Dillon jerked his head toward the passage. “Hana’s laptop is in the wardrobe.”
“Summer told me the place was trashed.”
Dillon opened the fridge and pulled out a loaf of bread. “I found it in the shed where the alpacas sleep.”
“Why did Hana leave the laptop there?”
“She wanted to document everything about the alpacas. She took photos and used the computer to keep records.”
“Have you turned it on?”
“No, I don’t bother going online unless I’m in town or at the family home. I use my phone.”
Nikolai disappeared and reappeared with a laptop case. While Dillon grated cheese, chopped tomatoes and arranged ham on slices of bread, Nikolai plugged in the laptop and turned it on.
“Password?”
“It was Hana’s laptop. I’ve no idea.”
Nikolai tried several words then grinned. “Hana had a sense of humor and determination.”
“What’s her password?”
“I Love Dillon Williams.”
“How the hell did you pick that?”
“Lucky guess.”
“Crap,” Dillon said, guilt swamping him. “Am I a bad person for not loving her? I liked her, enjoyed spending time with her.”
“You gave Hana a chance of a better life,” Nikolai said. “Stop beating yourself up. You weren’t here and Hana’s death was because of the arseholes who invaded your home. It’s not your fault. Logically, you understand that, but you’re twisted with guilt because Hana loved you and you didn’t return the sentiment.”
Nikolai tapped several keys and made a humming sound.
Dillon checked the sandwiches before opening the camera and handing Nikolai the card.
“There’s already a card in the laptop.” Nikolai clicked several keys and photos of birds popped on the screen.
Dillon peered over Nikola’s shoulder. “Hana took photos of the traps. She knew about the birds.” There were several shots of men, but he recognized none of them. “Has she saved any photos to the laptop already?”
Nikolai clicked through the various files and picked one to open. “She’s written notes of what she saw. Days. Dates. She mentions a helicopter.”
“We need to look in that shed.”
Nikolai glanced at him, his impassive soldier visage—the one he saw on his own face when he was about to go on a mission. “Here’s an idea. What if Hana’s death wasn’t a simple home invasion? What if she stuck her nose into this, and they took action?”
Dillon grunted, yet that was where his mind had trekked. Now that they’d found Hana’s notes, the situation made more sense.
“What do you want to do?”
“I intend to check the shed before we go to the cops. I’d hate to let these bastards get away with Hana’s murder.”
“Do you have any cop friends? We can’t go in guns blazing without causing ourselves trouble and a lot of paperwork.”
A sigh escaped him because Nikolai was right. “I’ll talk to Ella. She’ll know the local cops.”
“Or you could ring the cops yourself.”
Another excellent point. If Hana’s death had occurred because of the poaching of native birds, the last thing he wanted was to get Ella involved.
At eleven that night, he and Nikolai drifted through the bush, the night vision goggles that Nikolai had packed made the journey easier. A gun snugged into the base of his spine, and he’d shoved his favorite folding knife in his pocket. Not that he intended to use either weapon. This was an in and out situation. A recon to gather information. He’d also packed a selection of tools and items he might require to break into a locked building, and he carried these in a daypack.
His neighbor’s farm lay in darkness as they skulked toward it. Dillon led Nikolai straight to the shed where he suspected they kept the birds contained. To his surprise, the door wasn’t locked this time. He applied CRC to the door hinges and cautiously opened it. Cages of different sizes filled one wall, but each was empty. Dillon glanced at Nikolai who snapped photos. Dillon spotted a feather on the ground and scooped it up for closer observation.
After an exchange of hand signals, they slipped out of the shed and closed the door again. They glided from one shadow to the next, checking for cameras before they moved. Most of the cameras protected the shed from intruders.
Three vehicles. Engines all cold. Dillon hadn’t met his neighbor recently. On his arrival home, the idea of doing the polite social thing had turned him nauseous. Now, a visit might appear suspicious, especially if they’d caught him on one of their cameras.
