Free The Black Feather by Olivia Claire High Page B

at his watch and opened the backdoor. He stepped outside to look in the yard, but there wasn’t any sign of Suzanne. He was beginning to feel uneasy about her continued absence, despite her warning him that she’d be staying to visit with her neighbors. Just how long could it take to deliver the food, maybe sit and have a cup of coffee while they ate, and head back? Had she stayed to help with the clearing up and lost track of time?
    He looked at his watch again. Whatever the reason for her staying away it seemed to him it was more than enough time to do what she had to do and be home by now. His restlessness increased until his whole body felt like a rubber band ready to snap. He’d waited long enough. He didn’t care what the old folks thought about him showing up at their door. It was time he paid them a call.
    Thad rang the doorbell. He heard a safety chain slide into place and waited impatiently until the door opened just wide enough for a man to peer at him.
    “Yes?”
    “I’m sorry to bother you, sir. I’m a friend of Suzanne’s. I’ve been staying with her the last few days. You may have seen me around outside.”
    “Oh yes, I believe I have. What can I do for you, young man?”
    Thad chuckled.
    “To tell you the truth I’m getting a little lonely all by myself in the house. I was wondering when Suzanne might be coming back. We planned to watch a movie together.”
    “I don’t understand. Are you saying she’s not at home?”
    Thad’s stomach muscles quickly tightened.
    “No she’s not. I assumed she was still here with you.”
    “Why no. She left quite a while ago. She said she’d come back tomorrow to collect her bowls.”
    Alarm mixed with fury. Thad had to force himself to keep the anger out of his voice.
    “Did she mention she might be going someplace else? Perhaps to visit another neighbor close by?”
    “Not that I recall. Oh my goodness. Perhaps she’s hurt somewhere. Should I call the police?”
    Thad shook his head.
    “She probably went to the store. She said something about being out of popcorn. No need to call anyone. I’ll just wait for her to return. I apologize for worrying you.”
    “You be sure and let me know when you find her.”
    “You bet. Goodnight now.” Thad started to walk away, but stopped. “Just out of curiosity, did she ask to borrow your car? She thought she heard a funny noise in hers today and wanted to have it checked out,” he said, continuing to improvise.
    “No she didn’t mention the car, but she told me about her phones.”
    “Her phones?”
    “She said the house phone is on the blink and her cell needed a charge, so she asked to use ours. Do you want to use it, too?”
    Thad kept his expression bland, but anger at Suzanne’s deception dug at him like razor sharp claws.
    “I forgot about her phones. Mine’s fine. I should have told her that. Thanks again for your help.”
    “Don’t forget to let me know if she’s all right.”
    “Will do.”
    Thad whipped out his phone as soon as he heard the door close. Frustration and worry warred inside him as he jogged back to the house. He couldn’t believe Suzanne would run off after promising to come back. What part of your life is in danger did the woman not understand? He cursed himself for trusting her and cursed her even more for taking advantage of that trust.
     
     
     

 
     
     
     
    Seven
     
    Thad knew he probably wouldn’t have discovered Suzanne’s destination so quickly if he didn’t have the right resources to tap into. It embarrassed and infuriated him that he’d ended up having to ask for assistance. He must be losing his edge, or she’d messed with his mind enough to make him trust her. She never should have been able to slip away from him so easily.
    Either way, he vowed it wasn’t going to happen again. If Suzanne thought he’d been watching her too closely before, this reckless stunt just cost her any chance at privacy. He never thought she would use her neighbors as a