Bruno barked happily as we rounded the curve in the gravel road, and the resort appeared. “So now you like it here?” He barked again. “I’m glad to hear it.”
I pulled to a stop in front of the lodge. Hunter’s truck was still gone. I studiously ignored the flare of disappointment. He’d told me that he needed to check on another site this morning but would stop by the hardware store to place another order for my project.
Climbing out of the SUV, I picked up the Mad Baker bag from the passenger seat. When I let Bruno out, he immediately went for the sack. “Uh, uh, uh. You already had your treat. You can have the second one tomorrow.”
He hung his head and whined. I couldn’t help but laugh. “Come on, you little sulker. Let’s get this stuff inside.” I pulled open the door, and Bruno ran past, a growl low in his throat. “Bruno, come.”
He immediately returned to my side, but the growling didn’t subside. I scanned the room and gasped. Furniture had been toppled over. A few of the dishes that had been in a cabinet were now smashed on the floor.
I started to take a step inside, but Bruno blocked me. Reaching down, I patted his head. “You’re right, bad idea.” My voice trembled a bit as I spoke. “Cops. We need cops.”
I tugged Bruno back to my SUV, putting him in the passenger seat next to me, needing him close. He scanned the property, his eyes alert. Pulling my phone out, I dialed nine-one-one.
“Sheriff’s department, what’s your emergency?”
I’d forgotten that Anchor didn’t have a police force. Instead, they shared a sheriff’s department with the rest of the chain of islands. I remembered that it had taken what felt like forever for the sheriff to arrive when Jenn went missing. I shivered.
“Yes, this is Piper Cosgrove. I’m the new owner of Whispering Falls. I’ve had a break-in.”
“Are you currently in a safe place?”
My fingers drifted through Bruno’s thick fur. I didn’t think I’d ever been so glad to have my defender. “Yes. I’m in my car.”
“We have someone fifteen minutes out. Just hold on.”
There was nothing else I could do. I remembered another time when the police had been forced to come to the Falls.
Things hadn’t turned out so well then.
8
Hunter
The scents of sandwiches wafted through the cab of my truck as pavement turned to gravel. I hadn’t asked Piper if she wanted me to pick up lunch, but I figured it couldn’t hurt. She was always on the go, and she needed to sit down and have a real meal.
I passed the sign for the resort and noticed that it looked brand new. Piper must’ve spent some time on it yesterday after I’d left. I hated the idea of her working into the evening out here alone, but I had a feeling any talk of safety precautions wouldn’t go over well.
Rounding the bend in the road, my blood turned to ice. Two sheriff’s department SUVs were parked next to Piper’s vehicle. I pressed the accelerator until I was only a few feet from them. Gravel spit as I slammed on the brakes. I’d barely shut off the engine before I jumped out. “Piper!”
“Over here,” she called.
The tightness in my chest loosened a fraction at the sound of her voice. But not enough. I rounded the SUVs and headed for the side of the lodge. “What happened?”
Piper gripped her necklace again, her other arm once more wrapped around her middle. Bruno stood staunchly at her side, on alert. “I’m fine. I think we might have had some mischief-makers. They tore up the lodge.”
“Seriously?” Sure, kids had come up here to party, but showing up in the middle of the day just to destroy things didn’t fit.
Sheriff Parker Raines greeted me with a nod. “I’ve got two deputies in there dusting for fingerprints and collecting any other evidence they can find.” He turned to Piper. “The powder leaves a hell of a mess, so I apologize in advance.”
She gripped her necklace harder. “The place was already a mess. A little dust won’t make it any worse.”
Piper had spent over a week cleaning the lodge from top to bottom. Touching up paint, re-staining some of the woodwork. And some asshole had come along and ruined all her hard work. I met Parker’s gaze. “You got any clue who this might be?”
“No other vandalism was reported in the area.” He pulled out his cell phone and opened a notes app. “Have you seen anyone nosing around while you were working? Seen any kids looking for a spot to party?”
“No. The only people who’ve been around are me, Piper, and Celeste. Celeste’s grandsons came up a couple of days ago to help haul furniture and clear out the cabins we’re remodeling, but that’s it. Not even a nosy neighbor stopped by.”
Parker looked up from his phone. “Not exactly any neighbors nearby.”
He had a point. No other house or farm was within sight of the resort. I shrugged. “It’s Anchor. You know people will use any excuse to find out what’s going on around their island.”
“True enough.” Parker slid his cell phone into his pocket and then turned his attention back to Piper. “You got any sort of security around here?”
She winced and then looked down at her dog. “Bruno and pepper spray are about the extent of it.”
Her words had my lungs constricting. It felt as if my rib cage were closing in around them. The idea that I couldn’t get air in or out only made my chest feel tighter. I recognized the signs now. I’d had a few panic attacks since getting shot. The first time it’d happened, I’d thought I was having a heart attack. My doctor had informed me that it was post-traumatic stress disorder. PTSD. He’d offered medication, but the last thing I wanted was to put more pills into my body.
I stared at the ground, focusing my attention on a single rock in the grass. I counted as I breathed in for five seconds and then out again. Even when pulling oxygen into my lungs felt like inhaling fire, I pressed on. I tried to push out the images invading my brain. All the things that could happen to Piper if someone broke in and she was here alone. In for five. Out for five.
Soft fingers wrapped around my forearm. “Are you okay?”
My eyes met brown ones so dark I could get lost in them for days. “Fine.”
Those dark depths scanned my face, silently telling me she knew I was lying. Her hand squeezed my arm before releasing it. She didn’t say a word. And I missed her touch the moment it was gone. Something about it was grounding. And as I turned my gaze back to Parker, I realized that single touch had dialed back the worst of my panic. Distracted me enough that my lungs had forgotten they were struggling to breathe.
I cleared my throat. “We really should get Piper an alarm system. On the lodge, at least.”
Piper scowled at me. “Hello, owner of the resort over here. I’m not wasting a bunch of money on an alarm system when people will be coming and going constantly. As soon as I have guests anyway.”
Parker covered his laugh with a cough. “I understand. But it’s worth thinking about. Maybe put some cameras in. Security lights. That alone should discourage anyone from making trouble.”