He signaled a retreat, and they slinked through the shadows, moving with purpose until they reached the tree line.
“Opinion?” Dillon asked.
“With the things Hana has documented, you have enough to go to the cops. More than a suspicion. The only thing I don’t like is their empty shed. Will the charges stick if they have no birds in their possession?”
Nikolai was right. It was time to bring in the cops.
10 – The Ghost Sings A Warning
“Ella. Ella. Ella.”
Ella pulled her pillow over her head and tried to block the persistent sound. She’d spent an enjoyable evening with Summer, Dillon’s sister, who had invited her to go to the local pub for drinks. Although her aches and pains were retreating, she still felt physically drained and had hoped she’d sleep well. Not happening.
“Ella. Ella. Ella.”
A cold wash of air on her forearms—the ones holding the pillow in place—pebbled chill bumps over her flesh.
“Leave me alone. I’ve done everything you wanted. I visited Dillon and can’t do anything more.”
Ella gave up trying to sleep and read a book about spinning alpaca fleece before switching to the latest Ilona Andrews urban fantasy. When the ghostly whispers and the wafts of icy air kept blasting her, she dressed rapidly in leggings and a sweater.
She wandered to the kitchen without bothering to switch on a light. A glance at the microwave clock had her scowling. 5:45.
A creak and the breaking of glass had her freezing in the midst of reaching for the kettle.
“Ella, hide!”
Ella’s pulse leaped like a startled rabbit. Fear left her mouth dry, her throat tight. Hide. She scuttled into her bedroom, saw the unmade bed and almost panicked. If she arranged the covers and made it look as if she hadn’t been here overnight. Yes, that might work. And if she breathed in, she might manage to slide underneath. The covers were long and would hide the gap. They might not think to look under the bed.
Low voices toward the front of the house had her moving at double-quick time. She yanked the quilt cover into place and smoothed out the impression of her head. At the last second, she turned over the pillow so it was flat before she dropped to the floor and forced her body into the gap.
Not a second too soon.
Footsteps in the passage indicated someone was walking toward her bedroom. The footsteps sounded masculine to her, the strides long and purposeful. She caught a flicker of light from the corner of her eye and wished she’d grabbed her phone. It was charging right now. Hopefully, they didn’t spot it and think she was at home.
“No one here.”
The second set of footsteps approached and stopped by her bed. “Where is she?”
“How the hell do I know? I saw her in the pub tonight with another woman. The barman told me it was Williams’s sister.”
“What’s she doing here?”
“A visit home.”
The man supplying the answers sounded pissed, but Ella wasn’t sure if it was because of his friend’s nosy questions or the fact she wasn’t here.
“What are we going to do now?”
“Wreck the place and hope we distract Williams because his girlfriend’s house got burgled. That’s what the boss wanted. Grab a few valuables. We need to make this look like a robbery.”
Ella pressed her hand against her mouth to muffle her cry of protes
t.
“It’s like an icebox in here. Let’s get this finished, then we can go home.”
Something crashed against her bedroom wall. Ella flinched at the harsh noise.
“Whoa!” one man said. “Did you see that?”
“What?”
“You didn’t notice that book sail across the room and hit the wall?”
“Stop mucking around. We don’t wanna get caught.”
“I’ll do the lounge and the kitchen. I wonder if she has food. I’m starving.” Judging by his footsteps, he sprinted from her bedroom.
Drawers opened and closed. Ella winced at the harsh rip of fabric and listened for her wardrobe door, her terror giving way to anger. If this idiot started destroying her vintage dresses—the ones she’d collected for years—she’d commit murder herself.
The door of her wardrobe opened with a strident creak.
Ella was just about to cast aside caution and let rip with whatever weapon came to hand when the man cried out. “What the fuck?”
An object thudded against the wall. Another crashed on the floor.
Rapid footsteps thumped from her room and retreated.
