The Caledonian Inheritance (The Athena Effect) by Derrolyn Anderson

out for pizza. Michael says he can’t think on an empty stomach. Let’s go… Put your shoes on.”
    “No thanks, I’m not hungry. I’m just going to read a little and go to bed early .”
    Caledonia came inside and sat down for a moment, pale blue with sympathy.
    “Are you okay?”
    Layla nodded, but she was so completely disappointed that she wanted to cry. Aside from having her construction plans stopped in their tracks, it was slowly dawning on her that Conrad probably wasn’t what he appeared to be. He only saw what he wanted to see in her, and it occurred to her that she was guilty of the same thing. Once she looked past his good looks and polished manners, she wasn’t sure that she liked the man he truly was.
    Cali spoke like she could read her cousin’s mind, “You can’t really blame Conrad for being scared. Different people react differently to stress.”
    “I know. But why wasn’t I scared?”
    “I don’t know. It all happened so fast… Maybe you’re still a little in shock.”
    “I guess,” Layla sighed, discontented.
    “Come with us,” Cali asked again. “It’ll cheer you up.”
    “No thanks. I really just want to be alone.”
    “Are you sure you’ll be alright?”
    “I’m fine,” she tried to smile reassuringly. “Go.”
    Cali hesitated, getting up to leave. “Don’t worry… We’ll figure out a way to get rid of those guys.”
    After she left Layla sat up and closed her book. She opened her laptop to a picture of her mother, studying the planes of her face for the millionth time.
    “What am I supposed to do now?” she asked the screen.

    ~
     
    Chapter Nine
    REPORT
     
    ~
     
    Layla settled back down to read when she was startled by an insistent knock on the front door. She scrambled to the window with a burst of adrenalin, peering down with a sharp intake of breath when she saw the police cruiser parked out front.
    Her first impulse was to hide, but the thought that something might have happened to her family overwhelmed her with a sudden panic. She raced down the stairs to where Poddy was barking frantically at the front door.
    The frosted glass panes in the front door revealed a tall, broad shouldered silhouette with short-cropped hair and her heart nearly stopped. It was him. It was Ramon. The rapping started up again, and she willed back her apprehension, reaching for the knob with a shaking hand.
    She opened the door a crack, peeking out. “Yes?”
    “Hello,” he said casually. He bent down to greet the dog, “Who’s this?”
    “Uhm… His name is is Tripod,” she answered, a little taken aback. She opened the door wider, watching as the dog sniffed his outstretched hand. Poddy’s stubby tail started wagging furiously.
    He laughed, stroking the newly calmed animal, “He certainly is.” He smiled up at her, the corners of his eyes crinkling into friendly lines. When he saw her serious face he stood up straight, suddenly businesslike.
    “I need to have a word with you and your cousin,” Ramon said formally. “And Calvin too.”
    “They’re not here,” she said. “Nobody’s here.”
    “Do you expect them back soon?”
    She shook her head no, speechless.
    He looked surprised. “They left you here all alone?”
    A little shiver ran down her spine, “What exactly is this about?”
    He scratched the back of his head like he was thinking. “We have a report of shots fired out at your property today. We’re going to need you to come down to the station and file a police report.”
    “A what?”
    “I received a report of shots fired on your property, and I need to file a report.”
    “Who told you?” she asked, shocked. The triumphant flicker in his eyes told her she’d just admitted to it, and she cringed, cursing herself for being so stupid.
    He smiled sympathetically, “That would be Millie.”
    “But she wasn’t even there!” Layla cried.
    “Her grandson was. She was pretty shaken up about it… Apparently he stopped by to see her on the way out