Chapter 1

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Chapter 1

Brynn

Getting up this morning, I want an easy day. I'm tired and not sleeping well. I haven't slept well for six months. The nightmares haunt me constantly. Images of her hurting the ones I love. The warnings she's sent me that I haven't told a soul about. And the feeling of being watched constantly.

I'm the weak link according to Lindsey. Leo and Quinn stuck together when Hope was in danger. Beckett and Aubrey overcame every hurdle Lindsey put in their path. But she broke me, she got her hooks into Ethan and I was alone. I've been alone since that day.

I thought we had gotten past Lindsey. I thought she had moved on but I was wrong. Ethan and I have remained distant since she maneuvered her way into his bed years ago. I thought by keeping away from him her torture would end. She's only gotten worse.

Beckett and Aubrey became her target and then Quinn and Leo. But they remained solid and Lindsey failed to break them. If anything they became stronger from her torment. It's like she doesn't want anyone to be happy. She wants to be the center of attention for every man in the area. And she'll stop at nothing to get it.

That scares me.

She likes to play with her prey. She enjoys it. And she hasn't stopped. She hasn't disappeared. She's just waiting for the opportunity to strike again. I know this because she's coming for me.

Lindsey sees me as the only one who is afraid of her. I've seen what she's capable of. I've witnessed it firsthand. I would be crazy not to be scared. She's put each of us in danger at some point in the last year. And has proven she is crazy.

Pushing the covers off, I throw my legs over the side of the bed and feel every muscle ache. I'm so out of shape. I've been spending every waking moment working at the coffee shop and at the new dinner house. I've avoided being alone and I do everything possible to stay away. I don't want the images in my head again.

I want to go back to normal.

I want my dinner house to be perfect. I love Perking Up. My coffee and sweets are a joy and my baby. But the dinner house is a dream come true. Georgia has such a generous heart, I can't imagine how I would have been able to do this without her. Paige feels the same way.

Georgia has made a lot of changes around here. From the Inn and the business she's generated from there to the hope that has infected Moss Bluff. It's contagious the way it's has moved from one business to another. Everyone is backing her as mayor and Markham doesn't like it.

He's lost his foothold on the business owners. He lost the faith of the people who have witnessed the way Georgia has helped the town prosper. Markham wants to be the big dog but he has met his match in Georgia. Even if she doesn't stay, she has changed things for the better. I don't think Moss Bluff will ever be the same.

Getting up, I go to the window and look across the street at my dream. It's too soon for the sun to come up, my three am wake up is the middle of the night for most. Not me. Not when you own a bakery and customers expect hot fresh pastries and breads daily.

No one is out and moving yet. It's hard to move before the sun. Through the dim light at the park I can see the outline of the building between Aubrey's clinic and the Inn. The big tarp covers the entryway keeping the lookie loos from getting a peek too soon.

Smiling, knowing what is under the tarp, I enjoy my little secret for now. Once that tarp comes down, I hope everyone will be as excited as I am about it. Knowing it's time to get going, I start to turn away when I see the tarp move.

Frowning, I focused on where, I swear, was movement and strain to see in the darkness. What did I see? Could it be Beckett or one of the others working this early? I doubt it, but someone is over there.

Risking being late to open the shop, I rush around the room. Quickly throwing on my clothes that I had tossed on the floor last night, I grab my jacket and keys before I hurry down the steps and run across the street.

Pushing the tarp aside, I use the temporary key Beckett gave me and enter the quiet dining room. Reaching out, I feel along the wall for the light switch. Flipping the switch, nothing happens. No power at all. That's not normal.

"Hello! I know you're in here!" Making my presence known, I carefully begin my search for the person I know I saw. "Stop playing games, Ethan! I already saw you come in!"

Nothing, no response. Working my way through the dining room, I head for the kitchen. Getting to the doorway, I hear a loud creaking noise, like feet on a loose floorboard. Spinning around, and straining my eyes again, searching for the reason for the sound again.

I know someone is here. I hear them breathing. Harsh short breaths as if they are excited about this moment. A drop of sweat rolls down my spine and I know I'm not alone. Hoping it's just one of the boys trying to scare me, I have to work to keep the fear out of my voice.

"Leo? Beckett?" I called again. "This isn't funny, Ethan!"

