Cave of Secrets by Shannon Redmon

Author:Shannon Redmon
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2020-07-13T12:41:03+00:00

* * *

Silence.

No sounds in the house and no replies from Zain. Where was a good man when a girl needed him?

Carli glanced at her phone. The battery was blinking red and she’d be losing contact with the 911 operator soon. “My phone’s about to die. Are the officers close?”

“Five minutes out.”

“There’s supposed to be a deputy on guard at my house, but he’s not here.”

“We had to call all units to a burglary in progress. I’ve got two units on their way.”

“I’m going to save what battery I have left and hang up. I’ll try to get to my landline downstairs in the office and call back.”

“Can you give me that number?”

She recited the number for the operator.

Carli shut down her phone and darkness enveloped her. Tyler had to have a flashlight somewhere. He’d always kept one hidden when they were kids so he could get up and play with his toys after he was supposed to be in bed. Maybe there was one on the top shelf. Carli stood on her tiptoes, slid her hand across and bumped something hard. Found it. She pulled it down and flicked on the switch. The glow was a bit dim. Probably about dead too. At least her weapon didn’t run on batteries.

Carli scooted to the door to listen. Passing time felt like hours, but according to the last look on her phone, ten minutes had passed. Sirens sounded in the distance. If the man in the barn followed her, maybe he’d hear them and think twice about coming inside.

As she leaned against the door frame, something pressed into her arm and she reached for it.

Her fingers grasped the locket on her necklace and slipped the piece of jewelry over her head, holding it under the glow of the flashlight.

Brilliance gleamed in the reflection off the base, highlighting detailed edging. A teal butterfly sat on top, wings lifted into the air, giving it a three-dimensional look.

With a press of the clasp, a small photo inside displayed her and Sadie. Two young women on college graduation day. So much hope in their happy expressions. Best friends ready to take the world by storm. They had planned to make a difference in the health care and marketing worlds.

“Why did you leave me?” She whispered the question, as if the moment was sacred. “Who killed you, Sadie? You’ve got to help me find the person who took your life.”

The locket slipped from her fingers and fell onto the hardwood floor with a clatter. Carli scrambled to retrieve the piece before it rolled into a nook never to be found again. That was the last memento from her friend and she’d never forgive herself if she lost it.

With a quick swipe, Carli uncurled her fingers.

The wings of the butterfly were popped up from their original position, synced together. She tried to press them back into place when the body of the creature slid down extending below the base. A slight click secured the extension.

Carli no longer held a locket.

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