Haunted Hex (Familiar Kitten Mysteries Book 10) by Sara Bourgeois (best value ebook reader txt) 📗

“Let’s go home, Kinsley,” Meri said.

“All right,” I relented.

I got Laney buckled in and got into the car. As soon as I did, Meri said, “Lock the doors and pull out of the driveway.”

“What?”

“Just do it, Kinsley,” Meri said.

“Okay, okay,” I said and did as he instructed.

As soon as we were halfway down the block, I pulled over. “What was that?” I asked.

“Call the police and tell them someone is outside of Lilith’s house,” Meri said.

“You said they were gone,” I said.

“Yeah, because they were listening,” Meri said. “He was hiding in the shadows next to the house. I wasn’t sure if you could make it back inside, but call the police. I was trying to hint to you that you were in danger without… I don’t know. I wanted to get you away. But, he’s really still there, and you need to call for help.”

So, I did. I called the dispatcher and told her that I thought I’d seen a prowler outside of Lilith’s house. I wanted to go back, but when I called my dad to tell him, he insisted I go home.

He said he would make sure all of the doors and windows were locked, and then while I drove, Dad called Thorn and told him to meet me outside when I got home.

Thorn came out the front door as I pulled into the driveway. “Do you need to go?” I asked.

“No, my deputies can handle it,” Thorn said. “I’m not leaving you.”

We went inside, and I told Thorn about hearing the rustling in the bush and about how Meri had lied to get me in the car. As I talked and paced in front of the fire, Thorn held Laney against his chest and rocked her to sleep.

“Smart thinking cat,” Thorn said. “Come on, sweetie. Laney’s out. Let’s go to bed.”

“I can’t go to bed right now. I have to know if my family is okay,” I said. “Plus, I’m too wound up.”

But even as I said the words, I felt myself slump. I hit a wall hard.

“You know that if anything happens, not only will your family call you, but my deputies will call me. I’m going to leave one of them patrolling Lilith’s neighborhood for the rest of the night. Now, come to bed,” Thorn said.

There was a time when the commanding edge in his voice would have ticked me off and made me want to do the exact opposite. That night it was a comfort. I could lean into his need to protect me, and maybe… just let him.

I woke up twice in the middle of the night. Once, Meri was on the windowsill watching outside with wide eyes. When I started to get up, he told me to go back to sleep. I didn’t want to, but I was so exhausted that my eyes closed on their own.

The next time I woke, Thorn and Meri were watching out the window. “I just needed to feed the baby,” Thorn said as he held Laney and patted her back.

“Then why are you watching out the window?” I asked as I raised myself up on my elbows.

“The stars are beautiful,” he said. “Go back to sleep, babe.”

I wanted to argue, but again, I could not. If you asked me, though, I would have sworn they were watching something, or someone, outside.

Chapter Eight

The next morning, Thorn was reluctant to go to work. It made me even more suspicious that he and Meri had seen someone outside the night before.

“I probably won’t stay here much today,” I said. “I want to go check on Reggie at the shop, and I’d like to go visit my parents and Lilith. So, I won’t be around at home. Why are you so worried about going into work?”

“You know why,” he said. “There was no one around by the time my deputies got to Lilith’s house last night, but I believe the cat. Someone was there. Someone is stalking your family.”

“Is that all?” I asked.

“Why wouldn’t it be?” Thorn asked in return, and I knew. His answering a question with a question was a clear deflection, and he knew as soon as he did it that I’d picked up on his attempt. “Fine, I did think I saw someone last night. Kinsley was fussy and needed a change. You were so tired, so I got up to feed her and change her diaper. When I did, I thought I saw something outside. The cat saw it too, and he’d been keeping watch. But, you already know all of this, don’t you?”

“You should have just told me last night,” I said.

“Why, so we could both sit up all night staring out the window?” Thorn asked. “Besides, Meri and I only thought we saw something. Shadows and bushes moving. Stuff that made me look twice, but it was never enough for me to call my deputy away from Lilith’s house. Maybe you should come with me this morning. I could drop you off somewhere. The shop or Lilith’s house?” Thorn asked.

I thought about it for a moment. “No, I can’t,” I said. “I have to be able to be at home, Thorn. I can be out and about most of the time, but I can’t keep Laney away from home all day. She’s so young, and it would be nearly impossible.”

“You could pack a bag and stay at Lilith’s all day,” he suggested.

“She needs to get better too,” I said. “I think having the baby there all day would be too much.”

He finally relented and went to work. I sent him off with a full Thermos of coffee and the chicken he hadn’t eaten the night before. There wasn’t much left after he’d had at it while I was gone, but it was enough with some biscuits for a decent breakfast.

After Meri and I had our morning meal, I got Laney’s diaper bag ready to go, and we headed out. Only, I didn’t go