Page 73 of To Bring You Back
“In the shed.” Adeline led the way, and they found a square piece of plywood left over from before she’d purchased the house. After she’d supplied him with a hammer and nails from the basement, Officer Cullen tacked the board in place, the rap of the hammer knocking against the quiet night.
Joe took the last nail from between his lips. “I’ll take pictures, collect the cigarette butts, see if I can find anything else. We’ll cordon off this part of the yard until after the inspection tomorrow.”
“Who’ll watch the property until you find the culprit?”
Adeline turned at the man’s voice. John slid his arm around her shoulders as he fastened his gaze on Officer Cullen.
Joe lifted his chin as if he didn’t take kindly to orders. “We’ll do drive-bys.”
“I’ll send someone, then.” John wore a T-shirt and athletic shorts, either what he’d slept in or something he’d thrown on, and stubble textured his jaw. His eyes seemed to follow the shadow the smoke had left trailing toward the second floor before he turned his gaze to her. “You’re staying with us.”
“You think something else might happen?”
“Let’s not risk it.” His attention seemed to sharpen on the photographer. “Ready to go?”
The man had his camera raised again. Maybe that’s why Gannon hadn’t come onto the street. He must be waiting in the car. Seeing him would make everything so much better.
She looked to Officer Cullen. “Can I?”
“Let’s finish up some details inside.”
“Okay. I have to pack a bag anyway, and Tegan is out looking for Bruce. She can come too, right?”
John nodded and lifted a hand to motion her toward the back entrance.
She hesitated. “Will Gannon wonder what’s taking so long?”
John’s expression clouded, and he shook his head.
Right. She ought to prioritize her house and dog right now.
The next half hour dragged by. Tegan returned, unsuccessful, and once they’d finished talking to Officer Cullen, they packed overnight bags. Tegan opted to drive her own vehicle, but Adeline wanted to be near Gannon more than anything, so she followed John down the sidewalk to a sedan. He pulled open the front passenger door while Tegan backed out of the driveway and into the road.
As John placed her bag in the trunk of his car, Adeline scanned the interior of the vehicle. No one waited inside.
“Gannon?”
John frowned and motioned her in. “Let’s find Bruce.”
So he didn’t want to explain Gannon’s absence. What did that mean?
Tegan pulled up next to them. “I’ll look this direction.” She pointed through her windshield. “Text if you find him?”
John nodded. “Do the same. We’ll meet up so you can follow us to the cabin.”
She gave a thumbs-up and then pulled away.
Adeline considered going for her own car, but exhaustion and disappointment dissolved the idea. She slipped into the car and tugged her seatbelt into place, fingers shaking again. John pulled away from the curb and navigated the streets, looking for a black dog in the black night.
Gannon satbehind Tim in the SUV, where window tinting had shielded him from the photographers at the gate as they pulled out of Havenridge. When they’d gotten clear of the press, he’d moved to the front passenger seat.
Twenty minutes down a two-lane country highway, he spotted the headlights of an idling car.
Tim huffed. “This is a setup for a horror movie. Any chainsaws or guns and I’m out of here. You can fend for yourself.”
Gannon’s phone lit up in his hand with a question from Harper.Is that you?
To the rescue.He plunked the phone into a cup holder. “If I die, you’re out a job.”
