Dylan turned slowly to face her. What did you say?
Blair leaned back against the door frame. Surely you can see it, too.
He whirled back to the bed, more shaken than he cared to admit. For a moment, he almost let her persuade him. There was something eerily familiar about the doll. Something perverted and sinister about the shattered limbs, the twisted neck and those open, staring eyes. Hed seen a lot of bad things in Afghanistan, dark things, but no amount of death and destruction could obliterate the image of Lily Callens broken body after a twenty-story fall. He wondered if the others still had nightmares about that night. About the lies that had been told and the secrets that had been kept.
I dont blame you for being upset, he said. But its a reach to think the doll is an effigy of Lily.
Is it? The blond hair, the blue eyes? The way shes been placed on the bed? You think all thats just a coincidence? Something in her voice made Dylan glance over his shoulder again. She was clearly distraught, and yet her demeanor didnt seem quite right. He couldnt put his finger on it exactly, but unease stirred.
He turned back to the doll. Of course its not a coincidence. But Lily wasnt the only one with blond hair and blue eyes. That description fits you, too, Blair. Id say if the doll is meant to represent anyone, its you.
Me? But what about the way the doll has been damaged?
As if she fell? Think about it for a minute. You and Tony are still avid climbers. There was a write-up about you in Summit Magazine not too long ago.
How did you know about that article? she asked in shock.
Its my job to know.
That seemed to give her pause. You think the person behind the phone calls and break-in did this?
Isnt that why you hired me? Because you were worried those threats would follow you here? Dylan lifted his gaze from the doll, catching Blairs reflection in one of the windows. She wasnt looking at the bed. Her left hand was splayed in front of her and she seemed mesmerized by the sparkle of her diamond rings.
Blair?
Her hand dropped at once. Yes?
Youve told me everything, havent you?
What do you mean?
You havent received any other threats since youve been here?
No, everythings been fine.
Dylan moved around to the other side of the bed so that he could examine the shattered porcelain while keeping an eye on Blair. Where were you before you found the doll?
I went down to the springs for a swim. I was gone for about two hours.
No one else has a key to your room?
Just the staff.
You didnt see anyone lurking in the hallway when you left? Anything out of the ordinary happen while you were out?
Not that I noticed. Dylan... She took a reluctant step into the room, averting her gaze from the bed. The other threats were more straightforward. The phone calls, the message left on the bathroom mirror. This is more nuanced. More diabolical somehow. If what youre saying is true...if the doll is meant to represent me, then Tony is no longer the target. I am.
He could still be the ultimate objective. From everything youve told me, hes a ruthless negotiator. He doesnt give up or give in. Personal threats wouldnt faze him, but if his opponents believe youre his Achilles heel, they may think the best way to get to him is through you.
If only they knew, she murmured.
Meaning?
Nothing. Her head came up defiantly. Youre right. Tony doesnt give up or give in. No matter what. It may sound bizarre, but youve made me feel better. A stranger using me as leverage to gain the upper hand in a business deal is infinitely preferable to one of my oldest friends playing a malicious trick on me.
Even so, you shouldnt take any of this lightly. This person has been watching you. He or she is familiar with your comings and goings, and theyve managed to infiltrate your personal space not once, but twice. Ill have another look around the grounds and Ill talk to the staff, find out if any strangers have been spotted on the property. In the meantime, you should consider bringing in more security.
You know I cant do that. I explained why in Ezra Blackthorns office during our first meeting. Tony would never agree to protection. Hed see it as a sign of weakness. If I brought in a bunch of strangers, hed catch on immediately and send you all away. Like it or not, youre our only defense, Dylan.
Ill do whatever it takes to keep you safe, but Im just one person and this is a large, isolated property. I cant be everywhere at once, so Ill say it again. Dont let your guard down and dont get careless.
I understand.
He walked over to the French doors. Were these open while you were gone?
Yes, the suite seemed a little stuffy. I wanted to air out the bedroom while I swam. Were on the second floor. I didnt think anyone could get in.
Someone can always get in. It wouldnt take much skill or strength to scale the wall. Remind me again of the room arrangements?
Your room is across the hall, of course, and Ava is next to you. Celeste is at the end and Jane is across from her. Theres an empty room between her room and this suite.
Dylan thought about the flash of light hed seen earlier. He could have sworn someone had been watching him from a balcony doorway. Youre sure no one else is staying at the ranch besides staff? Not even in the cabins?
The last of the guests checked out over the weekend. I reserved the whole place for a week, so no one else should be arriving until Saturday. Except for Tony, of course. Hes still due in tonight.
Dylan stepped out on the balcony. Twilight had deepened to nightfall and a few stars hung low on the horizon. He could see the glitter of the moon through the trees, but the leaves muted the illumination. He took out his cell phone and shone the beam across the floor and all along the rail, looking for any evidence left by the intruder. Then he straightened and gazed down the row of balconies. A curtain billowed next door.
He went back inside and latched the French doors. You said the room next door is empty, correct?
Yes, why?
Wait here while I check something out. Dont let anyone in while Im gone.
Blair shivered as her gaze darted to the bed. What am I supposed to do with the doll?
Leave it. Dont touch anything. Ill take care of it when I get back.
He left the suite and strode down the hallway to the next room, pressing his ear to the door before knocking. He couldnt hear anything inside and the door was locked. He retraced his steps to Blairs suite. When she let him in, he went back out to the balcony.
Blair trailed after him. Dylan? What are you doing?
