No stamp or address. No name.
Weird.
“What is it?” Cammie asked.
“I have no idea,” I murmured as I tore the top open and peered inside. “There’s no name—oh my God!” I dropped it instinctually, my pulse pounding in my ears.
My companions exploded with questions and Quinn marched over to pick up the parcel, his expression tight with concern.
“It’s a bird,” I told him quickly so he wouldn’t put his hand in it. “I think it’s a dead bird.”
His eyes rounded a little and he moved to upend it from the envelope but suddenly Ramsay was there, as if appearing out of nowhere. “Don’t touch it,” he commanded.
Lowering to his haunches beside Quinn, I noted Ramsay’s T-shirt was damp from sweat from whatever he’d been working on. He had pliers in his hand, and he clamped them on the opposite end of the envelope and shook out the contents.
Dismay, confusion, and dread filled me at the sight of the dead bird.
A dove.
“Is that real?” Cammie asked, keeping her distance.
“It smells real,” Quinn replied softly.
“It’s real.” Ramsay nudged the bird over with his pliers. “Someone broke the wee thing’s neck.”
Tears filled my eyes. “Why?”
He looked up at me. “This was addressed to you?”
Sudden realization dawned, but I shook my head, unable to speak around the fear clamoring through me.
“No. There was no name, no stamp or address,” Quinn offered.
“A dove?” Ramsay scrutinized the bird. “Whoever did this had to have bought this dove from a pet store. They bought an animal only to kill it and leave it here as a threat to someone?”
“Threat? What’s going on?” Cammie stepped forward, anxious.
“A dove.” Ramsay’s voice was rough as he seemed to stare dazedly at the dead bird. “It’s a symbol of peace and freedom.”
“So … what? Someone is saying … they’re going to kill someone’s peace.” Cammie huffed. “What does that mean?”
It meant Halston Cole knew I was onto him.
It meant … if I didn’t leave the company alone in peace … I was next.
“Tierney, does this mean something to you?” Quinn asked.
I shook my head, unable to speak the lie out loud.
“Is there anyone unhappy that Tierney bought this place?” Cammie asked her brother. “I haven’t heard anything. Have you?”
“No. There was some pushback from members of the community council, but none of them would do this,” her brother replied. “It had to be an outsider. They must have ferried over today.”
Cammie hovered near Ramsay and Quinn. “Do you have CCTV up on the house?”
“No. We didn’t think we needed it. We can, though, if you want that, Tierney?”
“Should we call the police?” Cammie asked before I could respond to Quinn.
