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My phone continues to vibrate, and I pick it up, expecting to see it’s her.
It’s Scar calling.
“Hey, bro, what’s up?” I turn in the bed, putting my feet on the floor.
“You still in town?” His raspy voice is low, and I can tell something’s up.
“Yeah, I’ve got the week off, but I was planning to head back…”Now, looking around and finding Reanna gone.
“I need you to come to Hugh’s as soon as you can.”
I’m out of the bed at once, pulling on my boxer briefs and scooping up my jeans. “I’m on my way. Is everything okay? Is Hana…”
“Hana’s good. She’s coming back this evening with Blake and Hutch.”
“What’s going on?” Walking to my armoire, I notice a yellow Post-It on the floor beside the nightstand.
Picking it up, I see a note,Something came up. Had to head back to Thornton. Will text asap. -R.
“Come over, and I’ll fill you in.”
Frowning at the note, I nod. “Give me five minutes.”
We disconnect, and I tap out a quick text.Don’t like waking up alone.
I hit send and pull a brown sweater over my head before stepping into my boots and scooping up my keys.
Scar’s in the kitchen with Norris when I arrive, and a platter of fresh scones is on the bar.
The old butler is flustered, but he’s a pro at taking care of this house and Hugh and Hugh’s guests. “Would you like some coffee, Mr. Dirk?”
“Sure, thanks.” I don’t even bother asking him to drop the Mister for the hundredth time. “What’s this all about?”
Scar steps forward, placing his phone on the cypress bar between us. “I came home early this morning, and I was headed to my place when the motion detectors went off.”
He taps the screen, and Hugh’s golf cart appears, driving away from the front of the house towards the barn.
Frowning, I back it up and lean in to try and get a better look, but it’s too dark to make out the driver. “Someone took a joy ride on Hugh’s golf cart?”
“That’s what I thought, so I came to investigate.”
“Where is it now?”
“Parked behind the barn.”
“So they didn’t steal it.” I glance from him to Norris and back again. “It could’ve been teenagers pulling a prank. If they returned it, no harm done, right?”
“Except I noticed the back door wasn’t closed all the way. So I came in the house to check on things, and someone was inside.”
“Oh!” Norris emits a terrified sound. “I can’t even think of such a thing!”
“You saw someone in the house?”
“I didn’t see them. A pair of Doc Marten boots were at the back door, so I came in and when I entered Hugh’s study, the intruder took off running for the back door. It took me a minute to realize where they were, and by the time I caught up, they were gone, boots and all. Still, I could probably pick up the trail.”
I cross my arms, leaning against the bar. “You’ve got to start locking that door, Norris.”
“Mr. Hugh is going to hate that. He likes Hamiltown being the kind of place where doors don’t have to be locked.”
