“Um, hello. Still can’t hear what he’s saying.” Liam scowled.

  She turned back to Liam who was visibly annoyed. “Sorry. Anyway, the two old lady cadaver ghosts told him there was some guy trying to get in last week.”

  Slow seething anger colored his features and his cheeks. “The night the alarm went off. You were out and I was waiting for you at your place.”

  Natalie nodded. She remembered.

  It was the first LADS meeting. At Harper and Agnes’s house. The night she first saw Millie— She didn’t have time to think more about it because Liam was on the move.

  Grumbling another string of curses worthy of a sailor even though he’d been in the Army, Liam stood. The angry determined set of his jaw made her happy his wrath was directed at this other researcher and not at her.

  Kneeling, Liam flipped up the embroidered Army-logo cloth draped over what she’d always thought was just a side table. She saw now it was a safe.

  As Liam keyed in the code, he glanced up. “Can Gabe make sure you get back to your place okay?”

  “Why?” When she saw him pull out a gun, she swallowed. “Liam. What are you going to do?”

  “Kill him,” he said with an eerie level of calm as he checked the gun for bullets.

  He strapped on the shoulder holster, complete with gun and extra clip of ammunition.

  When he grabbed his jacket off a wall hook and pulled it on over the holster, Natalie began to panic in earnest.

  “You’re not really. Are you?”

  With the hardest look she’d ever seen in his eyes he said, “I’ll see how I feel when I find him.”

  Zipping the jacket, he glanced back at her from the office doorway. “And when I get back, we’re going to discuss why you were sneaking into the lab while I was at the bar.”

  When he was gone, the exterior door slamming shut hard behind him, Gabe let out a low whistle. “Damn.”

  Still in shock over Liam snapping into warrior mode, she said, “You can say that again.”

  “He kind of makes me glad I’m already dead,” Gabe continued.

  She could only hope that thief of a researcher wouldn’t be joining Gabe in the realm of the dead.

  The intruder deserved prosecution. No doubt. Public shaming by all those in his field. Definitely. But even after what he’d done to her, she couldn’t believe he deserved death. Especially if it would send Liam to prison.

  Gabe took a step toward the doorway and Natalie followed.

  As they made their way past the freezer, Natalie shoved the door closed with more force than necessary. When the door refused to stay shut because of its lack of handle, she reached behind the appliance and yanked the plug out of the wall socket.

  Once she’d taken out her frustration and worry on the freezer she turned back to Gabe as he asked, “You don’t think he’d do it, do you?”

  Feeling a little sick, and not from her time in the freezer, she said, “I wish I knew.”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Waiting was hell.

  It didn’t matter that Natalie wasn’t inside a freezer praying to be rescued, but rather in her nice warm apartment pacing, waiting for Liam to return. She felt like she was losing her mind as she repeatedly checked her cell for at least a text if not a call.

  Gabe and Millie sat in front of the television but they were watching her back and forth progress across the room instead of the home improvement show on TV.

  “If you don’t stop pacing, you’re going to wear a hole in that rug.”

  As if Gabe had cursed her, Natalie tripped on a wrinkle in the throw rug and had to catch herself to stop from falling. She sent him a glare.

  He shrugged. “Told you.”

  “Why hasn’t he called?” she asked, moving from plain old debilitating worry to full on panic.

  It had been hours. Hours during which any number of things could have happened. And none of the scenarios that Natalie could come up with were good.

  Midnight had come and gone. The sun hadn’t risen yet but technically it was tomorrow, which to her mind made it feel like Liam had been missing for like two days instead of just since last evening.

  The glow of headlights hitting the closed curtains had her rushing to the window.

  “He’s home,” she breathed when she saw Liam’s Jeep pull in and park by the warehouse.

  “See. I told you,” Gabe said, but even after his condescending I told you so, he looked relieved himself.

  She was about to run outside in her fuzzy slippers when Liam turned and started walking toward her and the back door of the depot instead of toward the lab.

  His progress across the short distance felt like it took forever but he finally made it to her. Close enough she could yell at him for disappearing as worry and relief began to make way for other emotions.

  “I was so worried. Why didn’t you call or text?” she asked as he pushed past her and into the room.

  “I was too pissed off to talk.”

  “At the researcher guy?” she asked, hoping it wasn’t her he was so angry with he didn’t even want to speak to her.

  “Who else would it be?” He tossed his jacket on the back of a chair then reached into the fridge for a bottle of beer.

  Twisting off the cap, he tossed it into the trash and took a long swallow right where he stood illuminated by the refrigerator’s glow. Only then did he close the fridge door and head for the sofa.

  His determined stride and ramrod posture showed he was still strung tight.

  Flopping backward onto the cushions, Liam almost sat in Gabe’s lap. Only some quick reflexes on the ghost’s part got him clear in time.

  Gabe relocated to the empty spot on the other side of Millie but remained quiet.

  Natalie couldn’t blame him. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to disturb Liam in this mood either but she had to. The curiosity was killing her.

  “So, um, what happened?” she dared to ask.

  His gaze cut to hers. “I didn’t kill him if that’s what you’re asking.”

