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Crista smiled serenely back at the other woman as she finished unlocking the door.
“Layla, follow us to the office, I want to know what the hell is going on with the lumberyard. I thought Bedsford had a handle on that?”
“He was working out great, Mr…. uhh Dawg,” she stuttered as she relocked the door, then followed behind them. “He’s been with us ever since he was discharged from the service. I don’t know what happened. ”
Crista glanced behind her at the manager, winking as Dawg continued to drag her behind him as he mounted the steps to the office.
“When did it start?”
“Last week. ” They paused as Dawg dug the key to the office out of his jeans pocket, still holding onto Crista, and inserted it into lock, turned it, then stopped.
“Dawg?” Crista tried to stare around him. “What’s wrong?”
“You didn’t lock up last night. ” His voice was carefully restrained.
“Of course I locked the office before I left. ” Crista frowned. “I know I did. ”
“I also checked it before I left Mr. , umm, Dawg. ” Layla cleared her throat again. “I always check the office doors before I close up at night. ”
Dawg stepped back, his keys still hanging in the lock.
“Crista, I want you and Layla to go back out front. Use your cell phone and call Natches. I programmed his and Rowdy’s numbers in last night. ”
“Why?” Crista could feel the dread rising inside her now.
“Layla, does anyone know you check the offices at night?” Dawg asked then.
“I don’t know, Dawg. ” There was an edge of fear in her voice. “Jamie and the boys always go through the store with me at night when they pick me up, just to make sure everything is okay. I check all the office doors then. ”
“Get out front and call Natches, Crista. ” Dawg turned back to her, his expression closed, dangerous. “Now. ”
“Not without you. ” Her hands gripped his arm, tugging at him. “You can call him yourself. He’ll come faster if you call him. ”
Surprise tightened his features. “I know what I’m doing, Crista. ”
“I don’t care. ” She wasn’t leaving him here alone. Only God knew what was behind that door.
“You can come with us. ”
“Mr. Mackay, we should all go out front. What if whoever was in the store, if anyone was, is waiting outside?”
That had murderous fury lighting in his eyes. Dawg’s gaze sliced to the tall, wide windows of the front of the store as his expression became cold, dangerous.
“Come on. ” Thankfully, he turned, moving them down the metal steps and headed for the entrance as he pulled his cell phone from his pocket.
Punching in Natches’s number, Dawg stalked away from the women.
“It’s early, Dawg,” Natches mumbled into the line.
“Get to the store. Someone was in the office last night. I’m calling the sheriff to dust for prints, but I need someone to watch Crista while I’m taking care of Mayes’s questions. After last night, this could get ugly. ”
“Shit!” He could hear Natches moving. “Bastards moved fast. ”
“Makes me wonder if the car going up in flames wasn’t more of a distraction than an attempt. Just h
urry. I’m calling Sheriff Mayes now. And you know Layla, her husband and sons are going to come down here like a pack of ravening wolves intent on protecting her. I’m going to need help here. ”
Natches snickered.
