He limped inside. “I’d be forever in your debt if you did. It’s been a long night.”
“You were on duty?”
“Yes.” He gave her the short version of the rampaging flu bug and the department scheduling issues as he winced his way over to the table.
“What’s wrong with your leg?”
“That’s part of the story I have to tell you.”
“Let me get your coffee and I’ll give you my full attention.” She crossed to a coffeemaker on the counter. “I like to have a pot at the ready for Steven. That boy is hooked on the stuff—the higher the octane, the better. I’m a tea woman, myself.” She filled a mug and set it in front of him. “Black, as I recall from the dinner we shared the night of Micah’s service.”
“You have an excellent memory.”
“Thank you.” She sat beside him, lifted her tea, and waited.
“You didn’t see my car because I parked it out of sight, farther down the drive. I didn’t want to alarm you if you got up at the crack of dawn and saw it in front of the house.”
“If you were on duty last night, why are you working again at this hour?”
He took a long, fortifying swig of coffee and gave her a full report on all that had happened during the night.
She listened as her tea grew cold, features taut, forehead furrowed. Only after he finished did she speak.
“This is most upsetting. The idea that someone is skulking about the property doing who knows what is—”
At a sudden, muted crash, she jerked.
Brad sprang to his feet. “Any idea what that was?”
“No, but I believe it came from the basement. Perhaps a box fell over. I’ve been down there rooting around lately.”
“I’ll check it out.”
“Do be careful. We don’t need any more excitement around here.”
No kidding.
“Where’s the basement access?”
“In the hall. First door on the right.” She waved a hand that direction.
“Wait here.” He left her at the table and moved quietly to the door. Eased it open just as Steven reached for the handle from the other side.
His pulse ratcheted down.
False alarm.
Or was it?
He frowned as the gash on the other man’s temple registered.
“What happened? Are you hurt?”
“My pride more than anything else.” Steven touched his forehead. Examined his bloody fingers. Paled. “But I did have a nasty encounter with a falling box.”
“Come on up. Let me take a look.”
He edged aside to allow the other man to emerge from the basement as Natalie appeared in the doorway.
