“I think it’s best if I drive you home now. That way, you can do as you please, which I know you’re going to do anyway. But it needn’t involve me.” She glanced at her wristwatch. “I have an appointment anyway with the defense attorney my father hired.”
“Oh, I’ll go with you.”
“No, thank you.” Her chin lifted. “I’ll be going alone.”
“Don’t you think it’d be?—”
A scream rent the air.
Victoria stared at Cillian for a split second.
Sydney.
“The restroom.” Victoria pointed past Cillian.
He took off, dashing through the living room into the hallway that led to the bathroom. “Sydney?”
She didn’t answer his shout.
But his gaze landed on the teen just then.
She backed into the hall, facing the bathroom doorway with her hands clasped together under her chin.
“Sydney, are you okay?”
She turned her head toward him, eyes wide, mouth slightly open.
“What happened?”
She pointed weakly at the bathroom.
“Sydney? Are you all right?” Victoria’s voice signaled she was behind Cillian.
“Stay back.” He looked through the open doorway into the small, narrow bathroom.
The ivory tiles and walls looked clean, normal. Untouched.
He stepped inside. His scanning gaze hit the mirror above the sink.
Words streaked the glass, scrawled in red.
You will be next.
Chapter
Twenty-Eight
Victoria followed Cillian into the restroom, her gaze aiming in the direction of his.
You will be next.
Someone had written a threat on her mirror? In her house?
“Call the police.” He cupped her shoulders as he moved behind her to leave the bathroom. “I’m going to check the house.”
“Be careful.” The words nearly stuck in her shrinking throat as she yanked her gaze from the unnerving message—evidence someone had been in her home. And perhaps still was.
The possibility spurred her mind out of shock and into action. Her phone. It was in her purse in the kitchen.
