It was still a kick in the pants he was back in Marietta, planning to stay after spending most his life determined to get—and then stay—the hell out.He still didn’t quite understand what had led him here.
And he didn’t want to think too hard about that, so he should probably go to bed or study for the bar exam.Part of him even considered reading Jill’s book.
But he didn’t.He watched the street below.He saw headlights that disappeared before the car passed in front of the building.Someone must have pulled into the alley between their building and the next.The only thing there the parking lots for both buildings.
Frowning a little, Cal moved for the other side of the apartment before he remembered that none of the windows looked out over the back lot.
Not the best design.But Sam had surveillance and a security system, so he was probably fine to stay here.
But then he heard the door downstairs open and shut.Steps on the stairs.For a moment, he just stood there in the middle of his new apartment wondering what the hell he was supposed to do.
He glanced at the time on the microwave.Not crazy late, but he didn’t know anyone who would stop by after nine.Aly and Landon should be tucked up at the ranch.Jill and Glenda in their cabin.
Ithadto be Sam or Nate to get into the building that easily—they had keys after all.But why?
The precise knock was a dead giveaway that his baby brother was on the other side, so Cal opened the door.
“Hey.”Nate had one hand shoved deep in his coat pocket, and he looked… well, like he’d like to kill someone with his bare hands.
“Sam troubles?”Cal asked with some surprise, because he really couldn’t think of another reason Nate would be here instead of home.
Especially lookingthispissed.
“No.”He held out a little envelope with his free hand.“This was stuck in the back door.Got your name on it.”
It didn’t explain why Nate was here, but Cal looked at the envelope anyway.His name—just his first name—was indeed on it.He flipped it over.No address.No postage.
“Huh.”He looked at Nate.“I take it you’re wanting to come in?”
Nate shrugged.“You got anything to drink around here?”
“No,” Cal said flatly, moving out of the doorway to let Nate in.
“Oh.”
Ignoring all the different ways thatohseemed to mean something, Cal focused on the envelope.He tore it open and pulled out the card from inside.He frowned at it.
It was a drawing of some kind.There were three caricatures—all seemed to be of… well,him.A decent enough rendering in careful black and white, down to the widow’s peak.
The first Cal was wearing a suit, carrying a briefcase, and had a ten on his forehead.A slashingXwas drawn through his face.
The next Cal was also wearing a suit, but he had a cowboy hat on.He had a nine on his forehead.Also exed out.
The third Cal was in more casual clothes, carrying a stack of books.He had an eight on his head, not exed out.
Noneof it made any sense.Again, Cal flipped it over, looked inside the envelope, searched foranyclue what it was supposed to be or mean.
“What the hell is this?”he muttered.
Nate peered over his shoulder, studied the drawing for a little bit.“I think… I think it means your days are numbered.”
Cal laughed.Then realized Nate was being serious.Dead serious.
“Come on.It’s adrawing.”
“Actually, Cal, I think it’s a threat.”Nate was frowning at the piece of paper like it was written in blood or something.“Sam can look at the surveillance camera footage.It should give us an idea who left it.”
Cal studied the versions of himself.Sure, theXwasn’t exactly positive, but it didn’t feel… threatening.Exactly.“It’s a weird prank.”
