So close. She’d come so close to telling him the truth. Then Kendra...
Brady had to be okay. He was always okay. He was that type of guy. Larger than life. Always raring to go on the next Talbot-and-Izzy adventure they grouped up on.
He probably just got turned around. Joel would find him. He found everyone. Everyone but her stalker. She’d prayed so hard he would, but her shadow had eluded him, eluded everyone.
Reaching the base of the stairs, she turned back one more time,something in her tugging her back down. She passed her flashlight over the space—hitting a masked face bent down in the window.
“Aaaaaa!” She fell back.
“Whoa!” Joel said, diving to catch her.
She landed with a thud on her butt bone, the impact radiating down her leg, throbbing her injured knee. “There ... there ... was someone outside.”
“Brady?” Kendra asked with enthusiasm.
“He was wearing a mask.”
Joel helped her up.
“Are you sure you saw someone? I don’t remember any of the guys wearing a mask,” Kendra said, hand propped on her little waist.
“Yes, I’m sure. I mean... I think...” She’d definitely seen a face.
“Probably Heath playing tricks again,” Kendra said. “Now come on.” She turned and strode up the steps, far more talkative than she’d been since the start of their excursion. Though she tended to go in spurts. Quiet, then a flurry of activity, then back to her quiet self.
“You okay?” Joel asked, his hand on her shoulder.
“Yeah. I just thought ... Never mind, we better go check on the Brady situation.”
His gaze held hers a moment longer than she anticipated, then he shifted it to the stairs.
She stretched over the missing step to reach the next one, then managed to hop-hobble her way back up.
Voices emanated ... or rather,roaredfrom the parlor.
“Whoa,” Joel said, setting the radio on the kitchen table. “Better get in there. I’ll come back and fiddle with this.” He rushed down the hall, and she hurried as best she was able after him.
“What’s all the ruckus?” he asked, entering.
She moved right behind him. Raised voices chirped, and accusations flew.
“Brady’s missing,” Nat said, hands on rounded hips. “That’s what all the ruckus is.”
Cassie rubbed her arms. The cellar had been even lower in temps, but she hadn’t noticed, not with Joel so close. The truth so close on her lips.
She surveyed the room—angry faces; scared, wide eyes; and Devon ... on the floor? She cocked her head.Oh. At the fireplace, now filled with wood. Hallelujah.
He caught her gaze and smiled.
“Should have this ablaze in no time,” he said, literally working with two sticks while Heath clutched the kerosene lantern.
“There are matches in the kitchen,” she said. “I’ll go get you some.”
“Awesome. Thanks.” Devon tossed the two sticks in with the rest of the logs.
Voices carried as she trekked back to the kitchen, passing the radio on the table, anxiety pulsing through her. As soon as they sorted out Brady’s whereabouts, they needed to get on that.
Actually... She could take two minutes. She sat her flashlight on the table and flipped it over. Joel said some worked on batteries. Maybe ... She opened the battery flap. Empty. She mentally went through the items in the cellar. Had there been batteries? Yes. Third drawer from the left. Grabbing her flashlight, she headed back downstairs.
