Dead Heat by Kathleen Brooks Page A

and scanner hooked up to it. Just go past the hat room and you’ll see the door on your left just under the staircase.” Paige watched as Red and Cole went in search of the room. She took a deep breath and slowly let it out. She didn’t think anything about doing the sketch, but having to focus on that time and stare at the man now trying to kill her had gotten her shook up.
    “You okay, Paige?” Pierce had walked around the counter and now stood in front of her.
    “It was harder than I thought it would be.” Pierce may have been younger by three years, but they felt things as if they were twins. Pierce was a nerdy kid growing up, tall and skinny with sharp elbows and knees. He was captain of the math team, played the trumpet in band, and was the president of the Future Farmers of America. Paige had always theorized that because he wasn’t chased after like her other brothers, Pierce could sit back and watch. He could read emotions and body language even better than her mother. Even after he grew into his body and became the most handsome of all the brothers, he still tried to stay out of the light. He was quiet, confident, and always stood up for others who either couldn’t or were too afraid to do it themselves.
    “Okay. We got it sent out to all law enforcement. I have also printed off enough copies to take to the businesses around town so they can help keep a look out on you too,” Cole said as he walked out of the back room with Red.
    “You look tired, Sis. How about you go on upstairs and climb into bed.” Pierce gave her a quick peck on the forehead and helped her up from her chair. Now that he mentioned it, she was tired. Her legs felt as if they were in quicksand, and her whole body pulsed with weariness.
    “Sounds like a plan I can agree with. She walked past Pierce and got a kiss on the head from each brother as she passed them. She was halfway up the stairs when she remembered Cole. She turned around and found him surrounded by her brothers- again.
    “Don’t worry, Sis. He’ll be up in a minute. We just need to have a quick chat with him.”
    “Miles, you do realize I am not seventeen anymore, right? And you do realize that Cole isn’t my boyfriend, right?” She was too tired for this.
    She turned back around and had almost made it to the landing when she heard Marshall mumble, “You may think he’s not your boyfriend, but I think he thinks differently.”
     
    Paige somehow managed to make it up the stairs and unlock the door leading into her living area. The first room she entered was a large living room. She had painstakingly made it hers, buying furniture piece by piece until she had the whole set. The result was a large espresso colored couch that sat in front of the fireplace with a matching loveseat and chair finishing off the room. A slate table sat in front of the couch and a flat screen television hung over the fireplace. Bookshelves lined the wall on both sides of the fireplace and were full of pictures of her family, books, and magazines. If she walked straight through the room, she would go into the kitchen with the outdated appliances and oak cabinets. She had a small kitchen table that sat two and an island she used to try out some of her crafts. There was an old door that led out to a metal fire escape/back stairway. It was technically a walk up, but was made from the same durable, but ugly metal as fire escapes. She used it to take Chuck out at night since there was a small City park behind her house.
    Instead of going to the kitchen, Paige turned left through the archway and went past her half bath before turning right down the main hallway. Back here, she had two bedrooms and a full bath between them. She had turned the smaller bedroom into her office and the large bedroom into the master. She had personally selected the chocolate and ivory theme. She had ivory walls with colorful pictures and paintings on the wall. The carpet was thick and chocolate colored. Her bedspread