Sienna awoke with a start. She sat up straight in bed, saw the strange surroundings, and in an instant, everything flashed back to her.
The man who’d broken into her house. Fleeing. Being followed. Coming to this strange cabin with her aloof neighbor.
She glanced over at the other twin bed across the room. Quickly, she pulled her blanket back and rushed toward Colby. She released the breath she held.
He was sleeping soundly. The boy had always been a good sleeper—a fact she was grateful for right now. And even better, he didn’t seem any worse for wear after everything that had happened yesterday.
Glancing at the time, she saw that it was six thirty. Early-morning sunlight was already trickling in through the trees. She needed to borrow Devin’s phone and call in to her school, let them know she wouldn’t be there today. Even though it was June, she taught at a small private school that had a year-round schedule.
She lumbered into the living room, pausing in the doorway as she spotted Devin standing by the window, a steaming cup of coffee in his hands. He’d changed clothes—he’d brought an overnight bag with him. He’d donned clean jeans and a black T-shirt. His dark hair looked combed and his skin clean.
He turned when he heard her footsteps and offered a tight smile. “Morning.”
“Morning. How did it go last night?” Sienna pushed her hair from eyes.
An unreadable emotion crossed Devin’s gaze, and he turned his back from the window and stepped closer. “It was okay.”
What wasn’t he telling her? Sienna felt certain there was something.
Yet here they all were. Safe. In one piece.
Maybe in good time Devin would share whatever worry was on his mind.
“Did you get any sleep?” Sienna leaned against the doorjamb and ignored the thought that wanted to materialize in her mind. The thought that this conversation could really be awkward considering the fact that the two of them hardly knew each other.
“No, not yet. There will be time for that later.”
That didn’t sound healthy. In fact, it even sounded contrary to Devin’s own advice to her last night. But she didn’t bring that up. Not now.
“May I use your phone to call in to work? I also need to call my best friend. She’ll have search parties out for me otherwise.”
“Of course. Just don’t give away our location.” He handed her his phone. “But I’m sure you know that.”
Sienna made her calls and returned the phone to Devin, who handed her a protein bar and a cup of coffee.
“I thought you might need this,” he said.
Her stomach rumbled at the thought of eating. She hadn’t realized she was hungry, but she was. “I do. Thank you.”
She sat at the dining room table, Devin taking a seat across from her. Based on his stiff body language, he wasn’t sitting to be social. No, he had something on his mind, which was fine, because Sienna had a lot on her mind also.
“Do we have a plan for today?” She took the wrapper off the protein bar and listened to it crinkle before taking a bite of the peanut butter–flavored breakfast. It wasn’t the best she’d ever had, but it was nourishment. It was nothing a cup of coffee couldn’t wash down.
“We’re going to lie low for a while longer,” Devin said, taking another sip of his own coffee. “I’m trying to set up a secondary location where we can go, if we need to.”
“And by ‘if we need to,’ you mean, if we need to because we’re discovered?”
He shrugged. “I need to stay ahead of this. But I realize that running is difficult with Colby.”
It was difficult. Colby needed stability. But in order for him to have stability, maybe they couldn’t stay here. His safety trumped everything else right now.
“How long do we have here?” she asked.
“I don’t know. As soon as you’re done eating, why don’t you get cleaned up? Keep your stuff together. We have to be prepared to move, if it comes to it.”
Any enjoyment she’d gotten out of the coffee disappeared. This wasn’t a quick trip to the mountains until everything blew over. No, this was a life-or-death situation, and she’d be wise to remember it.
* * *
An hour later, Sienna was dressed in some clean clothes she’d brought with her. Colby had woken up. She’d gotten him fed and dressed as well. The boy seemed clueless about everything going on around them—which was a blessing.
Sienna couldn’t stop thinking about it all. She’d tried to entertain Colby with some songs and by playing patty-cake, but the emotional toll was beginning to take effect on her. She was exhausted, and Colby wasn’t.
“Here, buddy. Check these out.” Devin squatted on the floor and pulled something from a bookshelf.
Sienna watched carefully. Devin held little wooden cars, probably handmade. And they looked older, like something Devin might have played with himself as a boy.
Colby looked timidly at Devin a moment before reaching for one. Devin handed it to him, his face taking on a different demeanor. Gone was the law enforcement professional. In his place was more of a fatherly figure.
The sight gripped Sienna’s heart. She had no idea Devin could have a soft, nurturing side. Something about it melted her insides just a little. Her ex had been like the pied piper—he could attract people faster than anyone she’d ever met before. But most of those relationships only went skin deep. They were a flash in the pan, ending as quickly as they’d begun.
Devin played with Colby for several minutes, making funny car sounds on the floor and driving the vehicles over imaginary hills.
Colby loved it.
After a few minutes, Devin stood and came back over to her. There was a strange look in his eyes.
Was that grief?
No, that couldn’t be right.
Or maybe it was. There was so much Sienna didn’t know about the man.
And none of it was her business, either.
“Do you mind?” She nodded to the computer.
