Chapter 20
chapter
twenty
Dinner had been tasty.
Caleb had always loved his mom’s fried chicken—though he knew there was nothing healthy about it. Still, once or twice a year couldn’t hurt.
The conversation around the dinner table had been light—though he couldn’t help but think that Valentina was acting strangely. Maybe it was the questioning earlier in the day. Maybe it had set her on edge.
He excused himself early and didn’t offer to help with dishes—not this time.
He had a phone call to make.
Caleb slipped into the office and dialed one of his old military friends who still lived in the DC area. He and Jack Hendricks had served together on two deployments, and Jake had settled in DC after his discharge. Now he worked private security for a consulting firm.
His friend answered on the first ring.
“What’s going on?” Jake asked. “You calling with a wedding invite?”
“A wedding invite?” Caleb’s brow furrowed. “I’m not even dating.”
“I’m just waiting for the day when I get that call. You’re the only one from our old team who’s still single.”
“Believe me, I know.” They all liked to remind him.
“So, if that’s not why you’re calling . . . ?”
Caleb shifted in the seat. “There’s something I need you to do for me.”
“Whatever you need.”
Then he explained the situation to him.
Jake agreed to help.
He was going to keep tabs on Garrick Anderson. If that man left the DC area, Caleb wanted to know.
And he was making no apologies about it.
That night, a noise jerked Millie out of sleep.
She sat up, heart already racing. The frantic sounds of the dogs barking zipped through the air.
Was it Garrick? Was he here?
No . . . that couldn’t be it. She was just being paranoid.
Still, she wanted to know what was happening.
Heart pounding, she swung her legs over the side of the bed. Biscuit lifted his head instantly, his body tense and his ears forward.
She jumped to her feet, ready for action.
But she listened first, trying to contain her panic.
The sound came from outside.
But not just from the direction of the kennel.
The barking wasn’t confined, she realized.
It seemed to be coming from every direction on the property.
Biscuit sprang up, nails skittering across the floor.
“Stay.” She kept her voice firm as she locked gazes with Biscuit. “Stay here. Guard.”
He whined once, low and unhappy, but sat, muscles quivering.
“Good boy,” she breathed, backing toward the door. “I’ll be right back.”
She didn’t wait for doubt to catch up. She slipped on her shoes, yanked the door open, and stepped into the hall.
Valentina stood a few doors down, hair loose, coat pulled on crooked, and Pippa clutched against her chest.
Her eyes were wide, unfocused, as if she’d woken into the wrong story. “What’s happening?”
Millie paused. “I’m not sure.”
“Is it—? Should we—?” Valentina’s voice wobbled, the practiced calm stripped away.
The barking surged again, louder now, closer.
“I’ll go see if I can find out some information,” Millie said. “Stay here.”
Valentina nodded nervously. “Okay.”
Millie took the stairs two at a time, hand sliding along the railing for balance, every sense locked forward.
What was going on? She prayed everything was okay.