“This place is freaky,” a male voice said, his register higher than it had been earlier.
“Told you.”
“I’m outta here.”
“I’m not staying here alone.”
The temperature in her bedroom rose rapidly, and Ella slid out of hiding. She cautiously stood and cocked her head. Screams came from near her front door. This was one time when close neighbors might have proved helpful. The screams grew in pitch and plates smashed against something hard.
Then silence fell.
A vehicle accelerated, the gears grinding as the driver attempted to haul arse. More silence when the only sound was her own breathing.
Ella worried her bottom lip. Was it safe? She needed to grab her phone and ring the cops.
“Ella. Ella. Ella.”
Her ghost whispered, the sound of her name strangely soothing.
Ella crept through her house, her ears peeled for any sound out of order. Once she reached the kitchen, she checked the clock on the microwave. The appliance wasn’t telling the time any longer since it lay upside down near the counter. She risked turning on a light. Shards of pottery, tea bags, and her potted herbs littered the floor.
Nearer the fridge, eggs decorated the tiles, several with yolks still intact. The home invaders had upended her cutlery drawer and dumped the contents of her cannisters of flour and sugar near the pantry.
With a held breath, Ella checked her phone. They had seen it but hadn’t clicked she might be at home. Luckily for her. One of the men had ripped it from the charger, and it had landed on the floor. The screen had a crack diagonally across the middle.
“Please work. Please work.” Ella powered up her cell phone, a harsh exhalation of relief exiting with a whoosh. She dialed 111 and told the operator she wanted the police.
“Are you in danger?” the operator asked.
“I don’t think so.”
“Stay on the line. The police are on their way.”
Five minutes later, a car entered her driveway. The red-and-blue flashing lights boosted her courage.
“They’re here. Thank you.” Ella ended the call.
She hurried to meet the two constables, both of whom she knew since they were around her age. Connor was a tall blond with serious muscles the uniform didn’t hide. The local women called him Viking while his partner was a diminutive Asian girl by the name of Molly. She’d transferred from Wellington two years ago.
“Ella, I near had a heart attack when we were called here.” Molly gave her a quick hug. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. I hid under the bed and they didn’t realize I was there.”
“Did you recognize them?” Connor asked.
“No, but I’d distinguish their voices if I heard them again.”
“Did they take anything?” Molly asked.
“I haven’t noticed anything missing. My kitchen is a mess. My bedroom too. They enjoyed chucking things around to cause maximum damage.”
Ella showed the two cops through her house. The lounge had cushions tossed and a chair lay on its side. Her collection of DVDs fanned across the floor, but the damage was superficial.
“They ripped some of my clothes. I was about to show myself and do bodily harm if they’d started on the dresses in my wardrobe.”
“I don’t blame you,” Molly said. “Your vintage clothes are gorgeous.”
Connor took photos of the damage. “Are you sure there is nothing missing?”
“Everything seems to be here.”
“They did a number on your underwear.” Connor lifted a brow. “A suitor scorned?”
“Pfffft! Oh!” Ella said as she stared at the remnants of a black cardigan with embroidered red flowers decorating the sleeves. It was one of her favorites and they’d ruined the garment.
Car lights illuminated the exterior and both cops tensed.
“Wait here,” Connor said.
He reappeared a few minutes later with Summer in tow.
“Ella!” Summer said. “Connor said someone broke into your house. Are you all right?”
“I’m still jumpy and I’m pissed that they’ve destroyed my favorite cardigan. It was a one of a kind. What are you doing up this early?”
“I volunteered to do a bakery run. Sam is teething and kept everyone awake last night,” Summer said. “Once you’re done here, pack a bag. You can stay with Dillon. I’m driving to meet him and Nikolai before I head back to Mum’s and Dad’s place.”
“It’s probably a wise idea to stay elsewhere for a couple of days,” Molly said. “We’ll drive past at random times and keep an eye out for any activity.”
Connor filled out a form and handed it to her. “An incident report for your insurance company.”
