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The flames in my cheeks dance. Why? Because no one’s ever said that to me before? That doesn’t mean he’s in love with me, right? He’s just teasing me, making fun of me.
Or so I think until I turn my head and see the sincerity in Leo’s gaze. And the tenderness. So much I have to turn away again and walk towards the window so that he doesn’t see how red my face is.
“Are you okay?” he asks.
I swallow. “Yeah.”
Why? Why am I acting all flustered?
Leo says nothing. Through the reflection in the glass, I see him sitting in front of the desk and pulling his laptop from his bag. He opens it.
“Is the file ready?” I ask him.
Right. Stick to the current issue. Remember why I’m here.
I hear a few clicks. “Yes. It’s been decrypted.”
I take a look myself. My eyes narrow at the image on the screen.
“It’s a map.”
“Yup.” Leo lets out a breath. “And it looks like the spot where we need to go next is marked.”
He points to the red dot.
I frown. “And what’s waiting there? A trap? Another clue that leads to another and another? What if this is a wild goose chase?”
“Believe me, I’ve thought of that. I’m not hoping for anything. I just have to make sure I leave no stone unturned.”
And I understand. I share the same mindset with regard to finding out how my father died. I want to make sure I try everything before I give up, no matter how tedious or risky.
“I’ll try to find as much information as I can about the place before going there,” Leo adds. “You don’t have to come with me.”
“I’ll come with you,” I tell him. “I’ve already made up my mind.”
He sighs. “Yeah. I thought so.”
Chapter Sixteen
Leo
The map from the drive leads to a lake house property nearly four hours away. Sprawling. Scenic. There’s no sign of it being occupied. There’s a pick-up truck in the driveway, but it’s covered in canvas and dust. No dogs. No silhouettes or movement next to the windows. No sound except for the breeze blowing through the leaves.
“Are you sure this is the right place?” Jodie asks me.
I’m wondering the same thing. I glance at my map.
“Yes, it is.”
From what Dino managed to pull up, it belongs to a man named Ned Lucas who used to own a small construction company in the area. Divorced. No kids. No social media account. No credit card. The last activity in his bank account was a withdrawal made nearly six years ago. Nothing since. No phone records either. I’d think he was dead, but Dino couldn’t find any death certificate. I was hoping I’d find him here in this house, living like a man in the 16th century. Now, I’m wondering if I’m going to stumble upon his corpse.
I walk up to the front porch and knock on the door. No answer.
I knock louder and shout. “Anyone home?”
Still nothing.
I peek inside one of the windows. Nothing but dusty furniture.
I glance over my shoulder at Jodie. “I’m going in. You can stay here.”
“I’m going with you,” she says. “Don’t worry. I’ll stick close to you and do everything you say.”
Right. It’s not like this is the first time we’re entering someone else’s property.
“Also, the moment I smell something I don’t like, I’ll get out,” she adds.
So she’s expecting a corpse, too.
“I’ll try not to fart, then,” I joke.
She gives me an expression of disgust.
I chuckle. “Lighten up. You’re too serious, Jodie Nicholson.”
“There could be a dead body in there,” she points out. “Or worse.”
“Worse?”
I try to think of what that could be.
“A heap of dead bodies and a serial killer waiting in the shadows.”
Wow. Her imagination is really something.
“Sounds like a bad horror movie,” I say. “But you can still back out.”
“No.” Jodie straightens her shoulders. “Let’s do this.”
I can tell she’s still scared. I grab her hand and squeeze it.
“Hey. I’ve got you. I’m not going to let anything bad happen to you, I promise.”
Her eyes widen slightly. Then she looks away and I can almost swear she’s blushing.
That seems to be happening a lot lately. I wonder why.
I set that question aside, as I knock on the door one last time. When I still hear nothing, I break the pane of one of the front windows. The glass shatters. I open the window and go through, then help Jodie in. I keep my hand on the holster of my gun as I look around.
More dusty furniture. No signs of life. At least there are no signs of death, either.
So far.
After checking every room on the first floor, Jodie and I head upstairs. Still, we don’t find Ned. My shoulders sink.
Maybe this is a wild goose chase, after all.
“Hey.” Jodie places her hand on my back. “Maybe Ned Lucas isn’t the key. Maybe it’s just this place. Maybe your mother has been here before.”
