could to ensure my friend was okay. “Please tell me you don’t think that Sierra is responsible for this crime also?”
“The evidence will tell the story.” He leaned toward me. “Isn’t that what you would say?”
I nudged my chin out farther. “Of course the evidence will tell the story. It will prove that she’s innocent. There has to be another explanation for this. I know there is.”
“You’re loyal, if nothing else.”
I scowled this time. “And you’re annoying, to say the least.”
He chuckled, shook his head and took a playful swipe at my chin. “I love your spirit. I really do. Never lose that.”
“I hear ya.” I grabbed my air scrub, a piece of the standard equipment I used when cleaning. The industrial piece helped to take away the smell often left at crime scenes. I needed to use it in my van after Henry’s visit. “Anything else? I’ve gotta get some shuteye.”
“Yeah, one more thing. Stay out of trouble. I don’t know what’s going on here, but I know this is no joke. Whoever is behind these crimes—whether they’re connected or not—they’re dangerous.”
I resisted a shudder. I believed Parker. Only, I wasn’t going to let the danger stop me.
Riley’s hand moved to my … waist? “You ready?”
I nodded, not missing the glance Parker bounced between Riley and me. “Yeah, let’s go.”
Outside, the nighttime seemed startlingly quiet. Had the cold killed all the little nocturnal insects that chirped? The late hour apparently kept any pedestrians and traffic at bay. Still, something about the silence made me shiver.
And then stop.
There was that feeling again. That feeling of being watched.
I let my gaze wander over my surroundings. I saw nothing unusual. Just a few cars parked on the side of the street, neighbors whose windows glowed with light from inside, some branches waving in the slight breeze.
“What’s wrong?” Riley paused beside me.
I continued to stare at everything around me. “Something feels off.”
“Off how?”
“It’s just a feeling. The feeling that someone’s watching all of this unfold.”
Riley scanned the area also. “I don’t see anything.”
I drug in a deep breath and took another step across the cracked concrete. “Yeah, I don’t either.” I let my gaze soak in everything around me once more as I approached my van. I held my breath as I opened the doors, half expecting to see Henry again. Thankfully, cleaning supplies greeted me. Riley and I loaded everything into the van. As I climbed into the driver’s seat, a piece of paper there caught my eyes. Riley and I exchanged a glance as I picked it up. Carefully, I unfolded it and saw the typed words there.
Watch your back, Gabby St. Claire. This is no amateur’s game. Are you sure you’re cut out to take this on? Or are you too green?
Green? That word couldn’t be a coincidence. I looked at Riley. “What does that mean? Are they challenging me to get involved and encouraging me to stay away at the same time?”
“How about ‘threatening’ you to stay away?”
“They were here, Riley. Whoever is behind all of this was here tonight. Maybe the person who left this is the same person who’s following me.”
“Someone’s following you?” His voice sounded low, serious.
“It’s just a gut feeling. The thing is that my gut feeling is usually right. I’m tired of discounting it.”
“You’re right. God gives us those instincts for a reason. You should trust your gut.” He paused. “Have you told Parker?”
I shook my head. “I know Parker. He’ll just think I’m crazy.”
“You have to show him this note, you know. There could be fingerprints.”
“I doubt it.” I sighed again and opened my door. “But here goes nothing.”
***
I’ve been going to church for about four months now and, if truth be told, I still wasn’t 100 percent comfortable there, even if the church I was attending met in a high school cafeteria and had a pastor that
“The evidence will tell the story.” He leaned toward me. “Isn’t that what you would say?”
I nudged my chin out farther. “Of course the evidence will tell the story. It will prove that she’s innocent. There has to be another explanation for this. I know there is.”
“You’re loyal, if nothing else.”
I scowled this time. “And you’re annoying, to say the least.”
He chuckled, shook his head and took a playful swipe at my chin. “I love your spirit. I really do. Never lose that.”
“I hear ya.” I grabbed my air scrub, a piece of the standard equipment I used when cleaning. The industrial piece helped to take away the smell often left at crime scenes. I needed to use it in my van after Henry’s visit. “Anything else? I’ve gotta get some shuteye.”
“Yeah, one more thing. Stay out of trouble. I don’t know what’s going on here, but I know this is no joke. Whoever is behind these crimes—whether they’re connected or not—they’re dangerous.”
I resisted a shudder. I believed Parker. Only, I wasn’t going to let the danger stop me.
Riley’s hand moved to my … waist? “You ready?”
I nodded, not missing the glance Parker bounced between Riley and me. “Yeah, let’s go.”
Outside, the nighttime seemed startlingly quiet. Had the cold killed all the little nocturnal insects that chirped? The late hour apparently kept any pedestrians and traffic at bay. Still, something about the silence made me shiver.
And then stop.
There was that feeling again. That feeling of being watched.
I let my gaze wander over my surroundings. I saw nothing unusual. Just a few cars parked on the side of the street, neighbors whose windows glowed with light from inside, some branches waving in the slight breeze.
“What’s wrong?” Riley paused beside me.
I continued to stare at everything around me. “Something feels off.”
“Off how?”
“It’s just a feeling. The feeling that someone’s watching all of this unfold.”
Riley scanned the area also. “I don’t see anything.”
I drug in a deep breath and took another step across the cracked concrete. “Yeah, I don’t either.” I let my gaze soak in everything around me once more as I approached my van. I held my breath as I opened the doors, half expecting to see Henry again. Thankfully, cleaning supplies greeted me. Riley and I loaded everything into the van. As I climbed into the driver’s seat, a piece of paper there caught my eyes. Riley and I exchanged a glance as I picked it up. Carefully, I unfolded it and saw the typed words there.
Watch your back, Gabby St. Claire. This is no amateur’s game. Are you sure you’re cut out to take this on? Or are you too green?
Green? That word couldn’t be a coincidence. I looked at Riley. “What does that mean? Are they challenging me to get involved and encouraging me to stay away at the same time?”
“How about ‘threatening’ you to stay away?”
“They were here, Riley. Whoever is behind all of this was here tonight. Maybe the person who left this is the same person who’s following me.”
“Someone’s following you?” His voice sounded low, serious.
“It’s just a gut feeling. The thing is that my gut feeling is usually right. I’m tired of discounting it.”
“You’re right. God gives us those instincts for a reason. You should trust your gut.” He paused. “Have you told Parker?”
I shook my head. “I know Parker. He’ll just think I’m crazy.”
“You have to show him this note, you know. There could be fingerprints.”
“I doubt it.” I sighed again and opened my door. “But here goes nothing.”
***
I’ve been going to church for about four months now and, if truth be told, I still wasn’t 100 percent comfortable there, even if the church I was attending met in a high school cafeteria and had a pastor that
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