“I don’t want to put you or her in any danger, Granny,” Alisha said. “This is just for a couple of days.”
“Until after Christmas,” Bettye said. “Remember, you have the whole week off.”
“Maybe until the New Year,” Nathan repeated again.
“I hope it won’t take that long,” Alisha replied, a stubborn glint in her green eyes.
“No matter,” her feisty grandmother replied. “As you know, Alisha, the center will be closed for the next few days and we have lots of baking to do and packages to wrap. We go visiting the Amish during Christmas. You can help with all of that.”
“Okay, Granny,” Alisha said. But her voice held little enthusiasm. She would work day and night to solve this thing.
“I’ll take a room in the main house,” Nathan said to Bettye. “But at least I’ll be on the premises.”
“I feel better already,” Bettye replied. “Now, let’s get you both settled in. I’m sure you are exhausted. We’ll continue this discussion in the morning.” Getting up, she added, “You two must not have been hungry.”
“I’ll save my cookie for later,” Nathan said.
“I’m sorry, Granny. Hard to eat.” Alisha took her own sandwich to the sink. “I’ll do the dishes and then I’m going to my room.”
Nathan lifted his eyebrows, questioning.
“Relax,” Alisha said. “My room is right across from Granny’s. This place has three bedrooms. The big suite where Mrs. Campton stays and two smaller bedrooms across the hallway, with a bath and small sitting room between them.”
“It’s quite cozy,” Bettye said with a shrug.
“Yeah, cozy. I vaguely remember the layout.” Nathan thought of all the things that could go wrong. “Do I need a key or a code to get to the main house?”
“I’ll show you,” Alisha said, her tone anxious.
“I’ll wait here then,” Bettye said, her grandmotherly gaze taking in all the undercurrents flowing around them. “Then we’ll lock up tight.”
Nathan nodded and thanked Bettye for the food. “I’ll be close if you need anything.”
Remembering the house from his time here before, Nathan guided Alisha to the glass door that led to the enclosed breezeway, where two rows of windows provided views of the big front yard and the sprawling tree-lined backyard and lighted pool area.
“Too many windows,” he said, holding her elbow while he scanned their surroundings.
“I’ve never worried about that before,” Alisha admitted. “Granny will feel better, having you close by.”
They made it to the matching set of doors on the other side of the breezeway, bypassing wicker chairs and tall parlor ferns.
Alisha keyed in the code and the doors clicked open. Then they moved into the upper hallway of the estate house, now a center to help the Amish and anyone else who didn’t have the money to pay for doctors, lawyers and counselors.
“The elevator is to the left if you ever need it,” Alisha reminded him, her words echoing over the big upstairs floor. Then she pointed to the right. “There are two bedrooms on the front of the house. And two more on the back. The master is up here on the other side down another hallway. It faces the backyard. We put mothers with children in there.”
“I’ll take one to the front,” he said, “since the back should be fairly secure, but the front yard could be compromised.”
Alisha nodded and took him to a bedroom that had a direct view to the street and to the carriage house. The yard was well lit, at least.
“Sheets and towels are in the linen closet in the bathroom,” she said, pointing to the adjoining door. Then she turned at the main door. “I guess I’ll see you in the morning.”
Nathan reached for her arm. “Are you sure you’re all right?”
Alisha nodded but he could see the fatigue and worry shadowing her eyes. “I’m good now that I’m here. I doubt I’ll sleep but I’ll be okay.”
“I can walk you back across,” he offered.
“You don’t need to do that.”
“I’ll go as far as the doors to the breezeway, to be sure.”
She nodded and they walked back up the hallway together.
“This is an amazing house,” he said once they’d reached the breezeway.
Alisha nodded. “The Camptons founded this town over a century ago. It’s sad to think the Admiral and Mrs. Campton lost their only son Edward. He was killed in Afghanistan. He was a navy SEAL.”
“I’ve heard about him,” Nathan replied. “I still have friends around here who tell me the latest news.”
“And family?”
Her question threw Nathan. They never discussed the past.
“A few,” he said. “My parents will always be here.”
He was about to tell her good-night when he heard a noise outside and then saw a flash of light.
Without thinking, he pushed Alisha down beneath the windows and went with her, shielding her.
“Someone is in the front yard,” he whispered, his heart hammering. “Don’t move.”
Alisha nodded. “Granny—”
Nathan put a finger to her lips, his grip on her so tight he felt her heart beating against his. “I’m going to check it out. You stay right here.”
Alisha gave him a wide-eyed frown. “Nathan, don’t do that.”
When they heard another noise, he gave her a quick nod.
“If I’m not back in five minutes, call 911, okay?”
Then he turned and headed back across the breezeway so he could sneak out the garage door downstairs, the beat of Alisha’s heart still racing through his pulse.
If these goons had found her here this quickly, how did he have any chance of protecting her and keeping her alive?
Alisha huddled underneath the windows, the cold floor making her shiver while fear for Nathan made her shudder. Should she go after him? Alert her grandmother? Find a weapon?
Granny. What if someone hurt her grandmother?
Deciding a weapon would be good, just in case, she hurried back into the big, dark house and went to the master bedroom. Moving past the eerie glow of all the sconces, she stood at the bedroom door and spotted the big fireplace inside. Then she hurried to find the fire poker.
The wieldy iron poker in her hands, she slipped to the windows lining the room and checked the sloping backyard. Shadows cascaded out over the grass and shrubs to reveal a quiet stillness. The yellow glow of the security lamps gave her courage. But she needed to get back to the front of the house and check on her grandmother and Nathan. Had it been five minutes?
Alisha moved quickly back up the wide hallway, going past the stairs. When she heard a noise coming from the front yard, she stopped. Should she go down or call 911?
Before she could decide, a strong arm pulled her close. She tried to scream but the sound caught in her throat. Then a hand clamped down over her mouth and a man breathed close.