Page 65 of Night Prey
“Then lead the way.” Londyn got up.
“It’s gonna be fun to see all of you up there.” Nicole stared at Ian. “’Specially you. You’re big.”
She bolted from the room, and her mother mouthedthank-you.
“Nice work, Steele,” Ian said as they followed the mother into a well-manicured yard with flower beds coloring the perimeter.
They crossed a patio flanked with an outdoor kitchen and gas grill that gave Ian grill envy, to three massive maple trees. The house was built among them. It had wide steps leading up to a twenty-foot platform holding a house that was styled to match their home, even down to the gingerbread shingles at the peak.
“Wow,” Ian said. “That’s more like a mansion.”
Her mother looked back at him and smiled. “My husband’s an architect. He built the treehouse of his dreams.”
Nicole had already scampered up and waited for them at the door. The other women climbed the ladder, and Ian took up the rear. He arrived in time to see Nicole scoot a box out of sight with her foot. Of course, that set off Ian’s radar. The mom faced the other way and had her gaze fixed on Ian and Londyn, so she missed the action.
“Where should we sit, Nicole?” Londyn asked.
“The floor.” Nicole dropped to the wood planks in the space with pink walls and big purple beanbag chairs.
Everyone settled with crossed legs on the floor, Londyn across from Nicole.
“So tell me about this drone,” Londyn said. “Was it scary?”
“Not at first, but when it kept following me, I remembered all the things my mom and dad said about safety.” Nicole shook her head. “They didn’t say anything bad about drones. So I didn’t tell them right away.”
“And why did you decide to tell them?” Londyn asked.
“’Cause it came back the next day.”
“Did it follow you again?”
She shook her head, her pigtails flying, and bit her lip.
“Where were you when it came back?” Londyn asked.
Nicole clutched her hands together. “In the family room. I heard it and looked out the window. It went to Ty’s house.”
“Our neighbor,” Ruth said. “Nice family.”
“And did the drone just fly up to the house and leave?” Londyn asked.
“Not exactly.” Nicole clutched her fingers together.
“Exactly what did it do?” Londyn asked, her tone softer this time.
Nicole glanced at her fingers, then up at her mother and back down.
“It’s okay, honey,” Ruth said. “You can tell us what happened.”
Nicole chewed on her lower lip. “You promise you won’t be mad?”
Her mother’s eyes tightened, but she smiled. “Promise.”
Nicole looked at Londyn. “It dropped off a package on his porch.”
“A package,” Ian said, unable to keep quiet any longer. “Was it a special package?”
Nicole shrugged.