Ella grimaced. “They will love me. First, my car and now my house is broken into and my possessions trashed.”
“Could’ve been worse,” Connor said, his expression hard. “They might have discovered you hiding under the bed. It was smart making your bed look as if you hadn’t slept in it.”
The police left and Summer turned to her, brisk and as managing as her mother. “Pack a bag and we’ll get moving. I’m already late, and Nikolai will be worried. These military men work on precise time.” She winked at Ella. “Something for you to remember.”
“Dillon and I are friends. We’re in the move right along, nothing to see here category.”
Summer laughed. “Really? And I thought you were both in the doth protest too much slot. Ha! Your cheeks are turning red. I knew it.”
It was a short drive to the spot where the landslide blocked the road. Summer had a lead foot, but Ella had to admit the woman possessed driving skills.
When they arrived Dillon and Nikolai were waiting for them, both big men pacing.
“Ha! I told you they’d be stressed.”
But Ella wasn’t listening to Summer. Instead, she stared at Dillon whose expression had blanked when he spied her. His dark brows pulled together and she’d bet if she stood closer, she’d spot the giveaway tic in his jaw. This man was not pleased with her presence.
Summer climbed out of the car, and Ella followed suit, albeit at a much slower pace.
“What is she doing here?” Dillon demanded.
Nikolai and Summer exchanged a glance before turning their attention on Dillon. Ella swallowed and had to stop herself from retreating a step.
“I told her to come,” Summer said, her tone way too innocent. Anyone with half a brain would suspect her of messing with her brother.
Ella opened her mouth to protest, but an ugly croak escaped instead of explanations.
Dillon scowled. “Well, you can take her home again. I don’t want her here.”
“Now that was plain rude,” Summer said. “And I brought you food too, you ungrateful lout. You wait until I tell Mum.”
&nbs
p; A muffled snort came from Nikolai. Dillon’s scowl grew blacker while Summer winked at her husband. Ella was certain the word she mouthed was payback.
“I’ll go,” Ella said, her gut churning with disappointment. “I can stay with one of my other friends.”
Dillon’s gaze shifted from Ella to Summer and back. It drilled through her, and absurdly, the first stages of arousal frisked her body. “Why can’t you stay in your house?”
“Someone broke in this morning,” Summer said.
Dillon closed the distance between them and placed his hands on Ella’s shoulders. “Are you all right? Did they hurt you?”
“She hid under the bed,” Summer said with approval.
“Will you let Ella talk?” Dillon snapped.
“Sorry. Shutting up now.” Summer made a zipping motion across her mouth.
Dillon scowled at his sister before turning to Nikolai. “You don’t spank her enough.”
“He doesn’t spank me at all,” Summer said in a sweet voice.
Dillon grunted. “His mistake.”
“I behave for Nikolai as a perfect wife should.”
This time Nikolai snorted, and Summer’s sassy wink zapped to Ella.
“Tell us about the people who broke into your place,” Dillon said.
“I’d better go,” Summer said. “Before Mum packs us off home. Sam howled for most of the night. Another tooth,” she said to Nikolai.
Nikolai kissed Summer, and they spoke in undertones with Summer asking the odd question before nodding.
Dillon distracted her. “Are you okay?” he asked in a gruff voice. “Did they hurt you?”
“They had no idea I was at home. Summer and I went to the pub for drinks. One of them mentioned seeing me there, and they assumed I’d stayed overnight with her. My car was in the driveway. Um…” She glanced at Nikolai and Summer. When it was clear they were focused on each other, Ella turned back to Dillon. “The ghost warned me. I was awake already because she kept yammering and blowing cold air over me. I’d dressed and when I heard glass breaking, I yanked up my bedcovers to make the bed appear unused and crawled underneath. From what I can gather, the ghost scared them off, but not before they did more damage. Once I was certain they’d gone, I called the cops and they arrived within five minutes.”
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