Page 32 of Deadly Attraction
“Did you leave that window open?” he growled.
Her pulse skittered under her skin. “I opened it this morning to let in some fresh air. The house smelled like bacon. I forgot to close it.”
Mitch released her hand, checked the closet and under the bed. “Luckily, we’re all clear. Did you notice anything out of place or missing while we were going through the place?”
She shook her head, already embarrassed at the fact she’d left that damn window open and that she’d clung to him like a scared little girl all through the house. “Everything looks exactly as I left it.”
He closed the window, locked it, and pulled the shade. “I’m going to check the attic.”
“I’ll go with you.”
Mitch pulled the attic stairs down from the ceiling at the end of the hall and Emma flipped the light switch. The bare bulb up above threw soft light down on them. As they climbed the narrow steps, dust swirled in the air, tickling Emma’s nose.
She hadn’t been up here in a few weeks. Mitch hit the landing and did a visual sweep of the scattered boxes, the old desk, and her telescope, pointed at the northern sky.
Hiding places were minimal, save perhaps if you were the size of a mouse. Mitch’s gaze took in the telescope for a brief moment before he looked back at her. “Do you use it?”
Her throat felt like she’d swallowed cotton balls, which was silly. It wasn’t like she was spying on her neighbors—she had none. She cleared her throat, focused on a box near her feet. Some old college texts books. Why was she hanging on to those? “On occasion.”
“You have a good sky view from here, I bet.”
“On clear nights, I can see a long way.”
They left the attic, clomping down the stairs. Mitch shoved the collapsible steps back up and turned off the lights. “Can you get that file for me? The one you have on Goodsman?”
“Sure.” Back to business, but she smelled like sweat. Like fear. “I need to change my clothes first.”
He looked at her funny, then nodded. “Stay away from the windows.”
He walked out and Emma plopped down on the bed and blew out a long breath.
On one hand, she felt slightly ridiculous. The stranger could have been anyone. Like she’d said in the yard, it could even be someone displaced by the fires. They might have had car trouble or been hiking in the park and got lost when the fires started. They could be exhausted, hungry, injured.
But a part of her knew Mitch was being smart to keep her secluded. It could be Chris. While the actor’s personality and normal MO didn’t point to him being a stalker, she knew better than to believe it was completely out of the range of possibility. Anything was possible. She’d learned that two years ago.
Putting the safety back on her gun, she set it on the nightstand and went to the closet. Pulling on fresh jeans, a tank, and a flannel shirt, she felt better. Will had sent the stranger running, his show of boldness scaring the person off. Mitch was in the house with her, and he wouldn’t let anyone get in and hurt her.
Fluffing her hair, she looked at her reflection in the full-length mirror on the back of her closet door. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes bright with new-found confidence. She smiled at herself and started a mental to-do list.
Find the file on Chris.
Make tea.
Cancel appointments.
She hated that last one. Like Danika, the kids she was working with this week all needed extra attention, but she couldn’t endanger their lives by bringing them to the ranch. Maybe she could arrange to visit them instead. It wouldn’t be the same without the horses to aid her, but it was better than nothing.
Back at the nightstand, she opened the drawer to stick the gun inside and froze, her world tilting once more on its axis.
“Here,” Emma said, shoving a well-worn green file at Mitch. “This is everything I have on paper. I also have computer records I can copy to a USB if you want them.”
Seated at the kitchen table, he moved his cookie aside to make room for the massive file. He’d raided the Snoopy jar and was on his third oatmeal chocolate chip.
Salt and Pepper thumped their tails at Emma’s entrance, but she ignored them. Tenseness radiated from her body. Her face was as white as the refrigerator.
“You okay?” he asked.
She turned on her heel and headed out. “Yep, peachy.”
