“Come on, baby girl.” Ryder slipped from her seat and opened the back door to get Ebony out. She undid the seat belt and pulled her into her arms, head over one shoulder, and pushed the door shut before walking up the back path to her door, keys ready in her hand. Taking the steps two at a time, Ryder reached the landing and lifted the key to slide it in the door and paused.
The door wasn’t shut. It was ajar but only by mere inches. Her heart pounded and she told herself to be calm. Did I shut it properly when I left? Could Eb have opened it after I closed it? Nobody would come here to steal anything. They lived out of town and didn’t have anything valuable. Raising her foot, she pushed the door open, one hand holding her daughter to her chest. It would make sense to go back and put her in the truck, but Ryder convinced herself she was making something out of nothing.
Still, her cop training kicked in and she stepped into the room. Clear. The words came to her automatically. Ears on alert, she listened a moment before walking into the dining room and glancing around. Nothing seemed disturbed so Ryder proceeded into the hallway, checking each bedroom as she went. In Ebony’s room, she placed her on the bed and pulled the blankets over her, tucking her in.
Idiot, you forgot to shut the door. Be more careful in future. “Night baby.” She pulled the door half closed and rolled her shoulders as she headed back to the kitchen. After a scare like that, a glass of wine would go down well while watching the sun disappear behind the horizon.
A shadow streaked in front of her and she put her hands up to defend herself, squealing in fright. The cat raced out the back door, down the steps, and raced across the driveway to the barn. Ryder stood stupidly watching her, cursing herself for being such a scaredy cat. The drive home had done nothing to settle her nerves and she hated the feeling she got looking at her grandfather. He was an old man. Harmless if you could believe everyone she’d spoken too. But still something niggled at her.
The poor cat must have gotten a bigger fright the way she bolted out of the house. When her heart stopped pounding, Ryder poured herself a glass of wine and looked at her watch before grabbing the phone and sitting on the back step. After a few steadying sips she dialled an overseas number.
“Hello, Mum. How are you?”
“Ryder, it’s so good to hear your voice. Tell me what you’ve been up to and how that granddaughter of mine is loving her new home.”
Ryder proceeded to fill her mother in on what had happened since their last talk and tried to casually bring up the barbeque. “Why did we leave Australia?”
There was a pause on the other end as if her mother was choosing the right words. “Your father was the one who wanted to leave. I loved living in Mudgee. It’s a beautiful place and we had our little farm.” Ryder could hear the sadness in her voice. “But your daddy got it in his head we should move back to the States because I was missing my family. Never really said why, but I get the feeling he had a falling out with his father that they couldn’t get past. Is there something happening I should know about, Ryder?”
“No, I don’t think so. I got invited to a barbeque to meet the family today and some friends. I met Grandad.”
“And?” Her mother sucked in a breath.
“He gave me the creeps, Momma. I don’t know why ‘cause he was nice enough, but something about him made my skin crawl.” Silence met her words and a niggle crept up her back. “You know something you’re not saying.”
“Not really, honey. It’s just weird that he gave you the heebies when you were a little girl too. Used to tell you how pretty you were and one day you came home and cut all of your hair off. I was devastated because you had such pretty hair. You never let it grow long again.”
“I’m going over some cold cases where two children from town were snatched. People around say he had something to do with it, but nobody can find a connection. Are you sure Dad didn’t say anything to you about him?”
“Nothing, I swear. He was always nice enough to me and we got on well. No reason to blame him for anything that I can tell. Saying your grandchild’s pretty isn’t reason enough to blame someone for something that nasty. Besides, kids take scissors to their hair on plenty of occasions. We didn’t think anything of it.”
“No, I guess not.” They spoke for another few minutes and finally said their goodbyes. Ryder sat and looked out into the darkness wondering why she reacted to the old man like she had.
Chapter 8
“Mum, stop please. I like her but the way you’re going you’ll have us married given half a chance. You’re going to scare her away and blow any inkling I have of having a shot with her.”
“Oh, so you do fancy her. I knew it after watching the two of you yesterday. You seemed rather protective of someone who you work with, Jake.” Alice beamed with satisfaction.
“Just don’t go laying it on thick or you’ll have her running for the woods and who could blame her?”