So much for not sounding scared. I'm scared shitless! I'm going to laxatives in their brownies if it's those boys! This isn't funny, it's just cruel. There's a creaking sound again then what sounds like a pot falling to the floor.

The loud clatter makes me jump. I don't know how I managed to not scream. I've never been this scared. Trying to keep as still as possible, I hope my other senses will kick in and help me out. Listening to the silence, I wait, holding my breath, for another sound.

Nothing.

There's nothing but a cold shiver down my spine as darkness surrounds me. Who snuck in here and why? It's a construction site. There's nothing here worth stealing yet. Maybe some power tools but I doubt the guys left anything of value just laying around.

Small town aside, kids will be kids and sneaking around a construction can be fun for a teenager who is looking for something to entertain them. I don't know any of them who would be interested in doing this at three a.m.

Determined to find the prankster, I continued my search. Heading back to the kitchen, I look in the office, the storage room, and the beverage room, nothing.  I continue around the prep stations and go back further to the wall-in freezer. Unlatching the door, I poke my head in, aiming the light from my phone around the room. There's nothing but empty shelves and some extra floorboards.

"Of course there's no one in here, you idiot! It was locked from the outside." Chastising myself, I relax. I'm overreacting again. "You really need to get a grip, Brynn. Everyone is going to think you're crazy."

"I don't." The voice came from behind me and was too close to my ear for comfort.

Spinning around to face the intruder, I'm met with a hard crack, something is swung, hitting me in the side of the head hard. The impact sends me flying. Flapping my arms, I lose my balance.

Dropping my phone from my hand, I slip on the slick floor, falling backwards. It happens so fast I don't get a chance to cushion my fall. My head smacks something sharp, right on my temple and the pain screams through my head.

I hear a familiar laugh and I try to get up but the room tilts and spins. Ugh! I feel sick. Laying back, I pray for this feeling to pass. Maybe if I stay down and still, whoever is in here will leave, thinking they knocked me out.

My eyes are heavy though and the urge to give in to sleep is strong. Pushing myself up again, I sit up and the floor rushes up to catch me again. What did I hit?

Touching the side of my head, my fingers come back wet and sticky. Blood, I'm bleeding. That's not good. There's towels in here somewhere. I saw them a minute ago when I had my phone. I have to find that too. I need help.

This isn't the boys and it's definitely not a kid wanting to play a joke. This person is out for blood. There's only one person I know who has that cold blood running through her veins. Lindsey. It has to be her.

And I'm alone, injured and in pain. I need my phone and I need to call the police and Ethan. I need help. There's a scuffle sound right before a clatter of metal. My phone. It has to be my phone that was kicked or tossed away. What direction was that?

Keeping on my hands and knees, I crawl, feeling for my phone, searching for something I can use to protect myself. I don't have many options. There's no utensils, no knives, nothing I can use for a weapon. Wishing for a nail gun or crow bar, I stretch my arm out and feel for anything that might help.

Something scurries over my hand and I scream. "Damn it!" A rat probably or a small raccoon. We've still got walls open in area's and there are traps in corners trying to clear the rodents out.

I need to get out of here. Screw who it is, I can't do this alone. Dragging myself across the floor, I hear the main door slam shut and  the lock is engaged. I'm locked in.

"No! No! Open the damn door!" I scream repeatedly, crawling across the cold floor. Banging my hands against the cold metal, I scream over and over. "Hey!! Open the door! I'm in here! Help!!"

There's no response.

I guess I just have to wait for the crew to arrive. Sitting with my back against the wall, I close my eyes to rest them as the throbbing in my temple begins to pound. There's nothing I can do until the crew gets here. Two hours. It'll be at least that before I get out of here. So much for hot cross buns this morning.

It hurts to think about it. I'm so tired. So worn out. Touching my temple, the feel of my fingers on the wound burns. Concussion probably. My thoughts begin to scatter, sleep is calling my name.

"Not supposed to sleep with a concussion." I remind myself but it doesn't help. I'm exhausted. I just want to curl up and sleep.

When the cold air begins to blow over my skin, goosebumps pop out and the chill down my spine has nothing to do with the cold. "The power is on. Oh God! The power is on!"

Getting a second wind, I push to my feet and start banging on the metal door again. I'm locked inside the freezer. The freezer has been turned on and I'm stuck inside.

