Page 36 of Whispers of Sweetwater

She honed her hearing. Squinted into the light. There was no movement. No sound. But Sherlock very clearly saw something. Or someone. His body coiled as his growl dropped to a cold, vibrating rumble that seemed to thrum in the air between them. She didn’t realise she’d been holding her breath until her doggy protector snapped out a sharp, explosive bark.

There was no sound in response. Just the rustle of leaves, the lazy clatter of a wind chime down the block, a dog barking far away. And yet the prickling at her nape held fast, along with the unmistakable sense of being watched.

‘Sherlock,’ she whispered. ‘What can you see that I can’t, my boy?’

But there was no flicker of response to her words. No quick glance back like he usually gave her. Instead, his eyes stayed locked outside, his growls stopping but his body still quivering with tension. And that was when she knew that whoever, or whatever, had been there was now gone. But they had been there. And they’d wanted her to know it. Of that, she was convinced.

‘Sherlock, buddy.’ Her voice cracked, caught between disbelief and adrenaline.

He didn’t move. Didn’t blink. Just stood guard, as though daring the unseen to step forwards.

Then, soft and deliberate, the shuffle of footsteps behind her split the silence.

‘Bri?’

She turned sharply, her heart lurching.

Molly stood barefoot in the hallway, her hair a tangle of auburn curls, sleep still clinging to her. She wore one of Brianna’s old jumpers over flannel pyjama pants, and her eyes squinted into the golden sunlight cascading through the gap in the curtains that had just harboured some kind of darkness.

‘You’re up early,’ Molly said, voice rough, blinking slowly. ‘I thought I smelled toast, but then I must have been dreaming, and …’ Her words faltered as she took a few more steps forwards, then abruptly paused to acknowledge the tension in Brianna’s stance, the stiff line of her shoulders, the way Sherlock was still bristling at the screen door. Something passed between them – silent, instant, understood.

Wide-eyed now, Molly stepped closer. ‘Oh my goodness, Bri, what’s happened?’

Brianna didn’t speak right away. She glanced back outside, her heart still thudding.

‘Brianna? Please, tell me what’s happening.’ Molly’s trembling hands came to her arms.

‘Someone called me,’ Brianna said quietly. ‘No number. No voice. Just breathing. And Sherlock …’ She motioned towards him, to where he’d finally backed up a step but still hadn’t relaxed. ‘He saw something. Someone, maybe. I don’t know.’

The blood drained from Molly’s face. There was a pause. A long, heavy one. Then Molly said the one thing Brianna had been thinking but trying hard not to believe. ‘You think it’s the same person that’s been calling me?’

Brianna met her gaze. ‘I don’t think it’s a coincidence.’

Molly ran her hands over her face, and her voice became a strained rasp. ‘I didn’t tell anyone where I was staying.’

‘Then someone’s watching us,’ Brianna said, her voice shaking now.

Molly’s hands quivered as she reached for the back of the couch to steady herself. ‘Oh god, Bri. I didn’t mean to drag you into this.’

‘You didn’t,’ Brianna said firmly. ‘You’ve done nothing wrong. But Moll, this is going a step further now, and we need help from someone who’ll take this seriously.’

Molly nodded, her beseeching gaze telling Brianna all she needed. Beside them, Sherlock finally settled down. He sat on his rump and let out a soft huff. But the unease in the air remained. Without another word, Brianna grabbed her mobile phone. Her fingers hovered for a second before she pressed the call button.

Hayden answered on the second ring. ‘Hey, Bri?’ His voice was low, gravelly, as though he hadn’t long been up either. ‘Everything okay?’

‘No,’ she said. ‘Not really. Someone just called. No number. No voice. Just breathing. Then Sherlock reacted like somebody was here. He was growling and staring towards the side of the house. We didn’t see anyone, but …’

‘I’m on my way,’ he cut in. ‘Ten minutes, fifteen, tops. Make sure you keep yourselves locked inside, all right?’

‘We will.’

‘See you soon, Bri.’

The call ended and Brianna lowered the phone while trying to still the tremor in her hands.

Molly exhaled shakily, as if she’d been holding her breath. ‘Thank you.’

Brianna turned to her and gently gripped her arm. ‘No more thank yous, okay? We’re in this together.’