He scanned the tree line in the distance. The barn. The shadows between the outbuildings.
Nothing moved.
But someone had been here.
Someone had knocked Max unconscious and left him.
Had Valentina come back to do this? He didn’t know.
But he needed to find out.
chapter
forty-three
Before Caleb could riseand check out the rest of the building, Max groaned.
“Max.” Caleb leaned closer, relief flooding through him. “Hey, you with me?”
Max’s eyes opened, unfocused and confused. He blinked several times, squinting against the light. “What—?” His hand moved to his head, and he winced. “What happened?”
“That’s what I’m trying to figure out. What do you remember?”
Max struggled to sit up, and Caleb helped him, steadying the man with a hand on his shoulder.
“I was checking the dogs,” Max said slowly, his voice rough. “Making sure they had water. Then I heard a footstep behind me.” He paused, his brow furrowing. “Then everything went black.”
Caleb’s throat tightened at the thought. “You didn’t see who it was?”
“No.” Frustration tightened Max’s jaw. “Didn’t even have time to turn around. It all happened too fast.”
Kendra hovered nearby, already off the phone and wringing her hands. “Oh, Max. Are you okay? Should you be sitting up?”
“I’m fine,” Max muttered, though he didn’t look fine. His face was pale and his movements sluggish.
Caleb’s gaze shifted to Kendra.
She’d shown up at just the right time.
Had her appearance been too convenient? He might think so. Except . . . he glanced at his watch. She’d actually shown up right when she was supposed to arrive for her shift. There was nothing suspicious about that.
He hated to look at everyone as a suspect, yet circumstances had led him to do just that.
“Did you see anything when you got here?” Caleb kept his tone neutral. “Anyone leaving? A car on the road?”
Kendra quickly shook her head. “No. Nothing. I parked and came straight inside, and that’s when I found him.” Her voice trembled. “I didn’t see anyone.”
Caleb studied her face a moment longer, searching for any sign of deception.
She appeared genuinely shaken.
But Caleb had learned a long time ago that appearances could be deceiving.
“Stay with him.” Caleb rose to his feet. “The ambulance should be here soon.”
He moved away from them, his eyes scanning the kennel more carefully.
The dogs were still restless, pacing their enclosures and whining. But nothing looked disturbed. Food bins were closed. Leashes hung neatly on their hooks. Gates were latched.
