Juni nodded and crawled under the covers. Maren found a show about koalas—perfect to send a little girl off to sleep—and started sewing Mr. Kibble back together.
Her phone rang, startling her into pricking her finger—of course. “Shit,” she murmured, and glanced at Juni, but the little girl was still out. She looked at the screen and saw PRIVATE NUMBER. She closed her eyes, relieved it wasn’t her supervisor. She didn’t have the spoons to get chewed out about stolen hospital property.
Would the police have a private number? It would give the department name or station, right? Or maybe it’s a detective?
“Shit.” Maren picked up her phone and hit connect but the call had already gone to voicemail.
“I’m making a mess of this.” She unlocked her phone and dialed voicemail. Whoever it was had left a message. There was a pause that made her think it must have been a spam call, then a man’s voice spoke.
“Maren, you don’t know me, but I worked with your sister. My name’s not important. Probably better if you don’t know.” The voice paused.
My sister?Maren felt like her veins had been flooded with ice water.My sister’s been dead for almost four years.
“If you’re getting this recording, it means they got me. I’m sorry, but you and Juniper are in grave danger. Your sister was brave and she loved you and her daughter more than anything. She was part of an NCIS investigation and her death was no accident. By now someone may have found you. Don’t go home. Take Juniper and go to Watchdog Security in Lyons, Colorado. There you’ll find Arden Volker. She’s Sean Volker’s sister and Sean is Juniper’s father. Trust no one else.” Another pause. “I’m afraid Sean is dead, too. I’m sorry. I’m sorry for everything.”
The line went dead.
Maren sat completely still.
Was this a prank? Some sick joke? She turned the recording over in her mind. A stranger who knew Juni’s name. Who knewMira was gone. And the thing that shocked her the most—Juniper’s father was dead.
She played the man’s voice back in her head.Your sister was brave.Her death was no accident.
But Mira’s deathwasan accident. A hit and run. The police had been very clear.
Except this man—this possiblydeadman—was very clear, too.
An NCIS investigation.
And considering where Mira had worked…
Oh, God. What if the break-in wasn’t random?
Her death was no accident.
She looked at Juni asleep under the covers. One small hand was curled under her chin.
Then Maren was on her feet.
Don’t go home.Her twin’s voice told her in her head.
She was already at the dresser, stuffing clothes back into the bag she’d only half unpacked.
Take Juni and go.
Her hands weren’t shaking this time. Details in the room had gone crystal clear instead—the obnoxious carpet pattern, the scuffed wood veneer, every sound outside.
Sean Volker’s sister. Sean is Juni’s father. Trust no one else.
Don’t go home, Maren. Take Juni and go.
To Arden Volker. A complete stranger.
Could she risk it?
What choice do I have?
“Juni.” She touched the little girl’s shoulder. “Juni, baby, we need to go.”
