PART 4: The Past Refused to Stay Buried.
PART 4: The Past Refused to Stay Buried.
The bookstore settled into a rhythm neither of them expected.
Every morning at eight, Sadie unlocked the front door while Sky lumbered inside ahead of her, making one slow lap through the aisles before collapsing onto his favorite rug near the entrance. By nine, children wandered in after school drop-offs, retirees browsed the history shelves, and office workers stopped for coffee before heading downtown.
It was the first place Sadie had ever worked where people smiled because they wanted to—not because they expected something in return.
Julian rarely interfered.
He stopped by once or twice each day, pretending he had paperwork or deliveries to check, but everyone—including Victor—knew better.
"You've inspected that coffee machine twelve times this week," Victor remarked one afternoon.
Julian didn't even look embarrassed.
"It keeps breaking."
"It hasn't broken once."
Julian glanced toward the front window, where Sadie was helping an elderly customer choose a mystery novel.
"I like making sure."
Victor followed his gaze.
"No," he said with a sigh. "You like making sure she's still here."
Julian didn't deny it.
Business grew faster than anyone expected.
Within six months, the little bookstore had become one of the busiest shops on Main Street.
People didn't just come for books anymore.
They came to pet Sky.
Parents brought children who were afraid of dogs because somehow the enormous mastiff knew exactly how gentle to be. Elderly widows lingered for tea simply because Sky would quietly rest his head on their knees without asking for attention.
Newspapers even wrote a small feature.
THE BOOKSTORE WITH THE GENTLE GIANT.
Not a single article mentioned Julian Croft's reputation.
For the first time in years, people spoke his name without lowering their voices.
One rainy Thursday afternoon, Sadie was organizing donations when she noticed Sky behaving strangely.
He stood perfectly still.
His ears lifted.
His eyes fixed on the street outside.
Not barking.
Watching.
"What is it?"
Sky let out one low growl.
Across the road, a black SUV had been parked for almost twenty minutes.
Its windows were tinted.
The engine never stopped running.
Sadie frowned.
"Probably someone waiting."
Sky growled again.
Harder this time.
That evening Julian arrived earlier than usual.
The moment he stepped inside, Sky walked directly toward him instead of greeting Sadie first.
The dog nudged Julian's hand, then looked toward the window.
Julian's expression changed immediately.
"What happened?"
Sadie pointed outside.
"The same SUV's been there most of the afternoon."
Julian looked through the blinds only once.
His face became unreadable.
"Victor."
Victor was already reaching for his phone.
Twenty minutes later, the SUV drove away.
Victor returned nearly an hour afterward.
"They switched vehicles twice."
Julian looked up.
"Professionals?"
Victor nodded once.
"They weren't watching the bookstore."
He paused.
"They were watching Sadie."
Silence settled over the office.
Sadie looked from one man to the other.
"I don't understand."
Julian's jaw tightened.
"I do."
He opened a locked drawer and removed a thin manila folder.
"I didn't tell you everything after Celeste was arrested."
Sadie accepted the folder.
Inside were photographs.
Bank transfers.
Phone records.
And one unfamiliar name repeated across nearly every page.
Marcus Hale.
"He financed Celeste."
Sadie frowned.
"I thought she acted alone."
"So did I."
Julian leaned against the desk.
"Marcus owns private security companies across three states. Legitimate businesses on paper."
"And in reality?"
"He buys information."
Victor answered quietly.
"He sells people."
Sadie's stomach tightened.
"What does that have to do with me?"
Julian met her eyes.
"Everything."
He slid one final photograph across the desk.
It showed The Harrington's dining room.
The night Sky had been rescued.
The picture had been taken from the balcony.
Someone had photographed Sadie kneeling beside the dying dog.
On the back, written in black ink, were six chilling words.
Find the girl before Croft does.
Sadie felt the room tilt.
"This..."
Her voice barely came out.
"...was planned?"
Julian nodded slowly.
"I don't think saving Sky was an accident anymore."
Victor folded his arms.
"If Marcus wanted leverage over Julian, hurting Sky would've been enough."
"But?"
Victor looked directly at Sadie.
"You stepped into something much bigger than you realized."
Before anyone could speak again—
Sky exploded into barking.
Not nervous barking.
Warning.
He sprinted toward the front of the bookstore just as every light inside suddenly went dark.
The entire building fell into silence.
Outside...
Someone tried the front door handle.
Slowly.
Once.
Twice.
Then a deep voice drifted through the glass.
"Mr. Croft..."
A pause.
May you like
"We only came to collect the waitress."
The silence that followed was far more terrifying than the words themselves.
