He switched on the light. “What are you doing?”
“Turn it off,” she whispered without moving.
Owen did as she asked and then trailed across the room to stand behind her. “What is it?”
She jerked her chin toward the old, abandoned house. “Do you see him?”
“See who?” Owen leaned in closer to the glass, his gaze scanning the front of the two-story house.
Jessica moved over a few inches to give him some room. “The boy in the window.”
Owen squinted against the street light glare and searched every window on the front of that house. “I don’t see anyone.”
“There!” Jess whispered impatiently. “Top, left window.”
Nothing moved that he could see. Not a curtain, a shadow, or a light. “It was probably just a reflection from the street light. Come on, let’s go to bed.”
Jessica stiffened. “You think I imagined it.” It wasn’t a question.
“I didn’t say that, Jess.”
She turned to face him, her eyes gleaming in the light of the moon spilling through the window. “You didn’t have to. I can hear it in your voice.”
Owen wanted to ask her if she’d taken some of her emergency meds, but he decided against it. It would only anger her even more. “What you hear in my voice is exhaustion. If you think you saw something in that window…then I believe you.”
“I didn’t see something, Owen. I saw someone. It looked like the same child I saw earlier today.
Blowing out a patient breath, Owen took hold of her arm and pulled her against his chest. “I’m sorry, hon. I’m just tired. It could be anyone. In fact, it’s probably the local hangout spot for the neighborhood kids. They’re probably up there right now smoking cigarettes and playing spin the bottle like we did at their age.”
Jessica relaxed against him. “I didn’t think of that.”
“Come on, let’s go.” Owen kissed the top of her head and led her back toward the hall.
Once in the bedroom, he pulled back the covers and climbed into their king-size bed.
Jess hesitated before joining him.
She rolled toward him, and to his surprise, placed her head on his chest. “I’m sorry I’ve been so distant. I’m trying, Owen. I really am.”
Owen’s heart twisted. He understood how difficult it was for Jess to open up to him. She’d remained closed off since Jacob’s passing. “I know you are, babe. I just want you to understand that I’m not going anywhere. I love you more than anything.”
She lifted her head and met his gaze. “That means a lot. I love you, too. I may not show it very often, but I do.”
He cupped her head in his palm and tugged her back down to his chest. “Get some sleep. We have a big day tomorrow.”
Chapter Seven
Jessica remained on Owen’s chest long after his breathing became even.
With sleep eluding her, she eased to her side of the bed and tossed back the covers.
Taking one last look at her now snoring husband, she inched out of bed and crept quietly from the room.
It didn’t surprise her to find herself back in the living room, staring at the old, abandoned house.
Nothing moved in that upstairs window, no matter how long she stood there watching it. Of course, it was almost midnight…the boy would have gone home by then.
Just as she was about to give up her vigil and return to bed, something moved behind the darkened pane.
Jessica pressed her nose to the glass, stunned to find the boy staring back at her from his previous position.
The street light reflected off the pale skin of his face, leaving no doubt that he watched her as she watched him.
What could he be doing up there? And why was no one looking for him? If that were her child, she’d be frantically running up and down the street, calling his name.
She gave up her post, long enough to grab her robe and slippers, and then hurried outside.
The same, cold wind she’d experienced earlier that day, blew through the trees, lifting her hair from her neck.
Jessica paused, her gaze darting around the cul-de-sac before coming to rest on the red brick house. Thankfully, no lights were on inside.
Instead of going to the front of the abandoned house, she skirted to the back and tried the door to find it locked.
She stepped over to the side and tried the window to the right of the door. It slid open effortlessly.
With a rush of adrenaline, Jessica rested her hands on the window sill and heaved herself over. A relieved breath escaped her lungs when her feet touched the floor on the other side.
“Hello?” She could barely see her way around the darkened room—the streetlight coming through the front windows, her only guide. “Little boy?”
As her eyes adjusted enough to her surroundings, she could make out the tiled pattern of the floor. She was in the kitchen.
She carefully moved forward into what appeared to be a den. An old fireplace sat along the west wall, opposite a staircase.
Jessica inched across the room, gripped the banister, and rested her foot on the bottom step. “Hey, kid?”
Silence.
She glanced behind her, noting the closed, front door before stepping fully onto the stairs. The wood creaked beneath her weight, echoing off the walls of the empty house and sending her stomach into a somersault.
Taking a calming breath, Jess held tightly to the banister and slowly climbed the stairs. “I’m coming up.”
After reaching the top, she turned left, stopping outside the room where she’d seen the child.
She gripped the knob and slowly turned it. The door squeaked open with the slightest push. Jessica followed, stepping into the room to find it empty.
Her gaze swept the area, coming to land on what appeared to be a closet. She trailed over to the closed door and tugged it open. Empty as well.
Where could he have gone?
Closing the closet door, Jess turned and bit back a gasp. There, staring out that window, stood the small boy in the striped T-shirt.
She noticed his jeans were too short, and he wore no shoes. “Hi there.”
He remained still, as if he hadn’t heard her. She wondered if perhaps he couldn’t hear. “Little boy?”
Moving closer, she lifted her hand to touch his shoulder, only to jerk it back with the sound of heavy footballs coming up the stairs.
Jess spun to face the door in time to watch the beefy, balding neighbor storm into the room.
“You better have a damn good reason for being in here,” he growled, barreling toward her.
Jessica stumbled back a step, her hands out in front of her. “I was just checking on the boy. It’s after midnight, and—”
“What boy?”
She gestured behind her. “I saw him in the window. I—”
“I don’t know what sort of game you think you’re playing, but I’m calling the police.”
“Game?” Jess glanced behind her to find the boy not there. Her gaze scanned the room in disbelief, anxiety mingling with panic. “He was just here!”
The irate man grabbed her by the arm and yanked her forward, his breath reeking of alcohol. “You’re going to jail for breaking and entering.”
He continued to speak, but Jess was no longer listening. The boy she’d seen standing at the window had disappeared as if he’d never been there.
Was she losing her mind? Had she finally snapped under the grief of losing Jacob and had now become delusional? She wasn’t sure anymore.
Jess brought her attention back to the snarling man in front of her. “Please…I’m sorry. I thought I saw a child standing in that window. I would have never come up here, otherwise.”
“Eustice?” a meek, feminine voice called, coming up the stairs. “Is everything alright?”
A woman that looked to be in her early fifties stepped into the room, wearing a floral print robe and slippers. Her once brown hair was peppered with gray and stood on end as if she’d just rolled out of bed. “My goodness, what is this?”
Jessica met the woman’s gaze. “I’m sorry, ma’am. I didn’t mean to cause all this fuss. It was just a misunderstanding is all.”
The woman’s eyes appeared nervous. “You must be the new neighbor.”