"Let me out!!!" I bang again and again, screaming at the top of my lungs. Are they still here? Did the person leave? "Lindsey? I know it's you!" I can't scream. My voice is barely audible.

My lungs burn as breath comes out in misty puffs. "It's too cold. I'm hurt and it's too cold. Where's my phone?"

Getting to my hands and knees, I crawl around the floor feeling for my phone. I can't find it. Where is it? Panic starts to creep in knowing it will be hours before the crew starts to arrive for work.

I'm stuck and there's no way to get help.

Ethan

I prefer working early in the morning. A strong cup of coffee from Brynn's place, maybe a hot cinnamon roll - my favorite, and I'm ready to get to work. Pulling into the dinner house parking lot, there isn't a car in sight.

"Just the way I like it." Whistling a snappy tune, I climb out of the truck and closing the door, I head out of the lot and directly for sustenance.

Crossing the street, I wave to Aubrey and Beckett, who just pulled up in front of the clinic. Beckett motions for me to wait and gives Aub a kiss goodbye, runs his hand over the mound of baby belly and gives the two dogs a scratch before jogging my way.

"Sorry, we ran late this morning. Aubrey couldn't get her shoes on." He smirks at my frown. "She can't reach her feet anymore. Anyway, I had to help her get them on while she cried it out."

"Aubrey doesn't cry!" I stop walking to glare at him, not liking that he thinks it's funny.

"She does when she's pregnant. She's fine, Ethan. It's her hormones, that's all. She's just fine. That's what Georgia said and I'm trusting her about this." Patting my shoulder, Beck reaches out to open the door, only to find it locked up tight. "That's odd. I wonder if she got distracted in the kitchen or something."

"She sets an alarm on her phone just in case. She is never late opening up." Looking in the window, the interior lights are off, no coffee is made, the window cabinet that holds her goodies is empty, the chairs are still on top of the tables. It looks like she hasn't even come down yet.

"She hasn't been sleeping well. Maybe she just needs a day off." Not likely. Brynn lives and breathes cooking. It's therapeutic for her.

"How do you know that?" Frowning at Beckett, the hair on the back of my neck stood straight up.

"Aubrey told me. Lack of sleep can make you want to sleep in." For him yeah, even for me. But not Brynn, the woman is the energizer bunny.

Something isn't right. This isn't normal.

"I'm going around back. See if she overslept." Jogging around to the back of the building, I dug out the key to her back door. She gave me it when I was redoing her bathroom upstairs. I never gave it back to her. Maybe it's a good thing I didn't.

Going upstairs, I knock first, not feeling comfortable just walking in on her. "Brynn? Brynn, are you awake?"

Pushing the door open, I find nothing. Everything is in its place. Not a dish in the sink, not a pillow out of place. Moving through her small apartment, I go to the bedroom door and knock again.

"Brynn? Honey? Are you here?" Pushing the bedroom door open, that's where I find the first clues. Her bed is unmade, her purse is on the floor, its contents scattered everywhere. Brynn is a neat freak. She doesn't leave her bed unmade, she doesn't toss her things around like this. "Brynn!? Damn it, answer me!"

"She's not here." Turning around, Mitzi is in the doorway. "I came by earlier to get my tea. When I didn't find her downstairs, I came up here thinking maybe she overslept."

"Brynn doesn't oversleep." I growl, knowing she is in trouble.

"I know. I couldn't find her. Her car is parked outside and everything looks fine but... after everything you kids have been through this spring, I just thought... You'll let me know if you find her? I'll call you if I hear anything." She will. Mitzi might be nosy but she is a sweet old lady who cares about all of us.

"Yeah." I nod as Beckett comes in.

"No sign of her. Any chance she decided to go over to the restaurant?" Beckett offers some hope.

"Maybe." Distracted, I hurry out of the building with Beckett on my heels as we jog across the street to the dinner house.

Pushing the tarp back, I no sooner get the key in the lock when I hear a phone ring. Beckett and I begin looking around, trying to figure out where the ringing is coming from.

Inside one of the construction buckets, buried under rags and trowels was the phone, Aubrey's face flashing on the screen.

"It's Brynn's." I tell Beckett and connect the call. "Aubrey, she's missing! Brynn is gone!"

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