Page 35 of Vanishing Legacy
“All secure,” Juliette said through Alana’s earpiece.
“Copy, we’ll head inside now.”
Cash carried Penny inside and settled her onto the couch. Alana draped a soft blanket over her. They stood there, shoulder to shoulder, watching her sleep.
Cash’s pinky finger brushed her knuckles, then intertwined with hers. She looked first at their hands, then at his soft eyes searching her face. “Thank you, Alana.” The words were a whisper that sent the heat rushing to the tips of her ears.
Their moment was interrupted by the sound of Juliette’s footsteps pounding down the staircase. “Everything’s locked up tight. Quite the security system you’ve got here, Cash.”
Alana moved to the alcove off the kitchen and feigned interest in the marshy river behind the house. From the way her cheeks and ears burned, she was sure her entire face was beet red, and she didn’t want to explain it to Juliette.
“After the break-in a few months ago, I knew it was time for an upgrade.” He carried two bottles of water between his knuckles and offered one to Alana.
“Thanks,” she said, taking it. “I read the police report, but tell us what happened.”
Juliette accepted a bottle from Cash and sat in one of the four matching armchairs. Alana followed suit, and Cash sank into the chair beside her.
“Let me think. It was probably back in November. Libby came home with Penny and found the back door wide open.” He gestured to the French doors off the living room. “They knocked out a pane on the door, reached in, and bam—they were inside.”
“In broad daylight?” Juliette asked. “Bold.”
“Sounds like they knew you’d be gone.” Alana screwed the cap onto her water bottle. “They didn’t take anything?”
“Nothing I could find. The police thought Libby interrupted them and they took off. She didn’t see anyone, and I didn’t have surveillance cameras at the time, so we’ll never know for sure.”
Alana had faced off with Jeremy Black in her own backyard. She could think of too many bad scenarios for Libby and Penny if they’d walked in to find Black in the house. “Close call, though. You think the break-in has anything to do with the attempted kidnappings?”
“I doubt Trejo was behind it. The timing isn’t right. I went back and checked the records. I didn’t see his brother in the OR until a few weeks ago.”
“I think I’ll do another exterior perimeter check and leave you two to noodle it out.” Juliette rose and left through the back door. With such a large estate, they’d decided to perform outside security sweeps every thirty minutes and inside every hour.
Cash leaned in. “Do you think Rocco could come over for a while? I think it would help Penny to have him around. He eases her anxiety. If it’s too dangerous, you don’t have to, of course.”
The fear she’d seen in the little girl’s eyes earlier tore at her heartstrings. “After all she’s been through, I want to do whatever I can to make Penny feel safe and secure. With two bodyguards and your security system, we should be fine. I’ll call Noelle and ask if she can bring Rocco over.”
Cash’s eyes softened. He reached over and squeezed her hand. “Thanks, Alana.”
There went her ears again. Flaming hot. She distracted herself by pulling her phone out and making the call. “Hey, Noelle. Can you do me a favor? At the shift change, can you bring Rocco with you? After what happened today, we thought Penny could use a friend.”
“Not a problem,” Noelle said. “Let me wrap a few things up and I’ll be on my way. Shift change is in an hour anyway.”
She checked her watch. “Wow. Lost track of time. Thanks for doing that. I’ll see you in a bit.”
“No worries.”
Alana disconnected the call. “Noelle will be here with Rocco in an hour. She’ll take over for Juliette then.”
“I better wake Penny. I don’t want her to sleep too late.”
“Good idea.” Alana smiled, remembering she’d learned that lesson with Rocco the hard way. “While you do that, I’m going to check the windows and doors on the lower level.”
After a thorough interior security check, Alana returned to the living room. She smiled at the sight of Penny and Cash together underneath the grand piano in his expansive living room. They’d built a cozy fort out of pillows and blankets that enclosed the space on three sides to make the perfect hiding spot. Fairy lights draped under the piano glowed a soft yellow. With a door made from sheer curtains, it looked like a secret world hidden away from the rest of the house.
As she was admiring their handiwork, the doorbell rang. For some reason she said, “I got it,” even though she’d already said only an Elite Guardian would answer the door.
Through the peephole, she saw Noelle and Rocco waiting. The door was half open when Rocco rushed inside and threw himself at her waist. She caught her son in a hug and squeezed him. “I really missed you today, bud.”
Noelle closed the door and turned the deadbolt. “Tell your mom what you told me in the car.”