“Not
yet,” he agreed carefully. “If we do, we lose control of the narrative.”
She
looked at him, surprised. “You think he’d dismiss it.”
“I
think he’d try to make it small,” Lucas said. “And whoever’s doing this would
love that.”
Skye
nodded slowly. “they’d know we were scared enough to call for help then.”
“And
because they’d know exactly what we’ve handed over,” he added. “Photographs
don’t stay quiet once they hit an evidence locker.”
Her
lips pressed together. “I hate that you’re right.”
“So
do I.”
Lucas
picked up the Polaroid again, studying the angle and the framing. He’d spent
years behind a lens. He knew what was accidental and what was deliberate.
“This
wasn’t taken by an amateur,” he said. “See the composition? The way you’re
centered but reflected in the glass? That takes intention.”
Skye
hugged herself. “So, they know photography.”
“They
understand it,” he corrected. “Which means they understand me.”
The
realization settled heavily in his chest. He crossed to the front windows,
scanning the street outside. People moved freely about laughing,
shopping, and joyfully living their small-town lives. Nothing looked
threatening and that was the problem.
~~~~
Release Day April 30, 2026!
Amazon US: https://tinyurl.com/32yxznv2 / Series: https://bit.ly/4pCtfrJ
Amazon UK: https://bit.ly/4pEsZst
Add to want to read list: Goodreads: https://bit.ly/4altB1F / BookBub: https://bit.ly/3XkQElF