Page 75 of Frost and Venom

He made the explanation sound like a little boy playing a prank, and she realized he viewed it that way.

“Rainier had no intention of actually harming Rafferty, but he was willing to scare the crap out of him, and you both think that’s funny.” She tried to use a schoolmarm tone, but the relief she felt almost made her giddy. And sadly, for her, she did find humor in the situation. She had such a bad sense of humor. She could imagine just how terrifying it would be to have Rainier or Wilder appear in the bedroom in the dark. They would choose the darkest hour to pay their visit and look as menacing as possible.

“Well,” he conceded. “It is kind of funny.”

She leaned into him, put her head on his shoulder and let the peace of the night settle over her. Once again, Wilder had proven she was safe with him. She could tell him her fears, and he didn’t get indignant or angry with her, feeling as if she was insulting him. He took the mug from her hand and set it on the table before wrapping his arms around her and settling her back into his chest. The night ended up being perfection, something she wouldn’t have thought possible after the fiasco with her parents.

Chapter Seventeen

“Someone was creeping around my house last night,” Guadalupe announced, seating herself at the table in the back of the Sunrise Café where Harlow and her friends were already seated.

Harlow felt her face drain of color. Had she put Guadalupe in danger with all of her disclosures?

“Did you call the cops?” Raine asked.

“Bale Landry dropped by to see his uncle and found Paul Rafferty dead yesterday,” Guadalupe said, seemingly ignoring the question. “Did you hear?”

They all nodded. “Speculation has it he died from whatever is killing so many people here in Knightly,” Zahra said. “Since he’s dead, I can’t even say good riddance.” She sighed. “Once more, my quick wit is silenced by death.”

“What does that mean?” Guadalupe asked.

Stella waved her hand. “Pay her no attention. She’s going to have to take an acting class to satisfy her need for drama.”

Zahra burst out laughing. “Stella, I’m already a great actress.” The smile faded from her face as she turned her attention to Guadalupe. “Having someone creeping around your house is scary. You should have called the sheriff’s office and reported it, which you clearly didn’t since you didn’t answer that question.”

“Did you get footage on your security cameras?” Raine asked.

“Yes,” Guadalupe confirmed. “But he was dressed in all black with a hoodie and a mask. He wore gloves. He was completely covered up. I tried enhancing the footage, but I didn’t get anywhere.”

“What was he doing?” Harlow asked.

“He didn’t try my doors, but he did attempt to open several of the windows. I keep them locked. He didn’t try to break in, but after he’d tested the windows, he walked around my house in my flower bed, every now and then crouching down as if he were examining the soil. His actions were strange.”

“Sometimes,” Raine said, “you can get an impression of someone just by the way they walk. Did you think, even for a moment, that you knew the man?”

Guadalupe shook her head. “To be honest, I was scared. I live alone in my house. I don’t have a dog. It was the first time I’ve ever been afraid here in Knightly.”

Harlow heard the single note of fear in her voice. She wasn’t acting. If anything, she was trying to appear calm and matter-of-fact.

“He went to my mailbox and kept circling it. I watched him on the surveillance video over and over, trying to make out what he was doing, but I just couldn’t see.”

“Would you give me access to that footage?” Raine asked. “I have ways to enhance video. I might be able to run a recognition program if I get a partial on his face.”

“It was so dark,” Guadalupe said. “But yes, I’ll make certain you get it. It would be a relief to know why he was in my yard. It isn’t as if I have really close neighbors. I don’t share a fence with anyone. My house sits in the middle of an acre, so to actually get to my home, you have to come up a private drive. He was there deliberately.”

“Did he put anything in your mailbox?” Stella asked. “Letters? Threats?”

Guadalupe shook her head. “I honestly was a little afraid to look after viewing the video from the surveillance cameras.”

“I should be able to figure out his height and weight,” Raine assured her. She sounded totally confident. “If you don’t want to stay alone, you’re welcome to come to my home. I have a spare bedroom. Just know that grumpy Rush is there, and he’s very bossy.”

“I have cabins,” Stella told her. “I’m an hour away, but it might do you good to have a little vacation.”

“Stella has a luxury spa,” Zahra added.

Before Harlow could volunteer her home, Guadalupe was already shaking her head. She squared her shoulders. “I’ve never allowed myself to back down from a fight. If this person is threatening me, he’s got a surprise coming. In my life I’ve dealt with far worse than an intruder.”

“Guadalupe.” Harlow was as gentle as possible. She cared about her friend, even if Guadalupe didn’t reciprocate her feelings. “Do you know how many people have actually died in Knightly in the past couple of months? We suspect someone is behind the deaths. It’s just us thinking that, but if some stranger is creeping around your home, trying to open your windows and trampling through your flower beds, you have to take it seriously.”