Page 19 of In the Dead of Night

“Th-there was an intruder. I think he locked me in.”

Using the flashlight, he checked the old-fashioned keyhole for a key, but found none. “Where’s the key?”

“I don’t know.”

He ran the beam over the floor. “Do you want me to see if I can find it?”

“Just get the door open. It’s pitch-black in here.”

“Stand back.” He gave her a moment to move, then landed a hard kick near the knob.

Wood cracked. The door swung open and banged against the wall. Before he could bring the beam up, Sara rushed out.

She impacted with him hard enough to make him grunt. He caught a hint of fragrant hair and soft skin and a body vibrating with fear.

He backed up a step. “Whoa.” Wrapping his hands around her arms, he slowed her. “Take it easy.”

For a moment she trembled against him, her words rushing out on quick, shallow breaths. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I’m just…a little claustrophobic.”

“It’s all right.” Directing the beam between them, he got a look at her face, found her pale, her forehead damp with sweat. “How long have you been in there?”

“I don’t know. Maybe twenty minutes.”

“You locked yourself in?”

“No way.” She shook her head. “Someone was there.”

“Who?”

“A man. The lights went out. He came at me, knocked me down.”

Fury whipped through him at the thought of some goon knocking her down. “You okay?”

“I’m okay. Just…shaken up.”

He trained the beam on the lock, trying not to notice the split wood or the antique knob he’d damaged. It wasn’t the kind of lock that could engage on its own. “You’re sure someone was in there with you?”

Even in the semidarkness he saw anger flash in her eyes. “Of course, I’m sure, damn it.”

“All right.” Setting his hands on her shoulders, he backed her to the wall. “Hang tight for a moment while I check it out, okay?”

He felt her shiver. “He’s gone.”

“Stay put. I’m going to take a look anyway.” Giving her shoulder a squeeze, he stepped into the attic. The room was small and dark as a tomb. It took him less than two minutes to ascertain that it was also empty. By the time he’d finished, Sara was back inside.

“There’s no one here now.”

“Someone was, Nick. Someone turned out the lights. They…took the notebook. Locked me inside.”

“What notebook?”

“The one I found. In the box.”

He raised his hand as if to touch her, then let it drop. “Okay. Let’s go downstairs. Make sure you’re all right. Check the fuse box. I need to check the grounds, then we’ll call this in and file a report. Okay?”

She nodded.

In the kitchen, he put Sara in a chair and went through the back door. He shone the flashlight beam along the juniper and jagged rocks surrounding the deck. Taking the wooden steps that led to the beach, he stopped halfway down and illuminated the low-growing bushes and rock. There were a hundred places a man could hide around the old house, but Nick saw no one.