Page 17 of Twilight Tactics

Elena smiled and headed back to the golf cart, where she hopped on and continued her search. For the next hour, Elena moved through the property, the golf cart humming, zipping from cabin to cabin, building to building. Each update through her radio confirmed another area clear, another resident accounted for.

Art therapy, gym, dock secured. Jim checked in with the words, “Basketball court—four present.”

A short time later, all residents and staff were accounted for. Elena let out a slow breath. “No strangers, male or female, found,” she reported in.

“Same,” Maya said. “Sully?”

“All clear. Headed back to the cabin to check on Piper and Ollie.”

“All clear here,” Piper said. “Maya brought me a radio and I’ve been following the search. The alarm is armed and Ollie is playing a video game in the den.”

“All right,” Sully said. “Then if the woman I saw wasn’t a resident, who was she?”

Elena bit her lip and wondered the same.

“I don’t know,” Maya said, “but let’s all be on the alert. She could be someone who heard about the ranch and just wanted to get a look at it. Who knows?”

“10-4,” Sully said. “Let me know if anything new comes up.”

“Will do.”

Elena set aside the radio and called Maya on her phone. She didn’t need anyone else listening at this point.

“Hey,” Maya said. “Everything okay?”

“Everything’s fine considering we had a trespasser and didn’t know it. That’s concerning.”

“True. But looks like she’s gone now.”

One could hope. “I have something I need to do now that everything is settled down. I’ll be back in a couple of hours.”

“You going into town?”

“No. But I’m going to take Harley. I’ll have my phone if you need me.” Harley, an American quarter horse who’d become her favorite mount. He stood fifteen hands high, and they’d bonded over carrots one rainy afternoon shortly after she’d arrived at the ranch. Harley often followed her around like a dog when she had the time to let him. He was also a very good listener and never spread gossip.

A pause. “Okay, holler if you need anything.”

“Thanks.” That was one reason she and Maya were friends. Maya gave her space to be her. If she wanted to talk, Maya was there. If she didn’t, Maya didn’t press. Unless she needed to. And Elena did the same for Maya when she needed her. Of course, Maya had Gideon to talk to and didn’t come to Elena as much as she did Gideon. Naturally. That’s how it was supposed to be.

Maybe someday she’d have that too. The ache in her heart said she wanted it even if she wasn’t willing to fully admit it.

And why did Sully’s handsome features come to mind when she thought about that “someday”?

Elena shook off her thoughts and hurried back to the main house, where she dressed a little warmer. Her mind was on the tactical cap and the idea she’d been pondering. A totally ridiculous idea, but one she couldn’t push aside. Which meant taking Harley on a little outing.

The knock on her door halted her movements and she went to look out the side window. Ollie stood on her porch. What in the world was she doing out there when a possible intruder was on the loose?

Elena opened the door. “Hey. Come on in.”

Ollie stepped inside, and Elena sent a text to Piper and Sully to let them know Ollie was at her place.

“I hope it’s okay to come over,” Ollie said.

“Of course.” Elena wouldn’t berate the already fragile girl who’d had everyone in her life abandon her. For now, she was safe. Elena would keep her that way until someone came to get her. “Have a seat.”

“Well, I just came because I wanted to see what you had to show me.”

Their conversation from the night before. “Oh, okay.” Might as well while she waited for Sully or Piper to arrive. “Come over to the bookcase.”