Chapter 15

Detective Bennett came and went.

He’d checked out Sadie’s place. Since Sadie didn’t know if anything was missing, it made the investigation more difficult. But she couldn’t, and she was tired of beating herself up for something she had no control over.

The detective had agreed it was a good idea to stay somewhere else. The person who’d hit her in the parking lot yesterday most likely knew where she lived.

In fact, this person seemed to know entirely too much about her.

The fact her place had been ransacked most likely meant the accident couldn’t have been random.

It had been planned.

Someone had followed her to the beach. Or . . . someone had already known she would be there.

Sadie shivered at the thought.

She didn’t have many answers, but she knew without a doubt this was far from over.

“I just want to grab a few things and change into some more presentable clothes.” She looked down at her sweats and T-shirt before glancing back up at him. “Then I’d like to go to my office.”

He squinted. “Are you sure you’re up for that? Maybe resting would be a better idea.”

“Maybe. But this can’t wait. The sooner I find answers, the sooner I can put this whole nightmare behind me.”

Trevor stared at her another moment, unreadable thoughts swirling behind his gaze. Finally, he said, “If that’s what you want.”

It was definitely what she wanted.

He walked beside her as she headed toward her bedroom. She only knew it was her bedroom because she’d walked around the house earlier, and this was the room with all her personal effects.

She found clothes to change into—some jeans and a teal top that was comfortable but fitted. She ran a brush through her hair and put on some makeup. Then she tracked down a bag in the closet and stuffed clothes and toiletries inside—anything she might need.

She started to hike the bag over her shoulder when Trevor took it from her. “I can carry this.”

Sadie flushed, though she didn’t know why. Had she not been around many gentlemen before?

It was impossible to say.

“Thank you,” she murmured instead.

As Trevor led her back outside, she turned to take one more look at her house.

Part of her wanted to start cleaning right now, to try to gain some semblance of her old life. Having things in order around her seemed like a good start.

But there were much more important things to do, things like finding answers.

She’d have time to pick up these pieces later.

Trevor ushered her outside.

As soon as she stepped onto the porch, a car screech to a stop in front of them.

Then bullets fired.

* * *

“Get down!” Trevor shouted.

He started to reach for his gun.

Before he could grab it, he realized Sadie had reached for it.

She aimed it at the car and fired.

The back glass shattered.

A moment later, the car squealed away.

And Sadie stood there, an intense look on her face, almost as if she’d transformed into someone else.

As quickly as the expression had appeared, it vanished.

Her eyes and shoulders softened, and she lowered the gun.

Trembles overtook her.

Quickly, Trevor took the gun from her and shoved it into his holster. Then he placed his arm around Sadie.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

She nodded, still trembling. “Yes . . . I think so.”

“Where did you learn to shoot like that?” It didn’t make any sense . . . unless she was a trained assassin or something.

“I . . . I have no idea. It was all instinct.”

“I’d say.” He frowned as he replayed the incident.

That had been the last thing he’d expected.

Thankfully, no one had been hurt.

But that had been close.

His mind still reeled as he replayed what had happened.

Sadie definitely had some secrets.

For now, he called Detective Bennett. He needed to tell the man what had happened before the neighbors reported it.

But his heart was still racing as he tried to process Sadie’s undeniable gun skills.