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“Thank you for coming. I didn’t realize how on edge I’ve been until Leif and Claudette went home.” She sat down on the edge of the sofa. “I can’t go on this way. I can’t rely on bodyguards forever. What if we never find him?”
“We will,” Faron said. “In fact, I had an idea on the way over. I think we should leave—ostensibly—and then sneak back. If he thinks you’re alone, he might make a move and then we can catch him. We need to lay the trap.”
Bree let out a shaky sigh. “That sounds like a plan, as scared as it makes me. I’ve never felt this vulnerable before and I never want to feel this way again.”
“What do we do?” I asked.
“We make a big show of leaving, then we park a few blocks away, and walk back through the alleys and back streets.”
Unlike some of the cities, Starlight Hollow still was a network grid of streets and alleys. It was possible to traverse a good share of the town through the alleyways, keeping away from the main view of the street. If Bree’s stalker was watching, he was probably hiding out either across the street in the vacant lot, or he was back in the graveyard. The house to her right was occupied by an older couple, and they were always home. Across the street, the lot was vacant, but the houses to either side were occupied. And, of course, to the left was the graveyard.
“Where will we hide?” Bran asked. “Maybe we should split up—one of us take the back yard, and the other two, hide near the graveyard, to the side of the house.” He paused, looking directly at me. “I’ll take the back yard,” he said, and I could hear a hundred thoughts tucked into that one sentence.
I met his gaze. He stared at me, open and unarmed, honest and understanding, and I wondered if he had heard me talking in the truck.
Faron read the same thing into his words as I did. “Thanks, old chap,” he said.
“I’m not British and neither are you,” Bran said, but he laughed. “All right, let’s say a loud farewell. Make sure you’re heard.”
I gave Bree a hug. “Maybe this will work,” I said.
“Maybe it will.” She hugged me tight. “Thanks…for everything.”
As I let go, I held tight to her hands. “We’ll find him. I promise you that.”
* * *
We were on the porch,chatting loudly.
“I wish we could stay,” I said, “but we promised my Grams we’d be back for a late supper.”
“I wish you could stay, too,” Bree said. “Give her and May my love!”
“I’ll make sure my men can get here tomorrow morning. I’m sorry plans got fucked up tonight,” Faron said.
As Bree waved us off, we headed for the truck. Now that our plan was in motion, I wasn’t too thrilled about it. We were leaving her alone, and although it was only for fifteen minutes, that could be all the stalker needed. But for the lack of a better plan—and without Daisy’s help—this was the best option. We couldn’t stake out her house every single night from now until the stalker tripped himself up.
As we drove away, I held my arms tight against my stomach.
Faron noticed. “Are you okay?”
“I’m nervous. After the crap I’ve seen with the serial killer, it scares the fuck out of me. Remember, I ended up seeing a couple of the bodies. And after what I have been through the past year or so, part of me wants to lock her in an ivory tower and throw away the key. I can’t let anything bad happen to my best friend.”
“I understand, I really do. But we won’t let it come to that. This whole maneuver tonight is to attempt a capture. My gut tells me he’ll come in if he thinks she’s unprotected. He won’t want to wait until we’re back again with reinforcements.”
“I trust you,” I said. “I hope that this works.”
We parked about a block and a half away from Bree’s house, in a turnout where hopefully we wouldn’t be noticed. At least we didn’t have to worry about the serial killer anymore. I shrugged on the light jacket I’d added at the last minute and slipped out of the car. Bran and Faron joined me, flanking both sides. Their auras were both in check, and for now—at least—they had squashed their rivalry.
“Where do we go now?” I asked.
“We’ll cut through the alleys till we reach Bree’s house, then Bran will take the back yard and we’ll monitor the graveyard next door.” Faron glanced at Bran. “I didn’t expect to be doing this so I didn’t bring any weapons.” I had left the switchblade my grandmother had given me at home, not even thinking to bring it.
“No problem, I’m a black belt in several martial arts specialties,” Bran said.
Faron let out a low whistle. “Well, that’s good to know. I can brawl with the best of them. And since I’m a shifter, my strength…”
“Is worth two of me,” Bran said. “That’s gotta help. In wolf form, is your bite worse than your bark?” As we walked below the streetlamps, he grinned, probably to show that he wasn’t taking a cheap shot.
