UNINVITED

Chapter 25

I drove back to the farmhouse after meeting up with Anne. I was tempted to visit my sister, but I didn’t. If I stayed another minute in the city, I was certain Tom was going to find me. My only hope was Anne. Something told me she’d keep to her word and help me out.

     I parked my car in front of the Bergers’ house. Smoothening the crease on my dress, I opened the door, and just when I placed a leg out, Clara meowed.

     I sighed. “You wanna come?”

     She just stared at me. She had been behaving well lately. She stayed in the car while I spoke to Anne at the restaurant and now I guessed she was bored.

     “All right. C’mon.”

    I untied the leash from the headrest and carried her into my arms, then stepped out. The wind blowing my dress, I walked to the front porch and knocked. No response. I lifted a hand to the door again but stopped halfway when I heard footsteps in the interior, and then the lock squealed.

     The door slid open. I found myself looking at Alec in a polo shirt and dark jeans.

     I smiled. “Hey.”

     He grinned at me. “Hey, Elodie. I haven’t seen you in a while.”

     “Yeah. I just returned from the city.”

     “You went out?”

     “Yes.”

    His eyes swung from me to Clara. “Come on in.”

     I followed Alec into the living room.

     He said, turning around, “I didn’t know you had a cat.” He stretched a hand and stroked Clara’s fur. She licked his hand. “What’s her name?”

     “Clara.”

     “Clara,” he whispered and looked down at her with a broad smile. “Hey, Clara. I’m Alec and a friend of your Mommy.”

     Clara continued licking his hand until he withdrew.

    “I think she likes you. She’s shy around strangers,” I said as he guided me to a couch.

     “Maybe because you’re here too. Have a seat.”

     I sat across from him. “How’re you feeling?” I peered at the plaster on his temple. “Does it hurt?”

     “I’m better, and it doesn’t hurt. Not anymore.”

     “Great to hear. Where’s Amy? I don’t see any sign of her.”

     “She went out to get some stuff.”

     I took that in. He’d let her go out without his presence for the first time since I met them. Then I guessed it was because he wasn’t feeling well, although he was trying to hide it. It was visible in his eyes. He was still recovering from the shock of the robbery. Perfect timing. I could ask him about the other night to confirm what Amy had said. I still wasn’t convinced I imagined it.

     Before I moved my lips, he said, “Can I get you anything?”

     “Thanks. I’m good. Alec?”

     He glanced up at me, and I stared into his eyes. He didn’t look like a dangerous man or someone with a deadly secret. When I met him at the convenience store, he hadn’t struck me as a bad man too. But everyone had dark secrets.

     “Yes, Elodie.”

     “I want to ask you something about a couple of nights ago.”