Page 122 of After We Fall

“The head coach of the Arizona Cardinals?”

“Yeah.”

“But you don’t know anything about football.”

“Apparently I studied enough that I aced my interview.”

“Figures,” she said, glancing across the field. She throws a hand over her mouth. “Oh, wow. My husband’s about to have a very bad day. He lost his assistant. And he lost the opportunity to steal your free game tickets, which you invariably would not have used. Both because his wife stole you right from under his nose. He’s never going to forgive me.”

“You’re going to have to play the baby card.”

She snaps her fingers. “I’m going to have to play the baby card. Brilliant.” She leans over, takes my hand in hers, and lowers her voice. “It’s going to be brilliant having you on board, Penelope.”

My eyes well up, and I whisper, “Thank you.”

I lean back in my chair, drawing my knees to my chest. But as I pull the blanket up, something shrill whines out.

Meredith sits up straight, eyes shooting to the boardinghouse. “What was that? Was that the buzz saw?”

I shove to my feet just as a flailing girl turns the corner of the main house and comes into view.

The sound isn’t the screech of the buzz saw. It’s the high-pitched, scratchy yell of Finley. A struggling, bruised, bloody, and broken Finley.

28

“LG Security. This is Mary. How may I help you?” the woman asks at the other end of the line.

With Finley’s injured body slumped against me in the back seat of Meredith’s Jeep Grand Cherokee, I hold the phone up to my ear. “Mary, my name is Penelope Reid. Our property at Twelve Bluebells Ranch is an existing client. I need to report that a threat has been made.”

“Yes, ma’am.” I hear clicking in the background. “Have you called the police?”

“I have. They’re sending a unit over now.” One to the house. One to the hospital.

“Are you on the property now?”

“No. I just wanted to call this in. Luke—” Shoot. “Mr. Granger set up extra security for us about six weeks ago. I thought he would want to know. I called him directly, but my call went to his voicemail.” Twice.

“Yes, ma’am. He’s unavailable. But I’ll send another associate out to the property right away to see if there’s been a breach with the system cameras or wires.”

Unavailable. Unavailable to everyone? Or just unavailable to me?

“Ma’am, you mentioned a threat?”

I shake my head. I can’t go down a rabbit hole and make assumptions. He could be out of town, for all I know. Focus, Penelope. “Yes. A threat. Marcus Skelly assaulted one of our residents while she was off property, then threatened to track her down and kill her if she returned to Twelve Bluebells. We’re taking her to the hospital now.” While I give her the location and ETA, Finley moans, her arm clutching her side.

“We’re almost there, sweetheart,” Meredith calls from the front seat.

In the few minutes of chaos after her arrival, Finley told us that she left Marcus’s place after he passed out. With no way to know how long before he would wake up and go on the rampage again—and who knows what recreational drugs he might have consumed—Meredith and I decided everyone should leave the property. We relieved the construction crew of their duties, loaded into Meredith’s car, and I started the process of texting and making calls.

Harlan’s cutting a business meeting short so he can meet us at the hospital. For good measure, Harlan’s mom has Alex and they are heading to the mall.

After I call the hospital to let them know of our impending arrival, I tap out a text to Bianca and Tanya.

Girls, please do not go to the ranch after work today. Marcus is unstable and probably headed there. Meredith and I are taking Finley to the hospital. I will send updates as I receive them.

With a wheelchair and hospital attendant awaiting us, Finley receives immediate attention. I’m only able to catch a few of the words flying around the room before we’re asked to leave. Possible broken ribs. Need to check for internal bleeding. Facial X-ray.

I instruct the nurse manning the ER desk of our whereabouts in case the police or anyone else arrives.