I switched the TV on and hunted through the options until I found something we agreed on—a screwball spy comedy we’d watched several times in the past. For the next hour, we worked companionably together. Me on my laptop, and him writing on his notepad—which more often than not entailed screwing up sheets of paper and tossing them aside.

After a while, Blair stood up. “I’ve got to use the bathroom.”

“Want me to pause the show for you?”

He glanced at the screen. “Nah. I know what happens and, uh, I might be a while, if you get my drift.”

I grimaced. I got it, all right.

“You’ll be okay here?” he asked.

“Of course. You’re not leaving the cottage, right? If I yell, you’ll hear me.”

He nodded and left the room. I resumed editing the photographs, lingering on one of Liam and me walking to Destiny Tarn for the midsummer dip. It had only been a couple of days ago, but the lighthearted excitement I’d felt seemed a world away. Amazing how much everything could change in a short period of time, but I guessed that was pretty much the story of my life.

I moved on to another photo. Then another. When half an hour had passed and Blair hadn’t returned, nerves started to churn in my stomach.

“Blair!” I called, pausing the TV while I waited for a response.

Nothing.

Fear tightened my gut. I tiptoed to the kitchen and grabbed the biggest knife I could find. I was probably overreacting, but better safe than sorry.

I made my way to the bathroom and paused outside.

“Blair?”

No response.

“If you don’t say something right now, I’m coming in.”

When I didn’t hear as much as a bump from the bathroom, I reached for the handle. To my surprise, it opened. Unlocked. The door swung inward, then knocked into something and stopped.

“Blair?” My voice shook. I eased forward to peek around the door. My instincts were screaming at me that something was wrong and that I should run, but surely I’d have heard if anything had happened.

Slowly, a pair of feet entered my field of vision, tied at the ankles.

Goosebumps erupted over my body, and I broke out in a cold sweat but forced myself to keep going. I saw my brother’s thighs, his hips, and then his hands, which had also been bound with a zip tie.

I should run.