Page 215 of Secrets Hidden In The Glass

“Talk to me.”

She struggled to swallow as her throat grew tight. “I don’t like it here.”

“Is it the cottage specifically?”

“It’s all of it.” She looked around, trying to explain the way it made her feel. “It’s just—it’s too quiet. The shadows change. I can’t hear the ocean here the way I can in the woods by your house.”

He gave her fingers a squeeze. “You’re doing great. We’ll just go inside—”

“What?” She pulled free of his hold, distancing herself with several steps. “Why would we do that? I’m sure the door’s locked.”

“I have a key.”

She held his gaze, struggling with a wash of anger and resentment. She hated being here. She hated even more that she was upset with Nate, especially when she knew she couldn’t ask for his help, then ignore his instincts when she didn’t like where they led. She turned and walked toward the long-neglected house, unable to look away from the single window on the second story.

“We’ll be quick,” Nate said as he sidled up next to her.

“All right.”

“Let’s put these on.” He pulled booties from his pocket as they walked up the weatherworn stairs.

She took the two he handed her and put them on over her sneakers as he did the same to his boots. Then he unlocked the door. Shoving her sunglasses onto her hat, she took a steadying breath and walked inside, blinking at the emptiness, half expecting to see something different.

“Let’s look around,” Nate suggested.

She’d seen plenty—more than enough. The cottage was as unsettling inside as it was on the outside, but she followed Nate down the two steps that led into the living room area, then to the small kitchen.

“What do you think?”

She fisted her hands, barely registering the pain of her nails biting into her palms. “It’s dirty.”

Nate started upstairs.

She hesitated with her foot on the first step.

He looked over his shoulder. “Are you hanging in there?”

“Yes,” she heard herself say, even as her heartbeat throbbed in her head. She counted the twelve stairs to the loft and stood in the small space, unable to catch her breath as she stared down at the floor below. Turning away, she shoved past Nate as he approached, his eyes full of concern. “I need to go.” She hurried down the stairs and outside, gasping as she pulled off her booties and ran, struggling not to break into an all-out sprint.

“Whoa, hold up.” Nate caught her by the arm. “Callie.”

She whirled. “What?”

He rested gentle hands on the sides of her shoulders. “You’re shaking.”

“Being in there is horrible. It’s absolutely horrible, Nate.” Her eyes darted around in the shadows and she spotted it then—the bright orange flags flapping in the breeze on the small hill in the distance. “That’s where you found the locket,” she said dully, all of her energy leaving her at once.

He looked over his shoulder, then met her gaze again. “That’s our perimeter.”

“You think this is it—where something happened to her.”

He nodded. “I do.”

“And in your mind, she’s dead.”

He sighed. “Yeah, I think she is. I’m so sorry to say that, but I have to go with my instincts and that’s what they’re telling me.”

“And you really think I know.”