Page 45 of Shallow Remains

When she was done she texted Lachlan a picture of her painting.

Just made this at Willow’s painting party.

That’s amazing! He responded a minute later. I didn’t know you were an artist.

I’m not.

Could’ve fooled me. I’d pay money for that.

The compliment warmed her to her bones. And she liked having a tangible souvenir of her day with Lachlan, something she’d made to remember their first kiss by.

At the end of the night everyone took pictures of their work and then a group shot. Willow started making plans for a pumpkin carving and pie night.

When she stepped out of the cozy workshop with her painting in hand, cold wind was gusting, driving fat raindrops from the heavy dark clouds.

After saying goodbye to the others, she sighed in relief when she shut her car door. It had been fun, but she was looking forward to going home to the cozy little cottage, getting her jammies on, and crawling into the flannel sheets under the chenille comforter on the bed. And dreaming of Lachlan.

Fallen leaves scattered across the road as she drove back toward town through the rain. There wasn’t much traffic, only a few other cars were also traveling west to the coast. Two took the exit toward Whalebone Cove with her.

One made the turn north after she did. She didn’t think anything of it, the vehicle behind her so far back it was just headlights in her rearview.

Her phone rang the instant she pulled into the driveway. Mae’s name showed on the screen. “Hi, neighbor.”

“How was the paint night?”

“It was good. I actually like my piece.”

“That’s good. Listen, I have to go to the mainland for a day or two tomorrow. Do you have any plans for the weekend?”

“No.” Other than she hoped to see Lachlan and spend more time with him.

“Would you be willing to come stay here for a night or two and take care of my dogs until I get back?”

“Oh. I…”

“My regular dog sitter is away, and I don’t like taking them to a kennel because they’re assholes.”

She frowned. “The people at the kennel?”

“No, my mutts.”

Not exactly a ringing endorsement as to why she should babysit them.

She glanced toward Mae’s place. Squinted as a dark shape materialized out of the darkness down the road from it. A tall shadow that disappeared behind the back of the house.

A person? It had vanished too fast for her to tell.

“You still there?”

She ignored the prickles buzzing along her nape. Stop. It’s nothing. “Yes.” She squinted again. Was that a car back there at the side of the road, a little way down the hill?

Stop it. You’re literally jumping at shadows. No one followed you.

But what if someone had?

She thought of the note with the message in Arabic and a little shiver rippled through her. Sitting out here alone made her feel exposed. She wanted to get inside.

“Sure, I can look after them for you,” she said, distracted.