Page 23 of Celtic Dragon
I haven’t yet heard from Cade and I’m not sure if that is a good thing or bad.I wonder if it would be ok to call Hawk, just to check in,I think to myself. But doing that would only make me look weak. Besides, after looking at the time, I realize that they probably have not even landed yet. I am sure that Hawk knows about as much as I do right now so it would probably be best not to bother him. I’ll save that for when I really need him.
I get up from the couch and walk over to the counter where I left my bag. Digging into my bag, I pull my keys out and call, “Honey, I’m running to the store. Wanna come with?”
There is no answer. “Honey?” I call again.
Just then she comes down the stairs with a duster in her hand. “What are you doing?” I ask.
“Cleaning,” she replies, as if it was the most natural thing for her to be doing.
“Why?”
“Well, unlike you, I don’t have work to dig into. So I do what I do best: cook and clean.” She pauses for a minute and then adds, “Which reminds me, I’ve been meaning to talk to you about that.”
“Cooking and cleaning?” I ask.Is she finally going to give us an answer to our offer to work here instead of the bar?
“I’ve done a lot of thinking about the offer you and Ice made about working for you. And if the offer is still on the table, I’d like to take it.”
I squeal with delight, then run over to her and hug her. “I’m so glad! That is the best news I have heard all day. Cade will be so happy too!”
“Now, what were you saying about running to the store?”
“Oh, yeah. I’m going stir-crazy waiting to hear if the boys landed; I need to get out of this house. Wanna come?”
“Sure,” Honey says as she walks over to the utility closet and stows her duster. “Let me just run a brush through my hair and I’ll meet you outside.”
“Ok.” I grab my purse and head out the door.
As I approach my car I notice a folded piece of paper laying on the windshield, secured by the windshield wiper. Not thinking, I walk over and grab the paper. I unfold it and begin to read the scribble that’s written on it.
I know what you did.
I know what he did.
You will not get away with it
And neither will he.
My hands begin to shake as I just stand there, unable to move.Who put this here? What did I do? What did he do? Are they referring to Cade and me?As I’m trying to make sense of this note, Honey comes out of the house and locks the door behind her.
I can tell that she knows something is wrong the minute she looks at me. I don’t say anything, for fear that whoever left the note is still here. I feel prickles on the back of my neck and I know without a doubt that I’m being watched. I know that whatever I say, they’re going to hear; I’m absolutely sure someone is hiding in the trees behind me.
I quickly regain my composure and say to Honey, “Come on girl, shopping awaits. Get in the car.” I try to say this as happily as I can while still hoping to cue her in to the fact that something is wrong. She knows immediately. She can tell by the quiver in my voice that something is really wrong. But because she’s smart and definitely knows how to handle herself in situations like this, she obediently gets into the car.
After closing the door, she asks, “What the fuck is going on, Emma? Your whole demeanor just changed. You’re scaring me.”
“Just act normal until we get away from the house. Then I will tell you everything.” I don’t even want to give her the note until we’re away from all eyes.
After we get away from the driveway and out onto the main road, I hand her the note. She quickly reads it and then says, “Holy fuck, Emma! Where did you get this?”
“It was on my windshield.” I look over at her and I’m sure she can see the fear in my eyes. “Call Hawk. Please.”
Honey immediately pulls out her phone and begins dialing. She puts the phone on speaker as it rings.
One, two three rings.Why isn’t he answering?Four, five six rings … and it goes to his voicemail.Fuck!
“What do I do?” I ask Honey.
“Let’s drive by Betty’s and see if he’s there. Maybe he’s in a meeting or something and can’t get to the phone.”
