Warning Signs (Love Inspired Suspense) by Katy Lee Page B

signed, “At least we still have the cookies.”
    Owen’s dark eyes flashed with remorse. His hand fisted at his chest to sign, “I’m sorry. I wanted to help, but you were doing fine without me. I should have stayed over there. I should have stayed out of your way.”
    Out of my way? He wanted to avoid me, like everyone else? “What if I told you I was tired of people staying out of my way?”
    His head tilted a bit. “What do you mean?”
    “You’re my first visitor. When I came here, all I wanted was to make some friends. Instead, I walk down the boardwalk and the people dip back inside or cross so they won’t pass me by. If they do pass, they barely look me in the eyes.”
    “I’m sure they only do these things because of Nick. He’s probably been misrepresenting you since you arrived.”
    “Possibly, but I think they’re also uncomfortable around me because of the language barrier. They choose to avoid me instead. They choose to stay out of my way, when all I want is for them to—”
    The lights flickered.
    Owen’s stoic expression seemed to dare her to continue with the truth. “Do you need to get that?”
    She nodded but didn’t move.
    The lights flickered again, snapping her into motion. She left him alone in the kitchen, deciding it was best to not play this truth-and-dare game.
    Her phone system sat on her desk in the living room. She pushed the button to answer. A message scrawled across the screen. Look out your front window.
    As she pivoted to follow the directions, she collided with Owen’s chest. Miriam jumped back and saw his eyes weren’t on her but on the screen. He read along, then without a word, made his way to the front parlor in brisk strides.
    She followed on his heels to the front bay window. He blocked her view with the height he had on her, but on her tiptoes, she could make out something silhouetted in the moonlight at the end of her pebbled walkway. Owen’s arm came back around, shoving her away from the window before she could identify the object.
    “Stay!” his hand commanded, then reached behind his waist and removed a gun she’d had no idea he had on him. Stunned by the shiny black weapon, positioned at the ready in his hand, she felt her legs lock in place as he flipped up the safety latch.
    He swung the front door wide and peered out from beside the doorjamb. After a tense moment, Owen slunk out onto the front porch with careful steps. From there, he disappeared from view.
    Miriam inched forward to investigate what was out there that would make him react with such caution. Owen had told her to stay, but if she was careful not to be seen from the window, then she would be safe. Besides, Owen might need her assistance. To do what, she wasn’t sure, but she still figured she should know what was going on in front of her house.
    She dropped to a crouch and crawled to eye level with the window trim, then nudged up a little more to get a clear view of the walkway.
    Owen’s back hunched over the object, blocking her view. His gun protruded from the waistband of his pants, glinting off the porch light. If he’d holstered it, did that mean the coast was clear and it was safe for her to proceed, as well?
    With that thought, she gained her feet and went to the front door. She halted at the threshold when she could make out a dark liquid on the white pebbles. A coffee spill came to mind. Perhaps it was her wishful thinking because the truth was too hard to grasp.
    If that was blood on her walkway, then the object was a living thing. And it was hurt.
    An animal? A person? She turned away, toward the direction of her phone. She could call the TTY operator and have them call 911. But what would she tell them? At this point, she didn’t know what was out there.
    She veered back. Owen had a phone to his ear, already making the call. That eased her from feeling like a failure in the situation. She wanted to help, but it would take her longer to be productive if she had to use her