Page 106 of The Quiet Witness

The car ride had been one of silence. Every so often she’d seen Lucien’s knuckles go white. Had wished she could read where his mind had taken him to. But she hadn’t said a word either, shame dragging onto her limbs.

If she was being honest with herself, and now that her ire had dulled to a steady throb, she had every reason to apologize to the person who had kept her from beating that man to a pulp. But the wound was too fresh, so she kept silent. Instead glancing up to see the stars had come out of their hiding spot, burning brightly in the pitch-black sky.

“The stars… they are so bright.” She glanced at Lucien who was taking her rucksack and his black bag from the trunk. Ghost jumped out. The second his paws hit the ground, he dove nose first into the snow, prancing left and right before the zoomies took over. He flashed over the white blanket, stopping abruptly to dive right into a heap of snow with his long nose. Like a fox in search for mice.

She felt her lips flare wide at the dog’s theatrics.

“There is little light pollution this high up.” Lucien shrugged the bags over his shoulders. “As you can see, Ghost isn’t a fan of long car rides.”

They both looked at the dog, who wiggled his tail like a helicopter the second Lucien mentioned his name.

He spread one hand wide into the command she’d come to know as: Do as you please. “Free. Go have your fun, just leave the squirrels alone, alright?”

The fur above Ghost’s eyes wrinkled together before he marched off to whatever he was going to do.

Kate watched as the dog and his white fur became one with the landscape, fading into the forest like a… ghost.

She cleared her throat, still a little hoarse from her earlier outrage and emotions, attempting to lighten the mood. “I can see where you got the name from.”

Lucien chuckled, heading for the house with the keys in hand. “It wasn’t a difficult choice. Besides, I may have watched Game of Thrones purely for the dire wolves.”

“You’re kidding right?”

“I shall neither confirm nor deny.”

She fell into step beside him, watching his carefully constructed, neutral face while he took the steps by two. He was a good actor, she knew that. And yet, there was something different about him. Since the boy and his father, there was a seriousness about him he tried to hide.

He angled the key into the lock, biting his lip while struggling to turn it over.

She took the moment to take in the porch. Where a swinging bench waited in the corner, of course, this was America after all. For the rest, the place was vacant, nothing but… hot damn. Her attention was torn away by nature’s gem in front of the house.

At this elevation, they had a view right over the huge lake they’d passed by on the way here, its surface reflecting the stars and the half moon like a calm, cool mirror.

A click turned, followed by a muffled, “Hallelujah.”

The door swung open with a screech so loud it told her those hinges were in dire need for some oil. “Sounds like you haven’t been here in a while, or haven’t oiled that. Same with your other house come to think about it.”

“It’s as good as any alarm.”

Of course that’s the reason.

He motioned for her to go in first. “Five years to be exact.”

She crossed over the threshold, surprised. “Five years? How could you stay away from a view so splendid as—” Kate fell silent.

The living room was twice the size of the one in his other house. A huge corner sofa took up the center, and a grand piano, white this time, sat angled toward the lake. Alongside a black guitar and a synthesizer.

“This.” She muttered under her breath.

Another chuckle reverberated behind her as she whirled around on the spot, the wood creaking slightly below her shifting feet.

This place, it was a mirror to his other house. Aside from the wooden beams, walls, and a high ceiling worthy of a chandelier, which hung up high above her and spread its light over the immaculate white island of the kitchen.

“If I show you the library, I think you’ll pass out.”

I just might.

It was beautiful, and any other day she might have taken the time to revel in its splendor, run her fingers along the piano, whip up some food to enjoy on the couch in front of the roaring fire that was currently clean as a whistle. Today, though, it didn’t sit right. Fatigue weighed down her limbs, eyes still burning, she needed a good shower and a hop in the bed to switch gears. Hopefully.