“You think this is tied to the other stuff?”
Dean hesitates. “Yeah. I do.”
I don’t want to ask the next question, but I have to. “It’s directed at me, right? I mean, it has to be.”
He doesn’t say anything for a long time. “Why don’t we wait and see what the police think.”
Which is not the same as a denial. I know that. He knows that.
But who the hell would target me like this? I comb my brain for thoughts on who I’ve pissed off recently. My breakup with Raleigh wasn’t pretty, but I can’t see him setting out to scare me. Besides, Val said she saw him in Paris. It doesn’t add up.
Outside, Amy is shoving the snake into an oversized evidence bag. The balloons are still inflated, and even though I know the snake’s not real, it makes my skin crawl.
Seeing us watching her, Amy holds up a finger. “One second. Let me log this into evidence, and I’ll be right back.”
“Is it okay for us to come out?” Dean asks.
“Sure, it’s clear,” she says. “Just try not to touch anything.”
I glance down to where Dean’s still gripping my hand. I don’t think he notices, and I also don’t think that’s what she means by touching, but I still feel guilty. The pleasure of feeling his skin against mine far outweighs the guilt, so I say nothing.
Dean gives my hand another squeeze. “Want to go out? It might help with the closure or something.”
“You sound like you’ve been talking to Mari.”
He gives me an odd look. “I have, actually.”
Before I can ask, he lets go of my hand and strides out onto the deck ahead of me. I wrap Roughneck’s leash around my wrist and follow. I don’t know why I’m scanning the deck like there’s something Amy might have missed. I’m sure she did a thorough job, but I can’t help feeling creeped out. Like someone’s watching me.
Or maybe that’s Dean. His eyes sweep over me as I follow Roughneck to the edge of the deck. Amy comes back around the house, blessedly snake-free. She’s got a notepad in one hand and slips a pen out of her pocket as she climbs the steps to the deck.
“I’m not seeing any trace of prints, but we’ll see what the lab says.” She clicks her pen a couple times. “Have you noticed anything else unusual around here?”
“More unusual than a fake snake covered in balloons?” I shake my head. “Not really.”
“What about those cabins over there.” She waves a hand toward the bank of them just south of mine. “Anyone living there yet?”
“A few are occupied,” Dean says. “Lana’s in that one, and Mari’s on the far end. A couple of our new shopkeepers were going to start moving in this week.”
“How about beyond that?” She’s still scribbling on her notepad. “Past the trees over there. That’s the edge of Tia’s place, right?”
“That’s right.” Dean’s voice sounds tight.
“Okay, good.” Amy does some more scribbling, then looks up. “I’ll want to speak with anyone who could have seen anything.”
“Of course.” Dean clears his throat. “So you think this is more than a prank?”
Amy’s pale eyes study his face. “I think in the context of the other things you’ve had happening out here, we need to examine all angles.”
I bite my lip. “Should I be worried?” I hate how my voice shakes when I ask it. I hate even more that I have to ask.
Amy doesn’t say no right away. Or at all. “You should be cautious,” she says. “But this guy here can help protect you.”
I start to argue that I don’t need a man’s protection when Amy bends to scratch Roughneck’s ears. “You’re looking out for your mom, aren’t you? That’s a good boy.”
“He is a good boy,” I agree. And the fact that Amy Lovelin recognizes it makes me extra eager to hire her. “I’m sure he barked his head off at whoever did this.”
“Nice job, buddy.” She gives him one last scratch and straightens. “Here’s my card.” She hands it to me before nodding at Dean. “Obviously, Dean and I have been in communication, but you’re welcome to reach out anytime.”
“Thank you.” Dean glances at me. “It’s hard not to want to take this personally.”
Amy turns and trails her gaze over the field, scanning like she might have missed something. “It’s noteworthy that this message was so tailored to Vanessa’s fears,” she says. “Snakes are a common enough phobia, but balloons?”
“Right.” I glance at Dean, a little surprised