Frowning, he carried the phone back to the living room. The boys were drinking their lemonade, and he found her humming in the kitchen. She was cutting cheese squares and placing them beside pepperoni and crackers on a plate. “I found your phone. You missed another phone call.”
She eyed his frown and took the phone. She tensed when she touched the missed call list. “I—I have no idea who that is.”
“Somehow he made ‘Angel of Music’ play as it rang. He’s got some skills. I don’t like it.”
Turning away, she dropped the phone on the coffee table. “Thanks for finding it.”
“I want you to stay with us at The Sanctuary.”
Paradise fisted her hands at her sides. “You’re smothering me, Blake. I’ve done fine running my own life for the past fifteen years.” He paled at her pointed reminder of how he hadn’t been there for her, but she stood her ground. No one was going to run her off this place she’d claimed as her own. “If I ever expect to be part of the community again, this is where I make my stand.”
His nostrils flared, and a frown settled on his brow. “You forget what we’ve just been through, and it doesn’t all seem to be over. Doesn’t this feel as ominous to you as it does to me?”
She lifted her chin. “I think it’s a prank.” She wasn’t about to tell him about the note in her bedroom. He’d throw her over his shoulder and carry her down to the truck. Someone wanted to scare her away, and she refused to give in to the fear shuddering down her spine.
“What could be the reason and who would do it? What would be the point?”
“Who knows why anyone pulls harmless pranks? I’m right in the middle of downtown Nova Cambridge. I don’t think I’m in danger here.”
The lines on his face smoothed. “I don’t want to risk you in any way. I realize I can be overly protective, but I’m working on it.” He sighed. “You’re really not worried?”
Instead of telling a blatant lie, she shrugged. “We risk our lives every day just getting in a car. I don’t want to live in fear. I understand your concern about the boys though, and I share that. If you want to take them home tonight, I understand.”
He smiled, but worry still lurked behind his direct gaze. “I’m camping out on the sofa. The boys can be a handful by themselves, and I’ll be here to help out. I’m worried about leaving you here alone.”
She was worried, too, but Blake had installed a security system with cameras. With pepper spray in her bedside drawer, she’d be prepared.Wait, the security cameras.She could check those later and see who had entered her building to leave the note. Once she made sure Blake was asleep.
Her phone sounded, and she tensed until she realized it was the DNA center she’d contacted about the missing results. She turned her back to Blake while she answered it. “Paradise Alden.”
“Hi, Ms. Alden. This is Chad calling back about your DNA results.”
His tentative tone made her straighten. “Hi, Chad. Did you find the report?”
“I’m sorry to say that it seems to be completely gone. I called the lab, and they find no record your samples were ever received.”
“But I got an email when the lab got them. And I receivedthat other email saying the results were available. So that makes no sense.”
“I agree. And after extensive digging, I have no answers for you other than there was some kind of glitch. Could you please repeat the test and send it in? We’ll refund your money and run the new tests for free.”
She had no choice if she wanted to know more about her missing brother. “I’ll pick up another test.”
“I’ve already had one sent out, and it should be in your mailbox tomorrow. It’s marked high priority, so we should have a quick turnaround with special care given to the final results. I’m sorry this happened, Ms. Alden, and we want to make it right.”
“I appreciate that.” They exchanged platitudes and goodbyes before she hung up and turned back to Blake. “You probably gathered the DNA results are still missing.”
Did someone want to block her efforts to find her brother? And would that same person be trying to scare her into leaving?
Chapter 6
If Blake had slept on a harder sofa, he couldn’t remember when. He flipped over on his other side and tried to ease the ache in his back. The used sofa held the scent of spearmint, and his feet hung over the end. The boys had finally settled down in the bunk beds around nine, and when he’d checked his phone, it was nearly midnight. His mind wouldn’t shut off long enough for him to fall asleep though.
The squeak of a floorboard alerted him, and he raised his head to stare in the direction of the hallway. A faint glow came from under the closed office door. After rising, he unplugged the lamp and took it with him as he moved noiselessly down the hall. Next time he’d make sure he had his gun with him.
He eyed the door, then tightened his grip around the lamp’s base. He couldn’t guarantee it would be a good weapon, but the heft of it gave him hope. The door stood open two inches, and he spotted movement. He peered through the crack and saw Paradise sitting at the computer. Her mane of light brown hair curled down the back of her pink pajamas, and she hunched forwardas she stared at the computer screen. A handful of chocolate-covered peanuts lay beside the keyboard.
He noiselessly eased the door open more. His gaze went to the video streaming on the screen. It appeared to be from the security camera focused on the outside iron staircase on this building. The time stamp in the corner was 12:26 a.m. yesterday morning, almost twenty-four hours ago.
He shuffled his feet to alert her he was there. “What are you doing, babe?”