“Go right ahead. Just be careful—don’t share your location, either purposefully or accidentally. And I’m not saying you’re that ignorant. I’m only saying that you’d be surprised how many people do just that.”
“I’ll be careful.” Sienna logged in to her social media account. She’d only gotten a profile at all because everyone in her grade level had decided to start a group chat there together. She hadn’t checked her pages in months, though.
She wasn’t sure what she hoped she might find here. Maybe an update from her friends at school. Maybe they had heard something, especially when Sienna hadn’t shown up at work this morning.
She needed some kind of connection to her regular life right now, and social media seemed as good a choice as anything.
She did have a couple messages from her colleagues. One said she hoped Sienna was doing okay and that she missed seeing her today. The second was from her assistant, who said the kids had made her a card.
They must think she was sick or that Colby wasn’t feeling well. That was a more likely scenario than the implausible situation she’d found herself in.
Just before she was going to close out of the site and return to the mindless task of fretting, a new message popped up.
Sienna’s breath caught. “Devin, it’s from Anita.”
He rushed toward her.
As her eyes scanned the words, her pulse throbbed louder in her ears.
Sienna, I know this is all confusing. I can’t explain right now. But please keep Colby safe. And whatever you do, don’t trust the police.
She looked up at Devin. “What does this mean?”
His grim face said it all. “I don’t know. But I don’t like it.”
* * *
Devin leaned over the computer. “Type back. Ask Anita where she is and if she’s okay.”
Sienna drew in a deep breath and did as he asked.
Then they both waited. But there was nothing. No response.
Devin knew it was a long shot that Anita would reply. But it was worth a try, and she still might reply eventually.
“Let’s keep an eye on it, okay?” Devin said. “Maybe she’ll reach out again. The more information we have on the woman, the better.”
Sienna nodded, still looking apprehensive. “Did you hear anything about her true identity?”
“No, I haven’t heard from any of my contacts yet.” He’d called his superior at the FBI and told him what was going on. He wanted to remain on the up-and-up and not test his limits, since he was officially on a sabbatical. His boss had given him clearance to help with the case.
All of that had happened during the wee hours of the morning as he stood watch at the cabin. Nothing had materialized from those lights he’d seen through the trees. Maybe it just had been a car—or two cars—traveling down the mountain road in the distance. Either way, he had to remain careful.
Sienna’s gaze went to Colby. “All I can think about is who Anita really is. Why she’s running. How this all might affect Colby.”
Devin followed her line of sight, grief clutching his heart at the sight of Colby. His daughter used to like to sit in that very place and play with his old toys, as well. Sometimes, it felt like a lifetime ago. Other times, it felt like just yesterday.
How he missed Willow. And he always would. There was a gaping hole in his heart that he was certain would never go away or heal.
Devin cleared his throat. “Hopefully, all of this won’t affect Colby. He’s young enough that he can bounce back. I doubt he’ll remember most of it.”
“We need to keep it that way. I can’t stomach the thought of someone taking him and what kind of trauma that would place on him. It’s not healthy.” Sienna crossed her arms, a determined look in her eyes.
Devin appreciated the woman’s concern for the boy. Sienna was kind and empathetic—just the kind of person you wanted to watch your child in a jam. Only this one had put her directly in harm’s way.
Sienna suddenly stood and let out a long breath, one that showed exhaustion. “I should figure out the food situation. It will be lunchtime soon.”
“There’s not much here, but I think I saw some cans of tuna fish that haven’t expired and some crackers.”
“I’ll see what I can put together.”
“That would be great.” Devin didn’t argue. It would be good for her to keep her mind occupied. Besides, he wanted to make a phone call.
As Sienna went into the kitchen, and with Colby still occupied and safe, he stepped into a bedroom and pulled out his cell. He dialed Detective Jenson’s number.
“Devin, what can I do for you?” Detective Jenson said.
“I was hoping you might be willing to give me an update on the situation.” As soon as he said the words, Devin wondered about Anita’s warning. Don’t trust the police. Why would she say that? And whom was she referring to?
He had no idea.
“Not much to share,” Detective Jenson said. “We haven’t been able to figure out the woman’s real identity or even if she’s alive.”
“She sent a message online to Sienna. Said she was okay, to keep Colby safe and not to trust the police.”
Detective Jenson paused for a minute. “That’s interesting. Any idea why she would say that?”
“Like I mentioned earlier, I wonder if she’s running from the baby’s father or an abusive situation. Maybe the baby’s father is in law enforcement, for that matter.”
“Something to consider,” Jenson said. “In the meantime, you want to give me a location? In case we need to find you?”
Devin thought about his response before saying, “The less people who know, the better.” Even more so now that Anita had posted her warning.
“Okay then. It’s your call. But if you need us, we won’t know how to find you.”
It was a risk Devin was willing to take—for now, at least. “You just do your job, and I’ll worry about keeping them safe.”
“Very well. I hope you’re not making a mistake, though.”
Me too, he thought. Me too.
Just as Devin ended the call, a sound sliced through the air.
His back muscles clenched as his body instantly reacted. He grabbed his gun.
That was a bullet.
Someone was firing at the cabin.