When he lifted his head and released her, her knees wobbled.Maia lifted her hand to her tingling lips.
“Wow,” she whispered.
“Look after my rugby girl.”He brushed his knuckles across her cheek before striding from the room.
Juno drifted to the door, and Maia slowly followed.She waved goodbye and decided a run would settle Juno, and after a shower, she’d work on her book.
Later that night, Maia sat watching television with Juno sprawled at her feet.She’d chosen to watch the BBC version ofPride and Prejudice, a show she’d seen countless times, but she enjoyed the witty banter.
She was about to watch the third episode when a foreign sound intruded.At first, she thought it was the nearby cattle, but the noise moved location.Juno bounded up, her head cocked.She barked when a loud groan broke the silence.
Maia’s pulse jumped, and her fingers curled into the chair cushions.“That is not a cow.”
The wail, which sounded ghostly, came from a different direction, and fear spiked in Maia.This time, she wouldn’t go outdoors.With a trembling hand, she dialed Laura.To her relief, the call connected immediately.
“Laura, It’s Maia Jacobs.Someone is outside my house, playing spooky moans.”
“Stay on the line.Charlie and I will arrive soon.We’ll come in silent and block the lane where the person has been parking.If we’re lucky, they’ll think they’re safe there.”
“We hope it’s the same person,” Maia muttered.It had never occurred to her she’d have problems when she moved to Middlemarch, and she was an author who enjoyed writing and reading creepy scenes.
“Did you call Henry?”Laura asked.
“He’s away on a job.”
“On my way.Can you still hear the noise?”
Maia jumped when a throaty laugh cut through the air.It was spooky, and the hairs on her arms and legs stood to attention.“Y-yes.It sounds like a creepy clown from a horror movie.”
“Almost there,” Laura said, her manner calm.
Maia inhaled sharply but couldn’t prevent the tremor that sped down her body.She was so tired of this…this stalking.It would be a relief to fly to Wellington and avoid her problems.At least for a day.
“I’m pulling up in the side lane now.Charlie’s already here.Hang tight.We’ll be with you shortly.”Laura disconnected, and Maia listened to the tone for long seconds before tucking away her phone.
The clownish cackle repeated, and Juno barked, her attention fixing in a different direction.Maia listened intently and started when a crash came from the rear—a window breaking.She swallowed hard.Instead of investigating the broken glass, she crept to her front entrance and unlocked the door but left the security chain in place.
She couldn’t see anyone.Juno scratched at the door, clearly wanting to go outside.Laura appeared in Maia’s thin line of vision.Maia removed the chain and opened the door.Juno sprang out and sped into the darkness before Maia could restrain her.
“Is that one of Henry’s dogs?”Laura asked.
“Yes.”
The clownish noise pierced the night, and Laura frowned.“That sounds like a horror movie.”
“That’s what I thought,” Maia said as the evil laughter tailed off.
Juno’s bark cut the taut silence.A masculine shout.
Laura glanced at Maia.“Stay there, and if you see anyone, lock yourself inside.”Then she sped into the darkness, the bob of a torch showing her progress.
“They went that way!”Charlie shouted.
Maia watched the torchlight veer to the right.Seconds later, a car engine roared.
“Damn it, they’ve gone.”Laura sounded nearer.“Did you see them?”
Laura and Charlie came into sight, and Maia straightened.
