Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6

Tex jumped from his truck and took off across the lawn. He needed to catch the person he’d seen leaving Chelsea’s house.

As the man cut through the woods, Tex went after him. But the guy had a good head start, and he was faster than Tex had anticipated.

Thankfully, he remembered these woods well. Remembered the slopes and the rocks as the landscape tapered down to the street below.

For a split second, Tex felt as if he were back in high school, and he and Chelsea were exploring.

Then present-day reality slammed back into his mind. This was no time to reminisce.

Instead, he continued pushing himself between the trees.

Just as he cleared the woods, he saw the figure in black jump into a dark-colored sedan. Three seconds later, he squealed away.

Tex stopped on the edge of the road, trying to get a glimpse of the license plate. But the guy was too far away.

His hands fisted as he watched the car disappear around the bend.

Who had that been? And what had the man been doing behind Chelsea’s house?

He’d have to figure that out later. Right now, he wanted to check on Chelsea.

He jogged back through the woods, his mind racing through possibilities of what might be going on. Well, at least he tried to race through possibilities. But really, he could come up with nothing. Not without more details about Chelsea’s life over the past twelve years.

Was that man some type of scorned lover coming to stalk Chelsea? Had she gotten herself into trouble? Was that why she’d been in Gilbert’s house?

He had no idea. But he was going to demand some answers soon.

He strode back to the truck.

As soon as Chelsea spotted him, she climbed out. Her eyes were wide and her motions tense as she hugged her arms across her chest. “Did you catch him?”

He shook his head, his neck muscles tight. “No. He had too much of a head start, and he had a car waiting on the road behind the woods.”

Her face fell. “That’s too bad. Who was he?”

“I was hoping you could tell me that.” Then he glanced at the house. “We need to figure out what he was doing inside. You should wait here.”

She grabbed his arm with both of her hands, flinching as her stitches hit his bicep. But she didn’t let go. “I should go with you. If anything’s out of place, you’re not going to know.”

She had a point. Tex didn’t think anyone was inside. But still, he needed to be cautious.

“As long as you listen to me and stay behind me.”

“Whatever makes you happy,” she said.

Then she sucked in a breath as if she realized what she’d said.

Whatever makes you happy. That was what he’d always told her back in high school.

He’d meant the words. He would have moved heaven and earth to make her happy. The highlight of his day had been seeing her smile.

But those days were now gone, and he needed to remember that.

He grabbed a flashlight from his truck. The one on his phone could work in a pinch, but his Maglite was much stronger. Then he walked around the outside of the house, shining his flashlight on the ground as he searched for clues.

Chelsea still hung onto his arm, her fingers digging into his bicep. He didn’t complain.

In fact, it didn’t bother him at all.

He wanted her close so he could keep an eye on her.

He paused and shone his light on the back of the house. One of the windows was open. That was probably how that guy had gotten in—which was what Tex could only assume had happened.

“You leave that unlocked?” He gestured toward the window.

“Not usually.” Chelsea frowned as she stared at it. “However, I’m not saying I might not have accidentally left that one unlocked. I mean, this area is pretty safe, and I try not to live in fear.”

“I can appreciate that. But tonight, I need you to check all your windows before you go to bed.”

The fear on her face indicated she would—and that she’d planned on doing that even before he gave her the order.

“You have your key, right?”

She plucked it from her purse. Tex took it from her trembling hands, and they walked to the back door.

It was unlocked.

“I didn’t leave it that way.” Her voice trembled as she said the words.

Tex pulled it open. Then he braced himself for whatever he might find inside.

Chelsea couldn’t stop trembling. Even though she chided herself for the reaction, the shakes kept coming.

Someone had been in her house. Had invaded her space.

Now, she felt violated.

What would someone have been doing in there? It didn’t make any sense.

As Tex entered the house, she continued to grip his bicep. She had no shame in it. Right now, all she cared about was her safety.

She stayed behind him as he stepped farther into the house. She had no idea what they might find. Part of her didn’t want to know.

She didn’t want her memories of this place to be stained with any painful or horrifying images.

Tex flipped on the lights, and the utility room came into view. It looked as she’d left it with the washer and dryer on her left and honey-oak cabinets above them.

Then they crept forward into a small hallway leading into the kitchen and dining room area.

Those rooms also looked fine.

She let out a sigh of relief. Maybe she was making this out to be more than it was. Maybe that man had started to go inside, but then he’d heard the truck pull up and changed his mind.

“Everything look good so far?” Tex muttered.

“So far, so good.” Her voice sounded a little perkier than she’d intended.

But when they stepped into the living room, all her hopes disappeared like well-behaved students during a full moon.

The room had been turned upside down. Her Christmas tree lay on the floor, ornaments scattered and broken. Her bookshelf had been tipped over. Her couch cushions and pillows littered the floor. Anything she’d had hanging on the wall was now crooked, and one of her family pictures had even been smashed.

Someone had definitely been sending a message.

Chelsea frowned. She still wasn’t sure what that message might be.