of fear, as if he was worried about being caught. “We need to gather the evidence then.”
“Adam would make sure they did. He’ll alert hospitals in the area to be on the lookout for someone who cut himself badly on a broken glass window,” Josh said, “if that’s what the injury was from.”
“They tried to open the window, but it was jammed.”
“I wondered about that,” Josh said.
“It was an old window and probably hasn’t been opened in a millennium. The frame had been painted over several times too. They were panicking, and finally one of them took a brass lamp and smashed the window, and it broke.”
“A brass lamp. Too bad the one who grabbed it didn’t leave fingerprints.” Josh said.
“They were wearing gloves.”
“Right. I’d seen them wearing them outside the shop, so I guess they didn’t remove them when they were looking for whatever the item was.” Josh took another drink of his beer. “They sound like they know somewhat what they’re doing, but they should have been listening for the sirens.”
“I’m sure the wolf had their full attention.” She finished her cocoa. “I need to make some calls. Someone has to board up the attic window until I can replace it—George, I guess—and I have to clean up the shop once the police are done with it. I need to lock it and set the security alarm too.”
“I’ll get with Adam and board up the window tonight,” Maverick said. “I suspect my brother, being the police detective first called to the scene, wants to stay here and serve and protect.”
“If that’s all right with you,” Josh said to Brooke.
“Thanks, Josh. And thanks, Maverick, for taking care of the window. Tell Adam thanks too.”
“I will. What’s the security code? We’ll set the alarm after we lock up. And we’ll need the keys,” Maverick said.
“They’re on the kitchen counter.” She gave him the security code.
“Got it.” Maverick headed out the back door, and Josh locked up.
The adrenaline rush had completely whooshed out of every cell in Brooke’s body, and she was suddenly very tired. She left the recliner and headed into the kitchen. Josh joined her in a heartbeat.
“Is there something I can get for you?”
“Some more hot cocoa? It really appeals.”
“Sure. Did you eat dinner?”
“Uh, I was going to fix something after I refilled the shelves in the shop and checked out the attic. But I never got to it.” Her eyes filled with annoying tears, and Josh quickly put the container of cocoa down and led her to the barstool.
“Hey, I know what you’re going through. The adrenaline rush has probably dissipated, and you’re upset about the mess in your shop when you’d worked so hard to get it ready for tomorrow. The fear of being shot to death, the worry the men will return, and the shock of being shot all take a toll. Even if the wounds were nothing major, it’s still a trauma to your system. Are you going to be okay?” He handed her a tissue from a box on the bar.
She wiped away the tears. “Yeah. It was a good sales day, and then tonight was a total nightmare.”
He made more cocoa for her and brought over the mug. “What can I fix you for dinner? Or do you want me to call for takeout?”
“Takeout. I don’t want to have to deal with a messy kitchen too. And I think the stove might be going out.”
“I’ll fix dinner.”
She didn’t want Josh to have to make a meal for them. She pointed to a bunch of takeout menus sitting in a pile on the other end of the counter. “Just pick something for me. I can’t think straight. I keep trying to figure out what the intruders were after. Oh, and they said if they couldn’t find it there, they were going to search my house while I was at the shop.”
“Hell.” He brought over the stack of menus. “Pizza? Chinese? Sandwiches?”
She closed her eyes and touched one of the menus. She opened her eyes. She’d pointed at the sandwich shop and knew just what she wanted without having to go through the menu. “Grilled ham-and-cheese sandwich, pickles, fries, and a hot fudge sundae.”
He chuckled. “I thought you couldn’t decide what to have and you were cold.”
“That’s my favorite from the restaurant. You can make me a mug of hot chocolate again after I eat the sundae. Chocolate takes the edge off.”
“Works for me.” Josh placed the order for her and ordered a hot