There were no cars in Glory’s driveway, and none parked on the street in front of her house. Perfect. Feeling brazen, Mike parked two houses down to avoid drawing notice, but it was probably an unnecessary precaution. With the sheets of rain coming down and the occasional cracks of lightning across the sky, everyone was safely inside.
Everyone but him.
Jenn had brought him to this... No,not Jenn. Glory. He gave a mental shake of his head to clear out the old memories.
This was about Glory and her transgressions, the ways thatshe’d let him down. Jenn was forever gone now, he reminded himself—just as Shara would be once he was finished with her.
But that would be later. For now, he had to get Glory.
Buffeted by wind and rain the second he stepped out of the SUV, Mike kept his head down. Water washed over the sidewalks. Thick storm clouds darkened the day until it seemed more like evening.
Deciding to approach her house from the back, he pressed forward. Movement to his right drew his attention. With a quick glance, he noticed an older woman peering out the window of the house next door. Without acknowledging her, he continued on, as if he were heading home. No reason to deal with nosy neighbors.
With that thought in mind, he went to the other side of Glory’s yard, where the neighbor wouldn’t see him. To his utter shock and gleeful satisfaction, he found Glory there. She stood just inside an empty terrace, holding the end of a long leash attached to a small mutt, who was busily sniffing the grass along the edge of pavers.
His heart thundered as satisfaction swelled.
Finally, he had her.
When his cell phone rang, Kam glanced at the screen and almost ignored the unfamiliar number. He’d be at the gas station to meet Tanner in only a few more minutes. With the weather so bad, he’d driven slower than he wanted to, but he wouldn’t chance a wreck that might cause him to miss this opportunity.
On the third ring, he answered and put it on speaker. “Hello?”
“Get back home. Now. Glory needs you.”
His blood froze in his veins. “Who is this?”
“Glenda, damn it, the neighbor. I got your number from the tree farm website. I’m telling you to get here now.”
Pulling into the next driveway to turn around, Kam asked, “What’s happening?”
“A man snooping around, that’s what. He headed straight for Glory’s house, but when he saw me looking out my window, he didn’t go to her front door. He went around the side.”
“Shit.” Warning bells blared in his head. “I’m on my way.”
“I saw you leave, so I knew you couldn’t have gone far. I’ll call the cops next, but hurry—and be careful!”
She disconnected, and Kam dropped the phone to the cup holder in the console and pressed on the gas. Scenarios sped through his brain. He thought to call Tanner, but didn’t want to slow down to do that.
And Old Lady Simmons! Did the woman miss nothing? Right now, he could only thank God that she was so vigilant. If they all got through this, he’d kiss the old gal in gratitude.
As the tires of the BMW went through a puddle, water sprayed out in an arc. He’d trust his heavier SUV more in this weather, but he was still making good time. He sped around a corner and slid but quickly righted the car. He risked pushing through a stop sign, already seeing that the roads were empty. He’d be there very soon—but would it be soon enough?
It had to be. He couldn’t lose Glory.
Not now. Not ever.
Standing inside the covered terrace, Glory avoided the rain while PB did her business right along the pavers. It amazed her that the dog, despite her nerves, would brave the weather.
Then again, it probably hadn’t been the weather that had spooked her. It was more the tension from the humans.
PB had been homeless, Glory reminded herself. Her poor dog-ter had lived outside, suffering the elements—evenweather like this—without shelter, and without anyone to love her.
That knowledge, along with her worry for Kam, conspired against her. Her chest tightened and her nose tickled with the threat of tears, but she fought off the emotional upheaval. The last thing the dog needed was more of her moodiness.
PB did look at her a few times, then she hurriedly piddled and started back. Before the dog could reach her, Liz stepped outside with a towel. “I’m going to dry this little baby for you.”
Hearing the wordbabymade Glory’s heart trip, but she quickly recovered. “You mean PB. Yes, I’m sure her paws, belly, back... Well, everything is probably wet.”
