Page 20 of No Bed Of Roses

Her peaceful little life was spinning out of control. Part of her wanted to laugh because this really wasn’t anything new. Another part wanted to cry because she’d wanted it to be different this time. She’d wanted to fit.

Marcus emerged from the barn and motioned to her. She had to give the man credit. He focused on her as the property owner, and not his friend.

It was Isla who turned to make sure Levi was coming, too. It wouldn’t be fair to exclude him, and his presence made everything feel safer. Plus, she liked him. Far more than she should.

When they neared the opening, Marcus gestured inside. “Someone has definitely been inside. Boots prints are clear, and while it looks as if he’s made at least a couple of trips in and out, I got a clear photo of one print and a mostly clear one of the second.”

“He?”

Marcus nodded at her. “Only one set and it looks like a size ten print, so the odds lean male, although it’s not a hundred percent.”

She forced herself to ask the question she wasn’t sure she wanted to ask. “Any indication of when he was inside?”

Marcus shrugged. “Nothing definitive. The prints disturbed a heavy layer of dust and dirt, but they don’t have a new coating. Recently is the closest I can come.”

Levi grunted. “Recent, as in the past few weeks or the past year.”

Marcus shrugged. “Can’t tell.” He looked at Isla again. “Do you mind if I follow his path into the barn?”

“Go ahead. Can I see?”

He nodded and headed back through the stones. Levi took her hand. “You sure? You were nervous about the foundation holding.”

It was her turn to shrug. “Nothing’s happened so far and it seems secure.”

“I’m coming with you.”

His gruff statement had her smiling. “I’d like that.”

Levi squeezed her hand. When they reached the barn, he turned to Hopper. “Stay. Wait.”

The dog sighed, then turned in a circle and flopped to the ground.

Levi stepped through first, then helped her climb over the stones. Marcus had set up two flashlights on stands, and the interior was lit at this end but disappeared into the gloom, like a scene from a gothic novel. No way was she venturing into the gloom on her own.

Marcus showed them the prints, then said he’d taken enough photos so not to worry about walking over them. “In fact, try to stay on the same general path. If he returns, we don’t want him to realize we’ve figured him out. Sam texted me that he’s going to bring out a couple of cameras that work in the dark and are motion activated.”

Forget the gothic novel. Her life was turning into a high-tech thriller movie.

The path of boot prints was easy to follow, and it didn’t appear as if the rest of this area had been disturbed. Marcus led them to an area that had to be about halfway through the barn. An old ladder rested against a beam that appeared to be one of many holding up the barn. That reinforced her belief it wasn’t about to collapse.

When Marcus shone his light up at the ceiling above them, he drew the light along the edges of a rectangle. “A trapdoor?” Her voice drifted into the gloom.

Marcus nodded. “This is how he got in and out. Do you want to go up this way or go back in the regular way?”

That would mean they would have to search for the trap door underneath all the clutter in the barn. “Let’s go up.”

He nodded and turned to Levi. “Let’s make sure these rungs are solid.”

The two men took the ladder down and checked. When they were sure it was secure, they replaced it, and Marcus headed up. At the top, he pulled out his gun, and Isla shrank back into Levi. He wrapped his arms around her and leaned down to whisper. “It’s just precautionary. Better to have it out and not need it than to need it and not have it.”

That made sense, but it didn’t make her feel better. Especially when Levi angled them so that he was closer to the potential dangers. She wasn’t brave enough to protest.

Marcus shoved up the board, and it lifted easily. No noise came from up top, and soon, he pushed the board to the side and climbed out. In only a few moments, he called down. “All clear. Come on up.”

Levi gestured for her to go first. Protecting her back. Rubber boots weren’t the best for climbing, as she’d discovered, so she focused on going slow and steady. This time, she wouldn’t have a preventable accident.

At the top, Marcus reached down a hand to help her onto the barn’s floor. Levi followed immediately after.

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