Page 44 of Unhinged

“I’m sorry.” Hannah didn’t know what else to say. “Everything will work out the way it’s supposed to, I’m sure of it.”

“Speaking of…” Audrey arched one eyebrow playfully. “You owe me some gossip.”

She knew Audrey was trying to push away the sadness, so she allowed the change of subject. She dropped her head to the bed. “Oh, Audrey. I think I messed up.”

She told her all about Andrew insisting she go home with him, and Audrey’s lips pressed into a firm line as she continued. “As if herding me out of there last night wasn’t bad enough, we left my car there so he had to take me back to work this morning. And naturally…”

“Luke saw you show up with Andrew,” Audrey finished. The corners of her mouth turned down. “I know he’s your friend, but… I think this will just get worse unless you do something about it.”

She dropped her gaze, knowing Audrey was right. “I know. But I think he truly does have my best interest at heart.”

Audrey looked like she wanted to say more, so she eagerly changed the subject. “Do you think you’ll get released tomorrow, then?”

Audrey shrugged. “I feel fine, so as long as everything looks good, I don’t see why not. I’m ready to get out of here and sleep in my own bed.”

She laughed. “You’ve only been here one night.”

“One night too many.” Audrey grimaced. “Hospital beds suck. I have a whole new appreciation for long-term care patients.”

“You can come stay with me.”

“No way.” Audrey shook her head. “I wouldn’t impose on you like that.”

“Don’t be silly, of course you can. You’re my best friend.” She crossed her arms over her midsection. “You really should have someone around, just in case. I don’t know who the creep was or what he wanted, but he came after you for a reason.”

“I’m not too worried about it. My condo’s in a pretty safe area.” She shrugged. “Plus, I haven’t had a chance to update anything, so my old address is listed on almost everything. Unless someone would try to follow me home, they’d have a hard time trying to find me.”

She opened her mouth to say more, but motion outside the door caught her eye as Scott entered the room. She turned to Audrey. “Listen, I’ll let you get some rest, but I’ll stop by tomorrow to see you. We’ll talk then.”

With another quick hug, she said goodbye and headed home. She disengaged the alarm and kicked her shoes off with a little sigh of relief. All she wanted to do was drink a glass of wine and unwind on the couch, maybe get caught up on a couple of shows. Dropping her purse and keys on the side table, she walked down the hallway toward the kitchen. A strange tension hung in the air, and her steps slowed as she glanced around. Something felt… off.

She peered through the archway of the living room, her gaze flitting around the room. Nothing appeared to be missing, but she couldn’t help the prickle of unease that slithered down her spine. Her eyes landed on the coffee table, and she examined the cluttered surface.

Her fingers trailed over the magazines and books stacked haphazardly in one corner. They looked slightly out of place, like someone had riffled through them then tried to put them back just the way they’d found them.

She turned slowly in place. Something was wrong here. Backing toward the door, she snatched up her purse and strode from the house, digging her phone out as she went. After everything that had transpired over the past couple of weeks, it was all too much.

Standing outside on the lawn, phone in hand, she hesitated. The police wouldn’t be able to do anything. There was no evidence of a break-in, nothing missing that she’d seen. She tapped her nails against the screen and bit her lip. There was only one person she could call.

CHAPTER

NINETEEN

Luke turned into the driveway and pulled alongside Hannah’s silver sedan, his heart in his throat. This was not at all how he had imagined their next meeting. He had driven like a madman the whole way there, breaking every law imaginable in his need to see her.

He still wasn’t entirely sure why she had called him of all people, but he wasn’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth. She had sounded terrified on the phone, her voice vibrating with fear even as she had tried to remain calm. Throwing the truck in park, he hopped out and was already jogging toward the front porch before the door fully closed behind him.

Hannah popped up from where she sat on the bottom step, and he froze. His eyes raked over her from head to toe, taking in the tension in her body, the way her arms were wrapped protectively around her waist. “Thanks for coming,” she said.

“Of course.” He ached with the need to pull her into his arms but stopped himself just in time. He flexed his hands at his sides. “Want to tell me what happened?”

She glanced off to the side. “It sounds silly, but I got home and things just felt… wrong.”

He ambled closer, keeping his steps slow and measured as he closed the distance between them. “Is anything missing or out of place?”

“I… I’m not sure. I mean, I don’t think anything is missing, but it feels like someone went through my stuff, like it’s not exactly the way I left it.”

He examined her for a moment before responding, watching as she rubbed her hands briskly over her arms as if to dispel a chill. Considering it was almost eighty-five degrees outside, he seriously doubted it was the weather. She had been through a lot lately, and he understood her discomfort.