It was dispatch. There’d been a police call at Creative Interiors I, an intruder, though there was no one at the premises now. Given the arson issues, they’d contacted Joe as a courtesy.

With her stomach clenching, Summer adjusted her clothing and sat up. “I’m coming with you.”

“Red—”

“Look, this is a nightmare, I know. But it’s my nightmare.” They left his office with Ashes coming along, and walked in silence to their cars. Summer followed Joe to Creative Interiors, trying not to think too hard. She’d always been able to clear her mind, through good music or breathing techniques, or her soothing crystals and teas, but it wasn’t as easy with so many thoughts swirling in her head she felt as if they were coming out her ears.

In front of Creative Interiors, there was a police car. Joe talked to the cop for a moment, then came over to her. “The alarm went off. A witness said she saw a twenty-something-year-old guy in black from head to toe let himself in with keys, and then back out a moment later.”

She blinked. “Braden?”

“They’re looking for him now. They’ve called your mom and Tina.”

This made even less sense now than it had yesterday. She went into the store to see if she could tell what might possibly be missing. Joe came in behind her. She flipped off the alarm and headed toward the back. The counter looked cleared off as usual. The cash register would be empty so she didn’t bother to check there.

In the back she turned on the lights, surveyed the crowded storage area and sighed. Everything had been chaotic and unorganized since the warehouse fire, and after the other store’s fire, things had only gotten worse. There were stacks of inventory haphazardly placed on shelves, on the floor, in and around the table and chairs used for employee breaks. On a shelving unit sat three of Bill’s lighthouses, held up on either side with two of her father’s travel books.

She ran a finger over a spine. “I was with him when he did his research for this one. We took a canoe down the Amazon. I’ll never forget it.”

“You shouldn’t.” He turned her to face him. “Maybe there’s more you should never forget.”

“I’m beginning to get that,” she said softly, knowing how right he was. “It’s just that I wanted to live in the here and now, you know?” She let out a sad smile. “Just wanted to hang out, see everyone, be happy, and then go on my merry way.”

“Without looking back?”

“That was my plan. But…” She set her hand on his chest, slowly fisting it over his heart, staring at her fingers as she gripped him tight, binding him to her. “I don’t seem to be able to manage it the way I thought I could.”