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“No one?” Grace asked.
“Not here at the cottage, specifically, but people know I’m here in Destiny Falls, I guess, thanks to those online articles.”
Nate straightened. “I’m going to need a list of names of people who have this as a contact address for you.” He turned to Kennedy. “As well as anyone else you can think of who could realistically have found out where you’re staying. Unfortunately, as far as we know, no crime has been committed, so my ability to react is limited, but this makes me concerned. I’m going to take the box and see if we can collect any fingerprints from it. That way, we have them if this person contacts you again.”
“I appreciate that.” Her shoulders were rigid. “If you find any, can you let me know? I employ a security company and I’d like to keep them informed.”
“Of course.” Nate picked up the box. “I’m sorry this has happened.” To my surprise, he actually sounded it. “Do you mind coming in next week to give a full statement? I want to have as much information as possible on record. If the person calls again, contact me immediately. Otherwise, you probably shouldn’t be left alone.”
“She can stay in the house tonight,” Grace said.
“Thanks, Grace.” Kennedy didn’t even try to argue. “I’m so sorry to have ruined your Christmas like this.”
It was the same thing she’d said to Nate and me, and I frowned. I knew she’d never been one to want to put others out, but surely she realized that even if I didn’t approve of what she’d done all those years ago, we cared enough about her not to want her to land in any kind of trouble.
“Youdidn’t,” Grace said fiercely. “This asshole did.”
My eyebrow shot up. So did Nate’s. Grace wasn’t much for swearing, but clearly this was a hot-button topic for her.
“I’m just going to clear the cottages,” Nate said. “Make sure the stalker isn’t in there and didn’t leave anything else. Is that all right with you, Kennedy?”
“Yes.” She curled in on herself. “I didn’t even think of that.”
“It’s just a precaution.” He drew his taser as he tested the door handle and let himself in. A few minutes later, he was back. “Everything seems to be in order. Why don’t you take a quick check while I look in the other cottage?”
Kennedy and Grace entered the cottage together. I waited outside with Desdemona.
“She drew The Fool,” Desdemona said meaningfully.
“And?”
She waggled her eyebrows. “Don’t play coy with me, Liam Braddock.”
I gave her an awkward smile, once again not sure what she was talking about. When Kennedy and Grace re-emerged, they confirmed that nothing seemed to have been taken or left behind. Nate exited the other cottage and locked it behind himself. He instructed us to wait by the road while he checked the perimeter of the property. When he’d completed the circuit, he packed his taser away.
“Right. I should get this to the station,” he said, gesturing to the package, which he’d retrieved from the cottage doorstep during his check. “Are you going to be okay here?”
“Yeah.” Kennedy smiled, but I could tell it was forced. “Thanks for coming.”
“It’s my job.”
The forced smile vanished, and for some reason, I wanted to wrap her in my arms. I hated to see her looking so upset. She must be holding a lot of emotion inside. Whether or not anything illegal had happened, she’d been violated, and that wasn’t okay. But I also couldn’t comfort her the way I used to. That wasn’t who we were anymore. So instead, I reiterated Nate’s statement about calling if they ran into any more trouble, and I left.
ChapterEighteen
KENNEDY
Hi Liam,
I don’t have anything to say today. Just that I wish I was with you.
Love,
K xx
Once the Braddockbrothers had left, I took my phone from my pocket. “I need to call my security company.”
“Come inside,” Grace urged. “You can use the guest living room if you want privacy.”
