Page 23 of Shrouded Past

Question after question vaulted around his head like some strange tennis match.

After Bryce prayed, Piper took a bite of her sandwich, her attention on the outdoors.

Bryce ate in silence while trying to make sense of the things they knew. Was her head injury the source of her amnesia? Or had she witnessed something that was so horrific her mind blocked everything out.

Bryce had read once about people who lost their memory because they’d witnessed something traumatic. Was this what they were dealing with?

He wondered about Marina. Who was she, and what did she have to do with what happened to Piper?

His troubled thoughts were interrupted by a sound that didn’t fit into their setting. He stopped eating to listen. The hum of the fridge close by. The AC unit doing its job. Had he been mistaken?

“I heard it too.” Piper’s frightened eyes met his. “It came from the front of the house.”

Bryce rose quickly, scraping back his chair. “I need you to get out of sight. Go to your room and get into the closet. Stay there until I come get you.”

His dead-serious tone spurred her into action. She grabbed Bella and fled. Bryce waited until he heard the bedroom door close, followed by the closet door, before he edged to the living room and peeked out the window. Nothing appeared to move. He looked out the window closest to where he’d heard the noise. Still nothing.

Bryce retrieved his handgun and the house key from the kitchen counter and crossed to the back entrance.

He stepped across the threshold and quickly relocked the door. Before he made another move, Bryce listened. Not a sound but the waves against the shore. Still, there had been something. He was almost certain of it.

With his weapon drawn, Bryce headed toward the side of the house. One of the boards on the deck squeaked, and he froze. So much for hoping to slip up on any perp that might be watching the place. The squeaky board had given his location away.

He left the deck and started around the side, stopping often to listen. Not a peep. Was it just the wind or some animal? He had proof it wasn’t his imagination because Piper confirmed she’d heard it too.

Bryce scanned the ground as he walked. No sign of footprints. Around front the only ones were those left by him and Piper earlier. There were no windows into the garage to see his vehicle parked inside. How had the perp found them?

On a whim, he decided to head for the woods to his right. When he reached the edge of them, something grabbed his attention. Someone had been here. A single set of tracks headed back through the woods as if someone had been watching from between the trees.

Tension sparked across Bryce’s shoulders as he entered the woods, and it became notably darker and colder there.

His head was on a swivel, expecting Piper’s kidnapper to pounce at any moment. The woods begin to clear in front. He stopped once he reached the edge. A house was situated along the cliff much like Liz’s. The tracks headed across the yard and up to the porch. Relief had him doubling over. Just Liz’s neighbor, probably out for an afternoon walk. Still, he’d check in with JT and ask him to contact the person. The questions would come easier from a concerned brother. Besides, he didn’t want to alert the neighbor to possible trouble if there wasn’t any.

Bryce headed back toward Liz’s house. Unease following him each step. He was being paranoid thinking someone watched him. Once he reached Liz’s property, he swung back the way he’d come. Nothing moved. Bryce shook his head. Just the effects of what had happened.

Not wanting to alarm Piper, he placed the call to JT before going in.

“How are things at my sister’s?” JT’s tone held concern as if he sensed something had happened.

“Fine, I guess. How well do you know Liz’s neighbors to the right if you’re facing the road?”

“They’re decent people,” JT responded. “What’s up?”

Bryce explained about the footprints leading to the neighbor’s house. “Maybe check to make sure it was him. And let them know Liz has friends staying at her home so they don’t get suspicious.”

“I’ll check with him now.” JT’s concern was clear in his tone. “As soon as I know anything I’ll let you know.” A moment’s silence followed. “We don’t have anything new to report on Piper’s case yet. Will reached out to the police force near where Amos lives. Hopefully, we can find Protector’s location and it will yield some answers.”

“Let’s hope.” Bryce mentioned Marina, the name Piper had given him. “I don’t know how she’s connected with Protector, but it sounds like she may be deceased.” Still, having the name might help in locating Protector, though Bryce had a feeling the older man had done his best to keep Piper safe. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough.

“Keep me apprised to what’s happening there,” JT told him. “If you have any more problems, we may have to move you again.”

“Will do.” Bryce punched End and looked over his shoulder at the dark, yawning opening to the trees. An uneasy feeling chased down his spine. What if the kidnapper had somehow followed them without either Bryce or Will catching it? If so, he’d be waiting for the right moment to attack. The thought was disturbing.

Bryce unlocked the door and went inside before securing the locks again. “It’s me, Piper. Everything’s okay.” But was it? That little bit of police doubt wouldn’t allow him to let his guard down.

Footsteps came toward him. “What was it?”

Bryce shook his head. “The neighbor. Or at least I think it was the neighbor. JT knows the man and is checking with him. It’s probably nothing.”

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