  There was a collective sigh audible from the three of them in the room. Natalie, Gabe and even Millie.

  Liam’s only reaction to the sound that alerted him that they weren’t alone was a barely perceptible pause as he lifted the bottle to his mouth.

  “Were you even able to find him?” Natalie asked.

  “Oh, I found him all right.” Jaw set, Liam raised the rapidly emptying bottle to his lips one more time.

  Gabe moved so he was no longer touching Millie—the move his own personal mute button when it came to Liam—and said, “Getting a story out of this guy is like pulling teeth.”

  Natalie did her best to not react to the truth of that and focused her attention on Liam. “And did you confront him?”

  “It was hard to since the police were hauling him away in handcuffs at the time.”

  “You went to the police?” she asked, surprised and relieved at the same time.

  He sighed. “Yeah. It took everything I had to not beat the shit out of him first, but I brought the video of him entering my lab to the police instead. And, sorry about this, Nat, but you’ll be getting a call from the Albany police to give a statement. I told them how he assaulted you and endangered your life.”

  “Don’t apologize. It’s fine. Of course I’ll give a statement.” She moved to where he sat and perched on the arm since the rest of the sofa was occupied. Laying a hand on his arm, she said, “I’m proud of you.”

  His brows formed a low line above his eyes as he grunted.

  “Looking back later, you’ll be happy you took the high road,” she continued.

  He let out a snort. “Not exactly the high road.”

  “Why? What else did you do?” she accused.

  “I might have sent the video of him breaking and entering along with a copy of the police report to the grant committee… And my med school alumni association mailing list. And then I might have stolen the envelope containing his grant application off his desk.”

  “Liam!” Natalie drew in a gasp as Gabe let out a loud bark of a laugh that resonated audibly through the room since his hand was on Millie’s leg.

  Liam cocked up a brow. “See. My man Gabe approves.”

  “I didn’t say I didn’t approve,” Natalie said. “There should be ramifications after what he did. I just don’t want any of this to blow back on you.”

  “It won’t. I promise.”

  “What about your research? He wasn’t able to take anything of yours, was he?” She didn’t know. She was locked inside a freezer at the time.

  “Thank God I took the precaution of locking up my application in the safe.”

  Her eyes widened. “But what about your computer? Can he get in there?”

  Liam shook his head. “I have all my research backed up on a hard drive but I keep that in the safe. The computer itself requires a thumbprint plus all of the files are password protected. A little paranoia goes a long way. But thank you for worrying about me.”

  Grabbing one arm he tugged her lower so he could kiss her lips before releasing her and saying, “So now that that worry has been taken care of, let’s talk about you being in my lab.”

  “Uh, oh. Time for us to go. See you later, Nat.” Gabe stood and pulled Millie up after him. Then they both swooped toward the wall.

  “Traitor,” she mumbled. Was it too much to ask for some back up from her supposed friend?

  Liam pulled her down into his lap. “Talk.”

  Avoiding looking directly into his eyes that seemed to see too much, she asked, “Are you mad at me?”

  “That you almost got yourself killed? Yes, very. That you were in the warehouse, no. Not at all. But I am curious. So?” He paused and waited.

  There was no avoiding it. She let out a sigh and rushed to explain, “You were so elusive about that text and wouldn’t let me meet Stone with you that…”

  “That what?” he asked before his eyes widened. “You thought I was cheating on you?”

  She avoided eye contact as she admitted, “Maybe the thought might have crossed my mind.”

  “Natalie!”

  “I’m sorry. You were just being so secretive.”

  “There was good reason for that.” He sighed and wrestled his cell out of his back pocket, jostling her in the process but not enough for her to move.

  She might never sit in his lap again if he was mad at her for not trusting him, for doubting them, so she held tight.

  When the cell was finally out, he scrolled through a few pictures then turned the phone to face her.

  “What is that?” she asked.

  “The design for your new garden.”

  “My what?” She took the cell and looked closer.

  “Stone’s father does garden design. That’s what I was meeting with him about and why I couldn’t let you come. Stone’s going to plant it for you. I was going to surprise you.”

  “You were?” Her voice cracked with emotion.

  “I was. But as it turns out you’re impossible to surprise.” His raised brows had a distinctly judgmental look to them.

  “I’m sorry,” she said, her heart aching. He’d done an incredibly sweet thing and she’d ruined it.

  “It’s fine. But jeezus, Natalie. For future reference I’m never gonna cheat on you. I know what that feels like and I wouldn’t do that to you or anybody.”

  “I know.” She nodded. His wife’s cheating was the reason for his divorce. He’d told her that.

  “No.” He shook his head. “You obviously don’t. I have the video evidence. Proof that you don’t know I would never cheat on you.”

  She hung her head in shame.

  “Hey,” he said, lifting her chin. “I love you.”

  “Are you sure?” she asked.

  It was an honest question. Leave it to her to ruin a good thing with her insecurity.

  “Yeah. I’m sure. I tried not to but it seems it’s impossible for me not to love you.”

  She smiled sadly. “I guess I’m glad about that.”

  He cupped her face, brushing a thumb over her jaw. “How are you feeling after your time in the freezer?”

