Page 55 of Unexpected Danger
Aileen clutched her elbow and guided her to one of the chairs in the waiting area. “What happened?”
“Dustin was outside.” With trembling fingers, she fidgeted with the zipper on her purse until finally, she disengaged it and removed her phone. After calling 911, she dialed another familiar number.
Brodie was on his way back from Lyleville when he received Londyn’s call three miles outside of Pronghorn Falls. There was no sign of Dustin Haack by the time he arrived. Two officers joined him at the parking lot of the Pronghorn Falls Eye Center. The fear in Londyn’s eyes shook him.
It wasn’t the first time he’d seen it, but he prayed it would be the last.
Of course, until they caught Haack, such wouldn’t be the case.
“I want someone at the ER monitoring whether or not he shows up there,” Brodie commanded.
Officer Robinson, while not his employee, eagerly obliged. “I’d like to catch this scumbag.”
The other officer took Londyn’s statement. Her voice quivered as she spoke.
“Why don’t we take you back to the clinic and have you checked out?” Brodie suggested.
“No, I’m fine. Just rattled is all.” She rubbed the underside of her right arm.
“Did he hurt you?”
“Just a pinch. Can we just go home?”
The fact that she referred to the ranch as her home always warmed his heart. She was as comfortable there as he was.
“Mom?”
“I’m fine. Just worried.”
He knew Mom feared for Londyn’s safety, as did he. “All right, then, I’ll check your SUV and then follow you back.”
“How did Dustin know about my follow-up appointment?” Londyn’s eyes drooped, dark, half-moon circles beneath them. She’d been unable to rest much after the car accident and attempted strangulation before having to deal with Haack again. The sooner Brodie caught this guy, the better.
“I’m not sure, but I aim to find out.”
Normally, Brodie would say he loved a good mystery, but this one was far too personal.
He stood and offered his hand to Londyn. She accepted his offer, and he held her hand a few seconds longer, wishing the closeness was due to something other than helping to ease the fear that rippled through her.
Mom returned to the counter to make her subsequent appointment. “Brodie?” Londyn asked, her face only a few feet from his.
“Yes?”
“I—” tears welled in her gray-hazel eyes. “I can’t put your mom and your family at risk.”
He knew what she was saying. Knew her heart. Knew her compassion for others. And knew the close bond she shared with Mom. “Everything will be okay.” But even as he said the words,statistics drummed through his mind. Yes, Mila had nearly lost her life to crazed gang members who were bent on destroying her. Yes, Pronghorn Falls experienced an explosive growth of fentanyl and meth in recent years. Yes, it was no longer the town he’d grown up in, with the infiltration of new people moving in every day.
But that didn’t mean the Lord wouldn’t still keep those Brodie loved safe. That the Lord wouldn’t guide him with wisdom and discernment as he sought to seek justice. Although if he were honest, this entire turn of events with Londyn and a man named Dustin Haack unnerved Brodie and left him with an unfamiliar, unsettled feeling of distress and frustration.
Brodie followed Mom and Londyn home, his situational awareness skills on overdrive. At least Haack had no idea where Londyn was temporarily residing.
Chapter 15
Londyn threw the load of clothes into the dryer, then headed upstairs to the kitchen. Aileen was in town today, and Londyn hoped to have the kitchen and living room cleaned for her before she returned. It was the least she could do in gratitude for being allowed to temporarily stay at the ranch.
She opened the dishwasher, loaded the breakfast dishes, then swiped the counters with a wet rag. She took a deep breath. It was so nice to be somewhere safe away from Dustin’s threats. She hadn’t seen or heard from him in three days. Not since the incident in the parking lot. Londyn had attended church with the Brennemans, just like old times, and her injuries were beginning to heal.
Was Dustin still in Pronghorn Falls? Had he returned to Rowland? Would he give up chasing and stalking her?
