Obsession Falls (The Haven Brothers #1)

“Hayden? That’s weird.”

“Yeah. There was this split second where our cars were facing each other and he looked right at me. I thought he was about to get out of his car to come see if I was okay but then he backed up and left. I don’t understand why he would do that. He knows me. In fact, I just saw him last night.”

“Where?”

“At the Timberbeast. I met Annika and Isabelle for a drink and Hayden was working. We almost called you, actually, but I thought you might be busy. Anyway, it’s just so odd. He’s always seemed so nice. He was talking to us last night. But maybe he just freaked out when he hit me. Some people don’t deal with sudden stress very well.”

“I’m so sorry that happened to you. Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Yeah, I’ll be fine. What about you?”

“Honestly, I had a very shocking conversation with my mother, but I’ll tell you in person. Don’t worry about me, deal with your car situation.”

“Okay. Take care and I’ll talk to you soon.”

“You too, Mari.”

I ended the call and slipped my phone in my back pocket. The feeling of being watched was back, so I moved closer to the house to make sure I was within range of the cameras. Without really thinking about it, I picked up Max’s ball.

“Max?” My voice came out like a squeak, so I cleared my throat. “Max, come!”

He didn’t appear, which jogged my frozen brain back into action. He’d been right by the house just a second ago.

“Max, come here.”

I jogged around the side of the house, hoping he hadn’t found another dead animal or something equally stinky to roll in.

No Max.

Oh, no.

“Max?”

I looked up the hill. There was one thing that would ruin his mostly reliable recall. A scent he couldn’t resist. It had certainly happened before.

I did a lap around the house and checked around Josiah’s remodel next door. No dog. No humans, either.

A bark carried on the breeze. I ran behind the house again and looked up the hill. “Max?”

Nothing.

Then I heard a yelp, a distinct cry of pain. The last time I’d heard that sound, my mom’s cat had swiped her claws across Max’s nose.

Whatever Max had found, it was no pampered cat.

I took off up the hill at a run.

CHAPTER36

Josiah

SeeingAudrey’s car in the driveway took my sense of panic down a few notches. At least she hadn’t gone anywhere.

I went to the front door and steeled myself to tell her the truth about confronting Colin. I just hoped she wouldn’t be too furious with me.

The door opened. It was unlocked.

Why was the door unlocked?