Part 26 (1/2)
”Sometimes. Not very often.” He walked toward her.
True enough.
”It's late,” she said. ”What are you doing here?”
He reached up and pressed a hand to her cheek, then ran a finger down it. ”Making sure you get home safely.”
Warmth flooded her. Along with relief. Before he could see how his touch affected her, she turned on the pretense of putting away the last of her instruments. ”I was going to ask security to walk me out to my car.”
”But who would make sure you got inside your house without any problems?”
”Hmm . . . good question.” She slipped her lab coat off and tossed it into the bin to be washed. ”I'm ready.”
Serena followed him down the hall and out the back entrance to the employee parking lot. She found her rental. A blue Chevy SUV. Just what she'd asked for. Serena didn't like small vehicles, especially if Yoda decided she wanted to come along.
”I'll follow you,” he said.
Once in the rental, she adjusted the rearview mirror and the seat. Looking behind her she saw Dominic's headlights.
Grateful for his attention to her safety, she drove home, her mind racing. Just as she pulled onto her street, her phone buzzed. She answered, ”h.e.l.lo?”
”This is ADT security, we have an alert at 104 Bennett Drive. We need to speak to Serena Hopkins.”
”This is she. An alert? My alarm's going off?” Her heart thudded and fear spiraled through her.
”Yes, ma'am, could we have your pa.s.sword, please?”
”It's . . . Yoda.”
”Thank you. Officers are on the way to the address.”
Serena parked in her driveway, phone still pressed to her ear as her alarm blared. Her neighbor across the street stepped out onto his porch, a frown on his face.
She opened the garage door and waited for Dominic to pull in beside her. She saw realization cross his face as he got out of the car and drew his weapon from his shoulder holster. She started to follow, but he turned and said, ”Stay back.”
”You need the code. It's 2582.”
He nodded. ”Now get in your car and lock the doors.”
”Be careful.”
Three city police cars pulled up to the curb. The officers got out of their vehicles.
One approached Serena, hand on her weapon. The other pulled his gun as his gaze landed on Dominic who had his weapon in one hand and ID in the other.
The officer relaxed at the sight of the FBI badge.
Dominic said, ”Cover the rear.” He looked at the first male officer. ”You come with me to clear the house. Serena, you wait in the car with the door locked.” He glanced at the third officer.
The woman nodded before he had a chance to say anything. ”I'll stay with her.”
The men entered the garage and then disappeared into the house. The alarm went silent.
The officer who'd stayed behind with Serena pulled her to the police car and opened the pa.s.senger door. ”Let's just wait out here until we know everything's all right. If anything starts, I don't want you caught in the crossfire.” Serena looked at the pretty female officer whose badge read ”Hudson.”
”What happened?” Officer Hudson asked even as her gaze darted toward the front of Serena's house. No doubt, she was worried about her partner.
”I got a call from the security company that my alarm was set off.” She watched her neighbor head her way and wondered if he'd seen anything.
Officer Hudson said, ”So you just got home.”
”Right.”
Mr. Randall Barnard walked up to the police car.
Serena said, ”I'm so sorry, Mr. Barnard.”
”No problem.” The older, graying man scratched at his five o'clock shadow. ”I was just worried about you. Everything all right here?”
”I'm not sure. It looks like someone tried to break into my house.”
”Might have been that scraggly teenager I saw hanging out around here earlier today.”
Some of her fear faded. ”Scraggly teen?”
”Yeah. Skinny little thing. I heard the alarm go off and saw her take off running across your front yard.”
Camille. It had to be.
But what had the girl been doing trying to get into Serena's house?
The officer and Dominic came out the front door. Serena's heart filled with relief at their safety.
Dominic waved them in. ”It's all clear.” He no longer held his weapon.
Serena looked at Mr. Barnard. ”Thanks for your help.”
He headed back toward his house with an ”anytime” tossed over his shoulder. Serena and Officer Hudson approached the men. Dominic led them back inside and Serena filled them in on what Mr. Barnard said about a ”scraggly teen.”
He promptly called in an Attempt To Locate with Mr. Barnard's description.
Yoda padded in to greet her, her tongue coming out for a quick swipe of her hand. She scratched her ears, then watched her turn and head out through her doggie door to the backyard.
Dominic said, ”You need a better watchdog.”
”That's not why I got her,” Serena said, defending her beloved pet. She looked around her house, the kitchen, into the den, and out into the gla.s.sed-in porch area.
Something niggled at her. She frowned and looked back toward the kitchen, then gave the den another sweep with her eyes.
”What is it?” he asked.