Chapter 11
Eleven
TEARS STUNG Cassie’s eyes. Please stop letting my fears run away with me. Releasing a pent-up breath, she turned her attention back to Joel.
Footsteps clamored on the floorboards overhead at the far end of the cellar.
“The guys must be back.”
A footstep settled over her head, and dirt sifted down on her nose. Someone was in the kitchen. “Joel! Cassie! You guys around?” Scott called.
They exchanged a glance that held more than she had believed it still could, then Joel cast his gaze toward the stairwell. “Yep. Be right up.”
“I found them,” Scott yelled, his steps moving for the hall, his voice fading.
Creak. Creaakk.
She turned to the sound emanating behind her. “That sounded like it was down here.” A tremble wiggled through her limbs.
Joel swished his flashlight across the dark abyss surrounding them. The creak softened and ceased. “Old buildings make noise.”
“Right.” She forced a smile.
“You were saying something?” Anticipation held in his gorgeous eyes.
“Uh . . .” She cleared her throat, cast her gaze to her feet and then back on him. “I . . .”
“Are you guys coming?” Kendra called as the light emanated in a shaft down the stairs. Her footsteps followed, the shaft growing wider as she creaked her way down the rickety stairs.
“Yeah, we’re—” Cassie began.
Kendra’s light blinded her, and she held up her hand.
“We need you.”
“We’ll be right there.” Joel’s hand rested on the radio. He reached back and unplugged it.
Kendra’s light followed his movement. “Is that a radio?”
“Yeah.” Cassie lowered her hand now that a glaring light wasn’t in her eyes.
“Awesome.” Kendra stepped forward. “Did you try it?”
“Not yet. We were about to when you came down.”
“You might need to wait.”
Joel frowned. “What could be more important than trying to get help?”
“Brady’s missing.”
Joel’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean ‘missing’?”
“I mean he hasn’t come back in.”
“Wasn’t Heath with him?”
Kendra huffed. “Just come upstairs so you can ask for yourself.”
Joel tucked the radio under his arm and gestured for the ladies to head up first.
So close. She’d come so close to telling him the truth. Then Kendra . . .
Brady had to be okay. He was always okay. He was that type of guy. Larger than life. Always raring to go on the next Talbot-and-Izzy adventure they grouped up on.
He probably just got turned around. Joel would find him. He found everyone. Everyone but her stalker. She’d prayed so hard he would, but her shadow had eluded him, eluded everyone.
Reaching the base of the stairs, she turned back one more time, something in her tugging her back down. She passed her flashlight over the space—hitting a masked face bent down in the window.
“Aaaaaa!” She fell back.
“Whoa!” Joel said, diving to catch her.
She landed with a thud on her butt bone, the impact radiating down her leg, throbbing her injured knee. “There . . . there . . . was someone outside.”
“Brady?” Kendra asked with enthusiasm.
“He was wearing a mask.”
Joel helped her up.
“Are you sure you saw someone? I don’t remember any of the guys wearing a mask,” Kendra said, hand propped on her little waist.
“Yes, I’m sure. I mean . . . I think . . .” She’d definitely seen a face.
“Probably Heath playing tricks again,” Kendra said. “Now come on.” She turned and strode up the steps, far more talkative than she’d been since the start of their excursion. Though she tended to go in spurts. Quiet, then a flurry of activity, then back to her quiet self.
“You okay?” Joel asked, his hand on her shoulder.
“Yeah. I just thought . . . Never mind, we better go check on the Brady situation.”
His gaze held hers a moment longer than she anticipated, then he shifted it to the stairs.
She stretched over the missing step to reach the next one, then managed to hop-hobble her way back up.
Voices emanated . . . or rather, roared from the parlor.
“Whoa,” Joel said, setting the radio on the kitchen table. “Better get in there. I’ll come back and fiddle with this.” He rushed down the hall, and she hurried as best she was able after him.
“What’s all the ruckus?” he asked, entering.
She moved right behind him. Raised voices chirped, and accusations flew.
“Brady’s missing,” Nat said, hands on rounded hips. “That’s what all the ruckus is.”
Cassie rubbed her arms. The cellar had been even lower in temps, but she hadn’t noticed, not with Joel so close. The truth so close on her lips.
She surveyed the room—angry faces; scared, wide eyes; and Devon . . . on the floor? She cocked her head. Oh. At the fireplace, now filled with wood. Hallelujah.
He caught her gaze and smiled.
“Should have this ablaze in no time,” he said, literally working with two sticks while Heath clutched the kerosene lantern.
“There are matches in the kitchen,” she said. “I’ll go get you some.”
“Awesome. Thanks.” Devon tossed the two sticks in with the rest of the logs.
Voices carried as she trekked back to the kitchen, passing the radio on the table, anxiety pulsing through her. As soon as they sorted out Brady’s whereabouts, they needed to get on that.
Actually . . . She could take two minutes.
She sat her flashlight on the table and flipped it over.
Joel said some worked on batteries. Maybe .
. . She opened the battery flap. Empty. She mentally went through the items in the cellar.
Had there been batteries? Yes. Third drawer from the left.
Grabbing her flashlight, she headed back downstairs.
She made it to the right cubby and pulled out a handful of batteries. Turning for the stairs, she paused at the window. She had seen a face. It probably was Heath playing another distasteful joke, but she wasn’t seeing things, was she?
Hobbling back upstairs, she paused at the landing to catch her breath.
Footsteps creaked along the floor. Deep. Purposeful steps.
“Who’s there?” She limped around the corner.
The kitchen door swung, but nobody was there.
Get out of my head. She was making herself crazy.
She dropped the C batteries on the table with a clunk and caught the stray one rolling away.
“Okay.” She sat down, then angled her flashlight and took her gloves off for better maneuverability.
Yikes! It’s cold. Pain shot through her hands—the sensation of cold hands dipped in hot water for that first excruciating second.
Shaking them for some warmth, she lifted the first battery and slipped it in place.
She cupped her hands and breathed on them.
Come on, three to go. She sped her pace with the second, third, and then she paused.
She bent down, angling the flashlight right on the battery well.
The spring wire was gone. She traced her finger across where it should’ve been.
It punctured her skin, blood beading on her index finger as she yanked it back. Great.
“What’s wrong?”
She jumped.
Kendra laughed. “My, aren’t you the jumpy one.”
She clutched her chest. “You scared me.”
“Sorry. Joel told me to come check on you. I guess he worries about you or something.” She shrugged.
The words I can’t imagine why seemed to hang at the tip of her tongue.
“We better get back before he has to come looking for you.”
Cass narrowed her eyes. Did Kendra have a problem with her?
For the quiet one, she was being rather sassy. “Is there something wrong?”
“Yes. Brady is missing, and I’m worried about him.”
Of course. “I’m so sorry.” She stood and rubbed Kendra’s arm.
Kendra stiffened.
Cassie pulled her hand back. “I’m sure he’s okay.” She hobbled to the door. “Let’s go find him.”
“Thanks.” Kendra smiled.
“Oh, wait!” Cassie halted. “I forgot matches for Devon.” She grabbed them and caught back up with Kendra in time to enter the buzzing commotion.