Trying to figure out how someone got into your suite. He climbed on top of the railing and then hoisted himself up to the roof. From his vantage, he had an expansive view of the property. Light from the downstairs windows and patios cast an anemic glow over the grounds, but the woods beyond lay in deep shadow. The night was so quiet he could hear the ripple of leaves and the gurgle of a creek beyond the trees. To his right, the escarpment was a jagged silhouette against the navy sky.
He scanned the cliffs and probed all along the tree line. If anyone was out there, they were well hidden by the night.
He scanned the cliffs and probed all along the tree line. If anyone was out there, they were well hidden by the night.
Lifting his face to the sky, he closed his eyes for a moment as he tried to calm a festering worry. Something was wrong. He could sense discord all around him, could hear it in the eerie saw of the breeze that blew through the pinions. In the whisper of water over rocks from the springs. Somewhere on the ridge a coyote howled, followed by a series of yips and barks that lifted the hair at the back of his neck. They sensed it, too, he thought. He wasnt particularly insightful and definitely not clairvoyant, but hed learned a long time ago not to second-guess his instincts.
The doll was a troublesome development. Nuanced and diabolical, Blair had said. Maybe they were both overthinking the situation, but Dylan couldnt shake the notion that more was going on beneath the surface. That the threats to Blair and Tony Redding might be nothing more than a clever ruse to lure Dylan and the others to Whispering Springs. But why?
* * *
A FEW MINUTES LATER, Dylan hurried along the edge of the roof and dropped down onto the next balcony.
Parting the billowing curtains, he stepped inside. The layout and furnishings were similar to those of his room. King-size bed facing a large armoire with a flat-screen TV and bar. Desk and chair situated in front of the French doors. Bathroom and closet just off the entry. A quick search through the armoire drawers and closet yielded nothing. The room appeared spotless, bed neatly made, fresh towels in the bathroom. It was possible the cleaning staff had left the balcony doors open by mistake, but he kept going back to the flash of light hed seen from the escarpment.
He went out into the hallway, glancing both ways before returning a second time to Blairs suite. She answered his knock at once.
Before he could say anything, she leaned in to murmur, Avas here.
Where?
She pointed to the bedroom. The door was open and she saw the doll. I couldnt stop her from going in.
He said nothing else as he moved out of the foyer and into the sitting room. Ava stood just beyond the bedroom doorway. She had her back to him, but she spun as soon as she heard him approach.
Have you seen this?
He took in her pale face and wide green eyes. Yes, Ive seen it.
What do you make of it? What kind of sick joke is someone trying to pull here?
Before he could answer, Blair came into the room, keeping her distance from the bed. Its not a joke. Its a warning effigy.
Ava looked aghast. A what?
Blair, Dylan cautioned.
She gave a helpless shrug. Whats the point of keeping her in the dark now? Shes already seen the doll. Besides, maybe she can help keep an eye out.
An eye out for what? For who? Ava glanced from Blair to Dylan, her expression turning resolute and suspicious. One of you had better start talking. And dont give me any nonsense about scorpions and spiders. Just tell me the straight-up truth. Whats going on here?
Dylan eyed Blair carefully. Its your call.
She nodded before turning back to Ava. Long story short, Tony is negotiating a merger for Redding Technologies. Theres been a lot of opposition within both companies and from outside competitors. Thats not unusual, but a couple of weeks ago, he started getting threatening phone calls at work. Then last week our house was broken into and someone left a message on the bathroom mirror.
What was the message?
Tell the truth.
Tell the truth, Ava repeated with a pensive frown. And you think that message has something to do with the merger?
Coming after the phone calls, it seems a logical conclusion, Dylan said.
Ava shot him a glance before turning back to the bed. She wore that look again, the one that told him she wasnt about to accept anything at face value.
Do you know what truth theyre talking about? Ava asked.
Tony doesnt talk much about his business deals, Blair hedged.
Did you call the police?
No, because he doesnt take the threats seriously. He thinks the opposition is trying to rattle him. If we go to the police, theyll know theyre getting to him. It would weaken his bargaining power.
Hes playing a risky game with your safety, Ava said as she moved around to the other side of the bed. She seemed to want to keep an eye on both of them while she examined the doll.
I agree, Blair said. It is risky. Thats why I went behind my husbands back and hired Dylan. To Tony and everyone else, hes just another guest.
Avas head came up. What do you mean, you hired Dylan?
He had remained silent for most of the exchange, preferring to let his client disclose as much or as little as she felt was warranted. But his gaze had remained on Ava, and now he saw a war of emotions on her face as she struggled to make sense of his deception.
I work for a private security firm in Houston, he explained. You may have heard of itthe Blackthorn Agency.
Yes, I know of it. Her tone sounded stilted. For how long?
A little over a year.
She shrugged, but her features hardened. So much for being at loose ends.
I can explain, he wanted to tell her, but instead he allowed her to draw her own conclusions.
Please dont say anything to the others, Blair pleaded. I asked everyone here so that we could catch up and have a good time. Maybe even mend some fences. We were once like family.
That was a long time ago, Ava said, her cool gaze brushing Dylans before she looked away.
And yet youre here. Blairs smile turned hopeful. Call me sentimental, but I still miss what we had. I still miss us. I thought if we could all get together just one more time, we could somehow recapture the magic. Maybe thats just wishful thinking. Even so, I dont want to cast a pall over our reunion.
I dont like any of this, Ava said. I think you should go to the police regardless of what Tony says. Its dangerous and irresponsible to do otherwise. Ill keep quiet for now, but if anything else happens, all bets are off. Her gaze dropped to the bed. What are you going to do with this thing?
Dylan moved around beside her. Ill handle everything in here. Why dont you take Blair into the other room and fix her a drink? She still looks a little shaken.
Ava nodded. Good idea. Maybe Ill fix one for myself while Im at it.