“As a heartbeat.”
Isabella chortled again, laughing long and loud before controlling herself.“You should help, Caroline.You were wondering what to do with the scraps of material you have.Designing skeleton outfits might be fun.You’ll need a Halloween costume.”
“And maybe one for Valentine’s Day and King’s birthday.I thought I could post them on my social media pages.”Maia didn’t reveal she’d post under her author pen name, with no mention of her location.
“All right,” Caroline said.“If you’re pranking me, there will be trouble.”
“No, I’m deadly serious.I’d also like you to design an evening dress for me.Something formal yet pretty to wear at an awards dinner.”
“I’d love to,” Caroline said, whipping out a tape measure.“I’ll take your measurements now.Can you leave the skeleton?”
“Sure,” Maia said.
She and Isabella walked out of the dress shop together.
“Laura told me your stalker dressed the skeleton as a clown.”
“Yeah.I left the outfit at home.”
“Creepy.How did the game go yesterday?”
“Despite the loss, my performance satisfied me.I evaded most tackles.”
“Excellent.We’ll continue with stretches and keep the workout light until your doctor clears you for vigorous activity.”
When Maia arrived home, two parcels and a balloon bouquet sat on her doormat.The pink helium balloons danced in the breeze.
She edged past to unlock her door and peered inside.Juno greeted her, and Maia let her outside.Juno trotted around the lawn, sniffing until she found the perfect spot.With her business tended, Juno returned to Maia’s side.Maia started to go inside but caught a white flash on the tree trunk several feet away.It was the same tree where she’d found Alba.
Maia took one step in that direction before reconsidering.She called Laura.
“Problem?”Laura demanded.
“I’m not sure.I’ve been out, and there are parcels and balloons at my door.There’s another object fastened to the tree where I found the puppy.It seems innocuous, but I thought I should contact you.I wasn’t expecting any deliveries.”
“Touch nothing.Charlie’s doing a coffee run.We’ll be there as soon as he returns.”
Maia left the parcels and the balloons where they sat and ushered Juno inside.She walked to the sink and poured herself a glass of water, her attention out the window.When she glanced back at her glass, she dropped it with a shriek.It shattered in her sink, splashing red liquid over her T-shirt.That was blood pouring from her tap.For a long moment, she gaped before turning the tap off with shaky hands.
“Well, I won’t be drinking that water.Juno, we’re checking the windows and doors to ensure everything is locked tight.”
Laura and Charlie arrived, and she met them at the door.
“I’ve put your number on speed dial,” Maia said.
Charlie’s laugh faded.“Is that blood?”
Maia led them into the kitchen and turned on the taps.Red water gushed from the cold tap while the hot tap ran clear for long seconds before turning a faint pink.
“That’s disturbing,” Laura said, staring at the sink.
Charlie stuck a cup underneath the tap and sniffed the contents.“It doesn’t smell like blood.”
“You’re on tank water,” Laura said.“I remember seeing the tank out the back.We’ll check it out.What else?”
Maia turned off the taps.“I received flowers before I left this morning.When I returned, the balloon bouquet and the other things were at my door.There’s also something attached to the tree.After I called you, I checked the windows and rear door.I was going to have a shower next.”She shuddered.“So glad I had a glass of water first.”
Laura grimaced.“Ugh, showering would’ve been creepy.”
