Laurie’s Wolves(49)

“Doubt it.” He chuckled. There’s an empty car behind them. More than likely they’re doing the same thing as us.”

“Hiding?”

“Yep.”

He glanced out Laurie’s window as they passed, but the windows on the other car were completely fogged over. No way to see who was inside. Besides, he wouldn’t have bothered them anyway. If they wanted privacy, just like him, who was he to impose? If they had needed help, they would have gotten out and asked for it.





Chapter Twelve


The sun was coming up as Zach pulled his truck into the parking lot of his condo. He jumped down from the cab as Laurie did the same on the other side. They’d left her rental car at Corbin’s, but he figured she could drop him off at the resort if she needed a car. Or he hoped he could convince her to come with him.

Maybe she could ski or hang with Sharon or Carlie. Anything to keep her mind off looking for a job and possibly make her feel better.

A few hours of sleep first would be nice, but they barely had time for a nap at this hour.

Zach rounded the hood of the truck and took Laurie’s hand as they approached the condo.

“Wait.” She stopped dead in her tracks, her face scanning the area.

Zach looked around, seeing nothing. “What is it?”

“I don’t know, but I have a weird vibe.” She tugged her hand free of his and rubbed her hands together. She could be cold. She wasn’t wearing gloves, but Zach didn’t think it had anything to do with the temperature.

He waited.

She inched forward finally. “Someone’s been here.”

“Who?”

“I don’t know.” She continued to glance around.

Zach stepped around her, concerned about the condo. If someone had been there, perhaps with ill intent, he wanted to make sure they weren’t still there. “Wait outside.”

Laurie followed him to the door and then grabbed his arm. “Don’t open the door.”

“Why not?” He was growing frustrated, but he didn’t want to make light of her concerns. He knew better. He’d heard all the tales of his two older brothers not heeding the warnings of Melinda and Mimi. No way in hell would he not listen to Laurie.

But what harm could there be in opening the door?

Laurie tugged him away from the door. “Trust me. I can’t explain it, but don’t open the door.”

He lifted both hands in the air in defeat. “Okay. Should I call Corbin?”

She chewed on her lip a moment and then nodded. “And your brother Trace.”

Trace was a deputy at the local sheriff’s department. He still lived in Sojourn in Melinda’s tiny apartment while they waited for their home to be built on the edge of the Native American territory, near Rebecca. He probably wouldn’t arrive any faster than Corbin.

Zach felt a tingling sensation race up his spine at the same time Laurie’s eyes widened and she gasped. For the second time, he too was privileged to see the black smoke moving in. It surrounded their feet first and then coalesced between them and the door to the condo.

Zach stepped back, taking Laurie with him, his grip probably too firm on her arm.

She reached out a hand to touch the smoky substance.

It gave him the willies, but he let her. Surely the spirit meant no harm.

“It’s a warning.”

“I’m a believer, baby. You don’t have to tell me twice.” He stepped back farther, pulling on Laurie, who seemed reluctant to move away from the smoke. It was so thick, it blocked the door almost completely from view.

Zach pulled out his phone and called Trace, who answered on the first ring. “Zach?”

“Yeah. Sorry it’s so early. We seem to have a problem here.”

“What?”

“Laurie had a feeling.”

“Don’t ignore those.” Zach sounded more awake now.

“I wouldn’t. Anyway, she doesn’t feel like it’s safe to enter the condo. And I’m inclined to agree since the moment we reached the door, one of those black aura things popped up between us and the condo.”

“Shit. I’m calling the station on my other phone. Don’t hang up.”

Zach listened to the muted voice of his brother on the phone with the sheriff’s office for a minute, and then Trace was back. “They’re on their way. And I am too. It’ll take me about forty to get there though. Get away from the condo.”

Suddenly Zach was no longer listening to his brother. Melinda’s voice came over the line. “Get back. Get Laurie away from there. It’s not safe.”

Zach almost grinned. “On it.” He threaded his fingers with Laurie’s and pulled her farther away, past the truck and into the parking lot.