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“Lucas can be a wild child, but that doesn’t sound like him.” Brooke could practically see the frown gathered between Zach’s eyes. “Not where Mei and Aunt Lisette are concerned.”
“Exactly. We thought you might do some checking. See if you can locate him. His mom is pretty worried. And if we don’t find him, none of us is going to inherit that money. I feel greedy saying that, but Arabella especially needs it. You know how she is. She won’t complain, but things are tight for her and the kids.”
“I may be out of communication myself for a while, but when I have a chance, I’ll see what I can do,” Zack promised.
“You’re not involved in anything dangerous, are you?”
He snorted. “Brooke, I’m a cop.”
“How reassuring,” she said dryly. “Take care of yourself, okay? I love you.”
“Ten-four on that one, Gigglebot.”
Brooke was about to ask him directly if and when he was coming home when a noise drew her attention. She turned toward the sound coming somewhere from the front of the house. “Hold on a second, Zach. I hear something.”
“What kind of something?”
“I think someone’s at the front door.”
“This time of night?”
“It’s probably Gabe.”
“The next-door neighbor? Do you trust this guy?”
“Implicitly. He’s wonderful and almost as protective as you. I like him a lot, Zach.”
“Sounds like a guy I should beat up. I’ll stay on the line.”
Brooke giggled. “You’re so funny. Bye, Zach. I love you.”
“Wait a minute—”
Chuckling, Brooke clicked the End button and used the mattress as leverage to push up from the floor. Dust circled around her face. She coughed, waved away the dancing particles and headed toward the living room.
The few minutes of conversation with her brother had bolstered her in a way little else could. Seven years older, Zach had been her protector, her friend, her hero. When the tragedy with Lucy had happened, fifteen-year-old Zach had been the only one who’d said it wasn’t her fault. He’d also been the one to sit on the edge of her bed and soothe away the nightmares that had plagued her for years.
Someday she’d like to marry a man as awesome as her brother.
Her thoughts went instantly to her next-door neighbor. The noise from the outside came again, a thump and a knock. With thoughts that Gabe waited, Brooke slid the phone into her back pocket and hurried.
She stepped into the living room…and screamed.
The front door was wide open…and a dark, hooded figure loomed on the porch.
Chapter Eleven
Gabe heard a scream. The hair tingled on the back of his neck.
He shoved up from the lawn chair, alert and listening. Nothing.
Had he heard an animal in the distant woods? He searched the tree line for illuminated eyes or movement. Nothing.
His cell phone chirped.
“Gabe. Come over. Hurry.”
The fear in Brooke’s voice told him where the scream had originated.
“I’m coming.” He bolted toward her house, crossing the fifty yards in a gallop. She let him in immediately. “What’s wrong?”
“Someone tried to get in.” She wrapped her arms around her body, trembling like a leaf in a windstorm. Her lips quivered. “A man, I think. In dark clothes and a hood”
“Did you see his face?”
“No. When I screamed, he ran. I slammed the door and locked it, then I called you.”
“You opened the door to him?”
“The door was open. I know I closed it after you left earlier, but it was open. Wide open.” Hysteria edged her words. Bright blue eyes were wide and frightened. “Gabe, my door was open and he was right there.” She pointed at the space just outside the door on the porch.
“I’m calling the sheriff.” He punched in the numbers he’d added to his contacts after the trouble at the mine, then wrapped one arm around her shivering shoulders. Someone was going to pay for scaring her like this.
As soon as he’d been assured an officer was on the way, he pulled Brooke down on the couch and drew her into his arms. She was scared. A big brother would hold his sister if she was scared.
