Hadley didn’t answer right away. She didn’t know the answer. But the theft didn’t feel random. Someone had taken that book for a reason.
She checked the clock on the wall, and her stomach dropped. “My first appointment isn’t here yet?”
“Who was it?” Susie asked. “Do you remember?”
“Claire Sullivan. She’s bringing in her yorkie, Davy, for a routine checkup.”
Susie reached for a notepad. “I’ll find her number and see what’s going on.”
“Thanks. Let me know.” Hadley stepped back and ran a hand through her hair, trying to steady herself.
This wasn’t how she’d imagined the day starting. She’d hoped yesterday was a fluke and that today things would get better.
That hope completely deflated.
CHAPTER 16
Max reachedthe cabin and pulled his truck to a stop behind Wyatt’s. They’d almost ridden together but had decided that driving separately would be less complicated.
The log building sat just off a dirt road, tucked between a strand of bare trees that offered more shadow than shelter this time of year. Snow clung to the ground in uneven patches, disturbed in places where boots had already tracked through it.
Sheriff Sutherland’s SUV was already here.
Max shut his door and took in the scene. He’d run his decision to help Wyatt past Caleb and Naomi before leaving, and neither had hesitated about him helping. They said work at Refuge Cove could wait.
Wyatt climbed from his truck and paced toward the cabin with Thunder at his side.
Sheriff Sutherland stood a few steps away, talking on the porch with a couple in their late sixties who looked like they’d rather be anywhere else.
Sheriff Sutherland excused himself and turned toward Wyatt and Max. As he did, the couple stepped inside and out of the cold.
Max gave Sheriff Sutherland a brief nod. “Thanks for letting me be here.”
“Of course. Wyatt said you were coming.” He paused. “You know I’d let you be an auxiliary deputy if I could.”
Max nodded, the words still hitting him the wrong way. They reminded him of the fact that plans didn’t always work out the way you wanted. He and Sheriff Sutherland had talked. Sheriff Sutherland knew his history—and he was okay with Max working at Refuge Cove. But there were rules in place that couldn’t be changed.
“Anything we need to know?” Wyatt asked.
“We’re just getting started. The owners’ names are Craig and Greta Livingston. They’re both a little shaken.”
Sheriff Sutherland nodded toward the door, indicating they should follow him inside. As Max stepped through the door, his gaze drifted to the couple. Greta stood near the fireplace and hugged her arms around herself as if she couldn’t get warm. Craig stared out the window.
Sheriff Sutherland introduced all of them before turning back to Craig and Greta. “I know you’ve already told me your story, but why don’t you run through things with us again? Maybe this time we’ll hear something different or pick up on something new.”
Craig frowned before starting. “We come out here every few weeks just to check on things and make sure everything’s in order. This morning when we got here, we noticed the front door was open.”
Max’s gaze shifted to the frame, noting the damage near the handle. It had been forced open.
“What’d you do next?” Sheriff Sutherland asked.
“We went inside,” Craig continued. “We noticed a few things were out of place. A chair had been knocked over, and some furniture wasn’t where we left it.”
Max’s jaw tightened as he absorbed what Craig said.
“Did you see anyone leaving when you arrived?” Sheriff Sutherland continued. “Were any vehicles on the road headed the opposite way?”
“No,” Greta said. “No one.”
