Page 34 of Crossing Paths
“Oh, we don’t need to check if he’s holding a weapon.” Molly sounded amused, which made Norah worry what was coming next.
Sure enough, Cara leaned to the side to get a better view of Dash. “We want to see if his hands are sinewy.”
Norah groaned as her sisters laughed. She refused to look at Dash, since she didn’t want to explain what they meant. She didn’t even know if shecouldexplain her sisters’ goofiness. Instead, she focused on Zach’s still limp form. “Should we callthe cops? An ambulance?” she suggested doubtfully. Her lungs still felt tight, so she absently pulled her inhaler from her pocket and took a puff.
“You know that Denver detective will show up as soon as the dispatcher gives our address,” Cara said, her mischievous smile disappearing as she wrinkled her nose.
“Cara’s right.” Molly’s grin dropped away as well. “Detective Mill will use this as an excuse to search our house again, and he’ll just let Zach walk anyway. That’ll just make him more confident about breaking in again.” She eyed the unconscious man as if she seriously wanted to get a couple of kicks in.
“Can you call Sergeant Blake?” Cara suggested. “She’ll be on our side at least.”
Looking gloomy, Molly shook her head. “She’s on thin ice after mouthing off to Mill after the chief ordered everyone to be on their best behavior. Besides, Lieutenant Botha told her she can’t respond to our family’s calls anymore, at least until the stolen necklace case is closed. The local cops want to give the appearance of objectivity now that everyone’s eyes are on them because of Mom’s theft.”
“Your neighbor home?” Dash asked, drawing everyone’s gaze. Even Warrant abandoned Norah to sniff the newcomer. Dash used his hand that wasn’t still balled in Zach’s shirt to scratch the dog behind his ears, making his heavy tail thump happily against the hardwood floor.
“Which one?” Molly asked. “Mr. Petra?”
“He the sour guy always peeking through his window blinds?”
Norah had to snort at the accurate description. Using her inhaler a second time, she dropped it back into her pocket.
“That’s Mr. P. Yes, he’s gone. He always golfs on Sunday mornings,” Cara answered.
With a short nod, Dash shifted his grip to the back of Zach’s shirt and started dragging him toward the hallway. Norah quickly moved out of his way, trusting that he had a plan, but Molly held her ground, blocking his path.
“What’s the plan?”
“Having a plan is important to Molly,” Norah explained as Cara made a noise in her throat that sounded like a laugh turned into a cough.
Dash lifted his shoulder in a shrug. “Dump him on the sour neighbor’s porch and pick the lock. Call the cops and tell them I was jogging by and saw him breaking in. He came at me, so I put him down.”
Molly studied him as he stood calmly, waiting for her response. Finally, she stepped aside. “I like how your Dash thinks,” she said to Norah approvingly.
Norah felt her face warm as she debated whether to argue that he wasn’t technicallyherDash. She wasn’t sure what would give her the right to full possession, but his lips had touched her ear multiple times, they’d danced together, and he approved of her somewhat bumbling fighting technique. It was starting to feel like she had at least a minor stake in him.
As she mentally debated the point, Dash dragged Zach out of the room and down the hall. Shaking herself out of her introspection, she trailed after him. “Want help?”
“Do you care if he has a few bruises tomorrow?” he asked in response.
She met Molly’s and then Cara’s gazes, and she knew their opinion on the matter matched hers. “Not at all.”
“Then I’m good.” He started down the stairs, dragging Zach behind him. Every bump of Zach’s body against the hardwood steps made Norah wince yet, at the same time, also made her unreasonably satisfied.
“Seriously, Norah,” Molly said under her breath as they followed the two men down the stairs. “This one’s a keeper.”
Norah swallowed a smile before moving to catch up with the man in question.
When he reached the front door, Dash hauled Zach onto his shoulders in a fireman’s carry. Norah and her sisters clustered behind him, ready to follow him over to Mr. P’s, but he shook his head. “Better not take the chance that any of you are seen.”
“How’re you getting him next door without the Villaneaus spotting you?” Norah asked.
“Oh, they’re gone too,” Cara interjected before Dash could say anything. “Sunday brunch at the Hotel Royale, remember?”
“Right.” Norah had known that. She blamed her unusual absentmindedness on the stressful morning she’d just had. Moving to the picture window, she looked out onto the street that was empty except for Dash’s SUV. “You’re clear.” Glancing over, she felt a tug in her belly. “Be careful. Thank you for doing this.”
“Yes, this is really nice of you,” Cara added as Molly nodded in agreement.
He shrugged off their thanks as well as he could with an unconscious person draped across his shoulders. Molly opened the door for him, and he stepped outside, the screen door screeching as usual. Norah was pretty sure she’d never be able to hear it without remembering the fear from that morning. As soon as Molly closed the door behind him, Norah hurried to set the alarm.
