yes, we're inside and the doors are locked."
"Alright. An officer is on his way."
"Thank you."
He pocketed his phone and watched out the window to make sure, whoever it was, didn't come back. Maddyn slowly entered the living room, her nose red, her eyes red-rimmed, and her shoulders slumped. He walked toward her and held his arms out. She stepped into his embrace, and he wrapped her tightly to him. They stood together for some time until he heard a car door close. He stepped back and looked into Mads' eyes. "You okay?"
She sniffed lightly. "Yeah."
"Okay. Hang tight."
He stalked to the window to see a police cruiser outside. He nodded toward Mads. "It's the police."
"Okay." He stepped outside without waiting for her. She could certainly stay inside if she felt safer.
As he descended the steps, the officer looked up from his notepad. Axel walked to him, his hand held out. "I'm Axel Peters."
"Hi, Axel, I'm Officer Danton."
Officer Danton glanced at his car and shook his head. "Do you know when this happened?"
"We arrived here around six this evening. We went for a walk along the beach. When we came back, I came out here to put the top up for the night. That's when I saw it. So, within the last hour."
"Any idea who may have done it?"
The door to the cottage opened and closed. Mads strode cautiously toward him. "This is Maddyn Nolen. Mads, this is Officer Danton."
Mads leaned forward and shook the officer's hand.
"Do you know who may have done this?" the officer repeated.
Axel took a deep breath. "It could be Doug. Mads' ex-boyfriend." He glanced at Mads, and her brows pinched together. "Or Lacey," she added.
