“And how do I explain why I’m out here?” he said. “If you get caught, you aren’t the only one who’s going to be in trouble.”
“We’ll be fine,” I said, stepping out into the bitter, cold night. “Relax, Trevor. I’ve got this. I’m not getting caught.”
I slammed the door shut and hurried across the road to the pasture. After wiggling through the barbed wire fence, I made my way through the snow to the barn, my boots crunching with each step. Perhaps the wine had given me a little courage, or maybe it was because I’d performed such illegal acts in my wild and carefree youth. I was getting into that barn and I hoped I found what I was looking for. After considering coming by myself, I’d brought Trevor along as backup. I had no intention of getting caught, but just in case I did, I liked the idea of having him with me. However, I wouldn’t allow him to do anything illegal or get in trouble for my bad choices. I’d take the blame for everything, which was the only right thing to do.
My working hypothesis was that yes, Tony did need his roof barn replaced. As I got closer, I saw it was very true, but there wasn’t a fresh shingle to be found. He’d also noted that money had been tight. He’d won the contract with City Hall to provide the reindeer for the Christmas Festival, but he could get more from an insurance company. Heck, for all I knew, he was going to attempt to double-dip and place a claim with his own insurance company and Charlie’s.
The barn stood far enough away from the house that there was no way Tony would see me coming, so I felt fairly confident that I would get in and out without any problem.
When I arrived at the door, I hadn’t expected it to be padlocked. Why lock a door to a barn that stood empty?
Or was it not supposed to be empty?
I hadn’t anticipated that I’d need bolt cutters.
With a curse, I walked to the other side in the hopes of finding another way in. Glancing up, I saw the windows were shut and I probably couldn’t reach them anyway. Not without a ladder or some other form of assistance. I trounced around the barn one more time and was about to give up when a hand landed on my shoulder.
Stifling a scream, I turned. Growing up with an older brother, I’d learned to defend myself. I brought up my palm and almost lodged it in my attacker’s nose.
Trevor.
“You just about scared me to death!” I hissed. Bending over, I placed my hands on my knees and took a couple of deep breaths. “You’re lucky I didn’t break your nose!”
“I’m glad you didn’t.”
I stood upright and placed my hands on my hips. “What are you doing here?”
“The sooner we get out of here, the better,” he whispered while his gaze darted toward the house in the distance. “So, I’m here to help.”
“The door is padlocked, and I can’t see in the windows. They’re too tall.”
“That’s where I come in,” he said. Bending over, he laced his hands together. “Step in there and I’ll lift you up.”
I placed my boot on his hands and he hoisted me up.
“See anything?” he asked.
“No.” I stepped back into the snow. “It’s too high.”
Muttering a curse under his breath, he stared up at the window again. “Okay, you’re going on my shoulders then.”
That idea just seemed so… personal, and it didn’t sit right. “I don’t think that’s necessary,” I said. “I mean, we can bust that lock and—”
“Gina, I’m a cop. I can’t bust a lock. Get on my shoulders and let’s get out of here.”
I tried to think of another excuse, but Trevor bent down before me. I swung one leg over and then the other.
With a grunt, he rose to his full height while gripping my shins. Meanwhile, I placed one hand on top of his head to help with my balance, and for a second, I was distracted by how soft his blond curls felt beneath my fingertips.
“What do you see?” he asked.
Right. The barn.
I glanced at the window. “Move closer. I can’t see in.”
He took a few steps toward the side of the building, and I realized that the windowpanes were covered in dirt. After wiping them with the sleeve of my coat, they only became slightly clearer. Most of the dirt was caked on the inside.
“What’s in there, Gina?” Trevor asked.
Desperately, I rubbed the glass again, then I pulled out my phone and turned on the flashlight.
My shoulders sagged in relief and a smile crept across my face. “There’s a red truck,” I said. I squinted in the other direction. “I’m not sure, but I think I see antlers.”
“Are you kidding me?” Trevor asked.
“No. If we go to the other side, I bet I can tell you for sure.”
With a chuckle, he set me down. “Good work. Let me call the sheriff and we’ll get a warrant for the barn.” He glanced around again. “Now, let’s get off his property.”
I followed him through the snow back to the truck, our breath making white clouds in front of our faces. Once inside, he started the car and phoned the sheriff while I tried to warm up my hands with the heater vents.
He hung up and turned to me. “Let’s go pay him a visit. There’s no way he’s going to be able to move the truck or the deer tonight, and we’ll have our warrant soon.”
“Sounds good,” I said. “Let’s corner the rat and make him confess.”
Trevor put the truck in gear and took off down the road. “What are you going to do? Remove his fingernails one by one until he says what you want him to?”
“Don’t tempt me,” I grumbled. “This man has caused so many problems for me this week, I think he almost deserves it.”
