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“She’s fine.” He hesitated, apparently debating whether to add more. “It seems like someone is messing with Kennedy. Could be dangerous. Probably not, but they called me as a precaution.”
At Kennedy’s name, everyone at the table stiffened and swung to look at me. She’d become a nonsubject in recent times. With the exception of Summer, we avoided talking about her whenever possible. Summer, on the other hand, had urged me once again this morning to hear Kennedy out.
“What do you mean by ‘messing with her’?” I asked, irritated to hear the concern in my voice. It wasn’t because she meant anything to me, I assured myself. It was just that seeing her with puffy eyes the other day had reminded me she was human, and I didn’t want any human to be in danger.
“Can’t share details; you know that.”
I gritted my teeth. “Can you give me a hint?”
He didn’t bother to answer as he headed to the front of the table to drop a kiss on Mum’s cheek and give Dad a one-armed hug. “I’ll be back as soon as I can. Save me some dessert.”
My chest burned as I watched him go. My stomach threatened to mutiny and throw up the food I’d eaten so far.
“Wait.” I was on my feet before I’d made a conscious decision. “I’m coming with you.”
Nate’s expression darkened, but he didn’t argue. Perhaps he realized it was pointless.
“Talk to her!” Summer called after me.
We got into Nate’s car and he got us to Grace’s place quickly but without using lights and sirens. From the outside, the property looked peaceful, but as we made our way down the path, I saw three women clustered outside the cottages.
“Nothing has happened so far?” Nate asked Grace as we drew near.
She shook her head, her gaze flitting to me. She didn’t ask about my presence, which I was grateful for because I had no idea how to explain it. “The package is on the doorstep.”
Package?
Nate hadn’t explained anything to me on the way over, but now I saw a gift-wrapped box sitting on the doormat of Kennedy’s cottage.
Nate turned to Kennedy, who was even paler than usual. “Did the person on the phone tell you what it was?”
“No,” she replied shakily.
Nate nodded and drew out a notepad. “Do you know who they were?”
“No.” Tears filled her eyes. “I’m sorry. I know that’s really unhelpful.”
“It’s all right.” I could tell it grated on Nate to comfort her, but he’d fallen into the role of sturdy, reliable cop, and that meant more to him than any dislike of Kennedy. “Could you tell whether it was a man or woman?”
Her teeth sank into her lower lip. I stared, certain that she was going to puncture it at any moment. “A man, I think, but they were using something to mask their voice, so I can’t be certain.”
Nate made a note. “So you received a call from a private number. The caller told you they’d left you a gift. You then proceeded out here and found the box?” He gestured toward the package. “Is that correct?”
“Yes.”
“Okay.” Nate pocketed the notepad. “A constable is on his way with Snuffles, who is a trained bomb and drug detection dog. Once he’s cleared the scene, we’ll open it and see what we’re dealing with.”
If possible, Kennedy paled further. “B-bomb?” she stammered. “Surely there’s no way….”
Grace wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “It’s probably just a precaution.”
“There’s no need for a dog,” Desdemona announced. “It’s not a bomb.”
Nate rolled his eyes. While he liked Grace’s aunt, I knew he didn’t have much patience for her theatrics. “Better safe than sorry.”
While we waited for the constable and Snuffles to show up, I joined Kennedy. “You okay?”
She made an unhappy sound. “I’m sorry I disturbed your family lunch. I’m sure there’s nothing to worry about.”
