Page 32 of Forbidden Secrets
“Now on your stomach, hands behind your back.”
Gage held his aim, tense and focused, as the man complied.
Only then did he take a breath.
Gage wished he had handcuffs or zip ties.
His gaze swept the room.A basket of yarn sat next to the couch, knitting needles poking out the top.Did people still knit?
He grabbed a ball of yarn and began unwinding it.Doubling the strands for strength, he secured the guy’s wrists behind his back.Not ideal, but it’d hold.
Eyes scanning for signs of the second intruder, Gage did a quick pat down.He came up with a tactical folding knife, car keys, and a phone.No wallet.No ID.
White male, early forties.Prison tattoos covered most of his exposed skin.
“Thanks for the knife,” Gage muttered as he used it to cut excess yarn.“You want to tell me why an ex-con is breaking into my neighbor’s house?”
“Fuck you.”
“Wrong answer.Somebody send you here?”
“I want a lawyer.”
“You’re gonna need one,” Gage muttered, tying the man’s ankles with the yarn.He pocketed the knife and stood.
The phone buzzed in his hand.
“How about that?No password.Helpful.”
“You got a warrant?”the man sneered.
“Not a cop, pal.Don’t need one.”Gage scrolled the message.“Huh.It’s your buddy in the barn.Wants to ‘light it up.’Says that’ll ‘make the point.’Also wants to know if you’re done scaring the chick.Guess he means my neighbor.Never liked the term ‘chick,’” Gage mused.
He tapped out a reply.“I’ll text him back to say fuck no and you’re coming out in five.”
Phone still in hand, he looked at the guy on the floor.“So.Want to tell me what point you’re trying to make?”
The man curled his lip.“Fuck off.”
Gage hadn’t expected Black Hat to spill his secrets, but Nike’s text proved this wasn’t some random burglary.
“Better hope your buddy doesn’t torch that barn,” Gage said coolly.“You two are already in deep enough shit without adding arson.And it’s a damn good thing you didn’t touch the woman.I’d have fucked you up for that.
He left the man hog-tied on the floor and resumed his sweep, weapon drawn, every sense alert.He trusted Melanie to stay put in the bathroom, but he wasn’t about to assume the danger was over.Two suspects spotted didn’t mean there weren’t more.
He cleared Addy’s room.Checked her closet, under the bed.All good.
Next was Melanie’s.A couple boxes were stacked near the wall.She’d prioritized her daughter’s space before her own.
The bedrooms and closets were clear and the door to the master bath shut.He paused, tempted to check on her, but held back.She was smart.She’d wait.
He edged toward a window, staying to the side, and scanned the narrow side yard.Nothing moved.
A small room next to kitchen looked like a home office.He swept it quickly.
Phone in hand, he hit redial.Melanie answered on the first ring.
“Gage.”
