“Uh . . . ” Hollyn cast a sidelong glance at Twerp. “Sure. We were pretty much done here anyway, right, Archie?”
Mouth opening, Twerp grunted, then deflated.
Mission victory.
“Yeah. I think we’re good.” With more than a huff, he got his stuff together. Stood and hugged Hollyn—a little longer than necessary.
Fury let out a low rumble of objection.
That’s my boy.Well, Crew’s, but . . .
Chin up, Twerp skated Fury a nervous glance and scurried out the door. “See you ’round.”
Davis bit back the retort on the edge of his tongue. Moved toward Hollyn. This close to her, his heart thundered in his chest. “How’s the hand?”
She shrugged. “Not great but I’ll live.” Sliding her light auburn hair behind her ear, she smiled up at him. Those gorgeous eyes were going to get him in trouble one of these days. “Thanks for your help.” Was she blushing?
The front door rattled when it closed with extra force.
Davis ignored the outburst. “Course.”
Fury came up beside Hollyn and pressed his weight into her leg. She smiled. Reached for him, then pulled her hand back. “Is it okay?” She looked to Davis.
He considered the request. “Slowly.”
Without missing a beat, she reached down to Fury’s back. Ran her hand over his fur. The lug panted happily.
He wasn’t sure what to make of the way the landshark acted with her.
“What did you need to talk about?” Hollyn sank quietly onto one of the large chairs near the windows. Pretzeled her legs under her like she always used to. Cradled her injured hand in her lap.
Though he didn’t want to freak her out, they needed to get to the bottom of this, so he dropped into the other chair and rested his laptop on his knee. “I was going over the security footage”—he saw the confidence in her smile falter—“and I noticed that whoever broke in knew not only the layout but had an intimate knowledge of furniture and décor placement.”
Davis opened the laptop and replayed the footage. Pointed when the burglar stepped around the entry table near the door to the study. “It’s like he’s been inside before.”
The crease in her brow deepened. “Like he’s broken in before and we didn’t notice?” Hollyn looked scared.
Fix it.
“Whether he broke in or was let in”—he watched her absorb that information—“he’s been here before. Does the way he moves look familiar?”
Touching her throat as she leaned in, she watched the video.
“Anything about him remind you of someone you know? What about your driver?”
Her gaze snapped back to him. “No! Bongani wouldn’t do something like this. Please, just—shut it off.” She looked away and he closed the laptop.
Davis was inching closer to losing her. Couldn’t stop, though. Had to get her to think about the details while they were fresh in her mind. He was playing catch-up here. Didn’t know the people in her life.
For a moment, he considered telling her about her dad’s warning but shoved the idea away. He needed more intel first. If Ansel had wanted her to know, he would have addressed the message to them both. “Think about it . . . ”
“I don’t want to think about it!” Hollyn punched from the chair. “It was just a burglar, and the police will find him.” Was she trying to convince him or herself? She paced back and forth. “I don’t appreciate you implying that Bongani could be to blame either.”
Davis didn’t say anything. It wouldn’t help. She wasn’t thinking logically.
“Of all the people here, he’s been one of the kindest to our family.”
Yeah, maybe in order to get close to whatever’s here.