Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 109695 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 548(@200wpm)___ 439(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109695 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 548(@200wpm)___ 439(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
The receptionist glanced up, and her eyes widened. “Serenity?”
“Hi, Katie.”
“It’s been a while. How are you?”
“I’m good. Is Brandon around?”
“Let me see.” She picked up her phone and glanced at Nate. If anything, her eyes got even bigger. She punched in Brandon’s extension and waited for him to pick up. “Hey, Brandon, you have some visitors. Can you come down?” She listened before replying. “Yeah… it’s Serenity… and… some guy.” She glanced my way and nodded. “Sure… I’ll tell her.”
She put the receiver down and gave me a fake smile. “He’s not available right now, but he’s happy to talk to you after work.”
“Oh. Okay. Thanks.” My phone buzzed with a notification. I took a quick glance and found it was from Brandon. Sorry babe, but I’m busy. Let’s meet up after work. I’ll come to the house. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that this is the news I’m hoping for. TTYL.
I huffed out a breath and motioned to Nate. “Let’s go.” He followed me out the door and into the parking lot. “Guess he’s too busy to talk right now, but he sent me a text saying that he wants to come over to the house after work. Should I tell him to come?”
“Yes.”
“Really?”
Nate nodded. “If I wasn’t going to be there, I would say no, but since I am, we can do things our way.”
“Okay.” I sent the text, and Brandon responded with a thumbs up. “Hey… there’s his car. Does it look like the same one that tried to run me down last night?”
“It’s a sedan, so it could be.”
“Maybe I should touch it.”
“Good idea.”
I wandered over to the car, not expecting anything to happen. Still, it was worth a try. Concentrating on Brandon, I touched the door handle and closed my eyes. Nothing happened at first. Then the darkness changed to a green lawn with trees and headstones. Brandon stood in front of a headstone, and I realized it was the same one I’d seen several months ago when he’d freaked out.
This time, I concentrated on the headstone, and my heart stopped. It read, “Serenity Jones, Beloved Wife.” Gasping, I jerked my hand away and stepped back. Nate’s arms circled me, keeping me from falling.
“What?”
“It was me. The headstone…” I met Nate’s gaze. “Remember the vision that freaked him out? It wasn’t his great-aunt; it was me.”
Nate glanced at Brandon’s building. “Come on. Let’s talk about this in the car.” He wrapped his arm around my waist and led me to my car.
After we were both inside, I could breathe again. “I guess that answers who tried to kill me last night.”
“Yeah… no kidding.”
I shook my head. “But why? It makes no sense.”
He let out a breath. “Well, since he’s coming to the house after work, we can make him tell us.”
“How do we do that?”
His lips twisted. “We take control. Just think about it… in the comfort of your own home, we can tie him up and torture him for a while until he spills his guts.”
I snorted. “Oh… now I get it. I like it.”
He waggled his brows. “I figured you would.”
I set my lips. “As long as I get to do the torturing. We could invite Aubree and make it a party.”
He chuckled. “Bloodthirsty little thing, aren’t you?”
“Yup. I just need some torture tools. Do you have any handy?”
“I’ve got it covered.”
My eyes widened. “Wow. You’re a handy man to have around.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Yes. Definitely.”
He raised a brow. “How handy, exactly?”
I twisted my lips. “Well… for one thing, you’re really handy at neck massages. For another… you’re pretty good at dodging grenades.” I nodded. “You’re definitely good with kids… and parents. You’re also handy with changing locks and installing security cameras.” I rubbed my chin. “Hmm… I know there’s something else, but I just can’t put my finger on it.”
He raised a brow. “Is that right? Maybe this will refresh your memory.” Cupping my cheek, he leaned in and brushed my lips with his. Just as I was beginning to enjoy it, he sat back in his seat.
I leaned toward him. “That’s it? I think I might need more before I know for sure.”
He sent me a grin, but his gaze shifted to the front door of Brandon’s building. “Well… look who’s suddenly free.”
Brandon strode to his car, not even noticing that I was parked a few cars away. He jumped inside and backed out. I started my car and backed out to follow him. “Where do you think he’s going?”
“Let’s find out.”
I kept a couple of cars between us, just like I’d learned in my PI course, and Brandon never had a clue. He pulled into the hardware store down the street and hurried inside.
“Should we go in?”
“No. I don’t want to risk getting spotted.”
“Sure. I just wish I knew what he was buying. Do you think it might have something to do with our meeting tonight?”