“Let’s look at it in the kitchen,” Dale told him, already leading the way. “Everyone’s waiting.”
Especially him. With luck, they’ll get an ID.
“Hey, everyone,” Carter greeted, walking straight to the island where he set up his tablet. “I pulled the feed from the cameras at the barn. You’re gonna want to see this. It happened twelve minutes after Sadie left this early morning.”
Dale exchanged a glance with her and then Gabe before they all gathered around Carter, who tapped the screen, bringing up the video. The footage showed the interior of the barn, still somewhat dimly lit in the morning light. A figure in a dark hoodie moved stealthily through the shadows, their face obscured by the hood. The intruder moved with purpose, heading straight for the stalls, keeping their head down, as if knowing where the cameras were.
Dammit.
“Watch this,” Carter said, zooming in on the footage.
Chapter Eleven
The figure approached Orion and Triton’s stalls, quickly and expertly putting halters on both horses. Then, with a practiced motion, the intruder slid the stall doors open, leaving them ajar. The horses shifted nervously but didn’t bolt. The person then walked to the barn doors on the driveway side, opened them wide before walking backward, using the shadows until he stopped in the middle of the barn. And it was definitely a guy. Dale could tell by his stride, broad shoulders, and the way he moved, as well as his hands.
He observed the trespasser reach into his pockets, and a moment later, the guy threw something near the bench. Tiny flashes of light lit the shadows and loud cracks echoed through the barn as firecrackers went off.
Sadie gasped but continued to watch the scene play out.
The horses spooked instantly, rearing up and galloping out of the barn in a frenzy, their hooves thundering across the ground as they bolted into the driveway.
“Son of a…” he muttered under his breath, his fists clenching at his sides. “That was deliberate and calculated.”
Gabe nodded, his voice grim. “This wasn’t some random prank by adolescents.”
“We need to get ahead of this.” Mac’s jaw was tight. “Whoever’s behind this isn’t done. We have to assume this person, or persons are watching and waiting for another opportunity.”
Dale glanced at woman still staring at the screen, concern tightening his chest. “They’re not going to get another one with Sadie.”
“I’m okay,” she said, lifting her gaze to his, sending him a sweet smile before sipping her coffee.
Well,hewasn’t okay, and he would do everything in his power to keep her safe and out of harm’s way from now on. “You need a security system, too.”
“He’s right,” Gabe said.
RJ and Dean nodded.
“No question about it,” Cooper agreed.
Sadie stiffened and her eyes widened. “Wait, what? Here? In my house?”
“And your garage and apartment above,” Gabe added. “My wife would box my ears if anything happened to your work area.”
“Mine, too.”
“Same here.”
RJ and Dean spoke at the same time.
Mac straightened and turned to face Sadie. “Look, we can’t take any chances. Whoever this is clearly has no problem escalating things. We need to make sure you’re protected.”
Dale was grateful his buddies were backing him up on this issue and hoped some of what they were saying was getting through to her.
She crossed her arms, her expression a mix of frustration and resignation. “I don’t like the idea of turning my house into Fort Knox. It’s just me here.”
“What about Harper?” Dean asked, causing Sadie’s brows to crash together. “According to Loni, it sounds like your cousin might move down here.”
Again, RJ nodded. “That’s what Lori said, too.”
