Page 20 of Saving Her Dragon

Dropping into a low, athletic crouch beside the boots, he wasn’t a victim trying to understand a medical glitch. He was a scout analyzing a crime scene.

With practiced, methodical movements, he reached out and touched the caked clay. Rubbing a piece of it between his thumb and forefinger, he tested the texture and structure.

Bringing his fingers to his nose, he inhaled deeply before turning the heavy boot over to inspect the thick rubber soles. Scraping his thumbnail along the tread, he looked for embedded pine needles, grass seeds, leaves– anything that could give away a location.

He could feel Sydney's eyes trained on him. Through their Bond came the frantic beat of her heart, but beneath the fear was something else: relief, maybe. She felt better knowing he wasn't frozen anymore. He was doing something. Working the problem.

"First problem," Garrett muttered, his eyes narrowing as he stood up. "The door."

Marching straight down the short hallway to the mudroom exit, he was comforted that Sydney was right on his heels. Grabbing the handle, he saw that the heavy metal deadbolt was turned completely to the right.

“Locked,” he confirmed.

Looking up, he inspected the small brass bell he’d meticulously rigged to the frame the day before. It was perfectly intact, hanging exactly where he had left it.

Turning back to Sydney, Garrett knew his expression was grim, but let it reflect his inner turmoil, as he asked, "Did you hear it ring?"

"No," she said.

"Neither did I."

"Should I ask what we're looking at or is this a private party?"

Grey’s deep voice cut through the tension as he stepped into the mudroom. It was seven in the morning, and like everyone else there, he instinctively gravitated toward the kitchen. Apparently, the hearth of Carrick and Ginnie’s home was also the meeting place, but seeing his brother crouched over a pair of filthy combat boots before the sun was fully up instantly changed Grey’s demeanor.

"Probably," Garrett replied, straightening up. In concise, military-standard shorthand, he laid out the facts. No emotion. Just the data.

Grey’s relaxed posture vanished, replaced by the sharp, calculating focus of a seasoned Dragon Guardsman. "Alright. Let's reconstruct the night. Walk me through the timeline."

"We went upstairs around ten-thirty," Garrett said, his eyes scanning the ceiling as he reconstructed the memory. "I checked the mudroom lock twice. Sydney saw me. We got into bed. We talked about coffee this morning. I fell asleep instantly."

Grey looked at Sydney. "Syd?"

"I woke up around 2:00 AM," she volunteered, her fingers tightly intertwining in front of her. "Garrett was right there with me. I touched his hand. He was sound asleep. I went right back to Dreamland."

"I woke up at six," Garrett picked up, his jaw tightening. "Everything felt normal. I slipped out of bed quietly because I wanted to make the coffee to surprise her. Do something nice. Ya’ know, 'cause…" His gaze softened as he looked at Sydney. "…you've done so much for me."

"Aww, thanks," she gushed. "But there's no need. I do what I do because I love you, not for any other reason. I just love you and love doing things for you."

"And I love you," Garrett said, leaning over and giving her a quick kiss on the cheek.

Stepping back, he suddenly stopped. A dark, heavy shadow fell over his features. The reality of the numbers hit him like a physical blow.

"That gives us a four-hour window," Garrett whispered, the words sounding hollow. "Four hours."

A ten-minute wander into the backyard was a sleepwalking episode. Four hours of completely unaccounted-for time was a black hole. It was a terrifyingly large chunk of his life gone. He hated every damned thing that implied.

"Let's test the variable," Grey said, stepping towards the door. He reached out and turned the deadbolt, throwing the door open.

JINGLE. JINGLE. JINGLE.

The sharp, bright metallic ring echoed loudly through the small mudroom. Everyone stared at the small brass bell, shocked that something so small could be so loud. Grey closed the door, locked it, and tried it again, opening it with absolute care. The bell still chimed, a distinct, unmissable warning.

There was absolutely no way Garrett could have opened that door without triggering the alarm. Unless some buried part of his mind remembered the bell and avoided it. He didn't know whether that possibility made him feel better or worse.

"Check every exit," a gravelly voice commanded from the kitchen archway. Carrick stepped into the room, his ancient Elder's brain already working the angles. He didn't jump to conclusions or yell about nefarious enemies. He just treated the missing time like a perimeter breach. "Windows, front door, basement access. Check the seals."

"I'll check the main floor," Grey nodded, moving instantly.