  “All right.” Now that he was home and had forgiven her and she knew he wasn’t cheating, everything was perfect. She hardly even remembered her time in the deep freeze.

  “You sure? No frost bite? All extremities are intact?”

  She didn’t admit that she hadn’t actually checked for signs of frostbite, not that she’d know what to look for anyway. Instead she said, “Yes. All good.”

  “Good.” He nodded. “Now, get up. Let’s get you to bed.”

  “I’m okay. I’m not tired.” Opening the shop tomorrow morning was going to be hell but she was too keyed up to go to sleep yet.

  “I didn’t say anything about sleep.” He stood and grabbed her hand. “I feel the need to convince you how much I love you. And convince myself you’re actually all right after I nearly lost you today. You okay with that?”

  It seemed like secretive Liam was gone, as was stressed out Liam. Amorous though bossy Liam was back and all was right with the world.

  She nodded as a small smile tipped up her lips. “Yeah. I’m okay with that.”

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  “So we’re invited to a party,” Natalie told Liam over dinner.

  “Oh? Where? Harper’s?” he guessed.

  “Not exactly.” She cringed.

  Liam frowned. “What’s up? Why are you looking at me like that?”

  “How would you feel about attending a ghost party?” she asked.

  His brows shot up. “A ghost party,” he repeated.

  “Yeah. They used to have them in the cemetery across from the variety store on Main Street. But this one is at the big house on the hill where all the ghosts sheltered during the exorcism scare.”

  Liam frowned. “Who owns the house?”

  “A husband and wife. They’re away traveling right now.”

  His brows crept up high again. “So we’re going to attend an unauthorized party while the owners are gone?”

  Natalie bobbed her head to the side. “Technically. I guess.”

  “And when we get caught and technically arrested for trespassing by our good friend Deputy Bekker?” he asked. “Then what?”

  “That’s the beauty of it. The owner came into the shop this morning and asked if I’d evaluate his book collection. He’s got some rare titles he wants appraised and to possibly sell. He gave me the key and told me I’m welcome to go in anytime while they’re gone. They left this afternoon.”

  “So you planned a ghost party,” Liam said, his voice flat.

  “No. The ghosts planned the party. They’ve been having them up there every night. But tonight, thanks to this little baby.” She held up the key and let it dangle from the leather fob. “We get to go too. And I know it won’t be as fun for you since you can’t see and hear them all, but Gabe and Millie will be there. We can hang out with them.”

  He opened his mouth and then closed it again. Finally, he said, “Sure. What the hell. Let’s go to a ghost party.”

  Before Natalie could debate what to wear—she wanted to look good since it was her first ghost party—a knock sounded at the backdoor.

  “Expecting company?” Liam asked.

  “No.” She frowned.

  Harper would have texted if she was stopping by. And as far as she knew, Gabe hadn’t developed the ability to knock. But he could push things over now, so maybe he had decided to try knocking instead of just swooping in.

  She moved toward the door then stopped, glancing back at Liam. “The guy who locked me in the freezer is in custody, right?”

  Liam bit out a curse followed by, “He’d better be. And if he’s not and that’s him at the door, we’ll be putting those holes in your yard to good use. Believe me.”

  She did believe him as he stood and pushed past her to open the door himself.

  With the freezer incident still fresh in her mind, she hated that researcher for making her too nervous to open her own damn door. She could only hope that the effects of the trauma would lessen with time.

  Meanwhile, she realized they weren’t in danger of attack when she heard Liam say, “Good evening, deputy. What can we do for you?”

  That was a relief. Or at least it would have been if they hadn’t been just discussing the possibility of Carson arresting them for attending the unauthorized ghost party.

  It was almost as if they’d conjured him.

  Maybe they had. Nowadays, she didn’t write anything off as impossible.

  Liam stepped to the side and Carson Bekker’s gaze landed Natalie. “Do you have just a minute?”

  “Of course. Come on in. Is something wrong?” She remembered the bone. “Did you find something more?”

  So much had happened recently, but the mystery of the bone in the backyard was still unsolved.

  Carson took a step inside and his chin dropped toward his chest before he raised it to meet her gaze. “No. That’s why I’m here. To tell you the search crew hasn’t found anything. At least nothing bone related. There were some other things though.”

  He extended his arm and she saw a clear plastic bag in his hand.

  “These are yours.”

  Liam took the bag then glanced up at her. “There’s some cool relics in here.”

  “Great,” she said without enthusiasm.

  Her yard was a disaster and all she got out of it was a bag full of dirty old stuff. No more bones. No answers.

  “So that’s it then?” she asked.

  “That’s it,” Carson said. “The crew from the county searched all the parts of the property that aren’t paved over. Short of digging up the sidewalk and the parking lot, that’s all we can do. They’ll be back tomorrow to fill in all the holes, level it out and take down the caution tape. It’s going to need to be seeded though or it’ll be nothing but mud every time it rains.”

  Carson held her gaze with his sympathetic one.

  “I am sorry about the mess. I can put in a request and maybe get you a check to cover the cost of the seed at least⁠—"

  “It’s okay. We got it covered,” Liam told him.

  Carson dipped his head. “All right. Have a good night.”

 

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