Page 53 of Unseen Danger

Fresh air and escaping the confines of her room usually helped.

She soon had a leash clipped to Al’s collar, not bothering with the harness for this quick trip, and grabbed her PK-9 windbreaker.

They stepped out the back door where the security light illuminated her small yard and the back of the neighbor’s fence.

Crisp air slapped her face, and she sucked in an involuntary breath. She zipped up her red jacket.

Colder than she’d thought. Fall might not last long this year again at this rate. Winter always came fast in Minnesota. Way too fast. Summer could’ve stayed much longer.

She shivered. “If you want to do anything, you better get to it, Al. I think Cannenta had the right idea.”

Alvarez seemed to take the cue, and he tugged her toward the side of the house.

She focused on breathing in the chilled air. On the sounds of the night.

A brave cricket hanging on despite the coming cold.

The sound of the breeze passing through the leaves of her bushes as she and Al walked along her house.

Al’s steady panting. Wasn’t cold enough for him yet.

They rounded the corner of the house to reach the front, and she scanned the neighbors’ houses across the street.

All was quiet tonight. Except in her mind.

She forced her thoughts away before they conjured more memories, more waking nightmares.

She pushed her gaze to take in her surroundings, the moonlit street.

A pickup truck.

Her heart stalled at the same time as her feet.

Alvarez growled.

The truck stood parked in front of her northern neighbor’s house.

A dark color. Black? Like the one she’d seen on the road? The one that could’ve been following her? The nearest streetlamp was too far from the pickup for her to be sure.

Alvarez rumbled again and tugged the leash as he walked in the direction of the truck.

He was right. They should check it out.

She hadn’t brought her Sig. But she shouldn’t need it.

Use the fear. Her nerves already on edge, she’d be ready for anything. Her senses were heightened, alert and prepared.

She could handle a lurker. She’d moved here to get away from the crime of the neighborhood she’d grown up in. But it was up to the residents to keep this neighborhood safe.

“Let’s check it out, Al.” She marched toward the truck, Alvarez trying to outpace her in his eagerness. He sure pulled harder without the harness. But she kept her eyes trained on the pickup.

A silhouette of a head became clear as she got closer.

Someone was in there.

Thirty feet away now.

The engine revved. He was leaving.