Joseph turned back to his office. Did he imagine the lips? Did he simply hallucinate the chair being on top of his desk? More than a little unsettled, he left his office behind to eat lunch in the small kitchen. He’d ordered Chinese yesterday and the restaurant always gave him a huge portion, enough for two lunches. He didn’t even heat it up, eating the cold noodles without a second thought. Perhaps he was more tired than he though. Perhaps his mind was still wool gathering from the awesome weekend in the cabin. He was still giddy from getting engaged…

A thump came from his office and Joseph shot to his feet, his food forgotten. He took a deep breath and marched forward, determined to face whatever it was intruding on him. If someone was playing a prank on him, there was only one way to go, and that was out the front door. He didn’t even have a window to jump out of.

But there was no one.

His gaze landed on the picture of him and Tom lying on the floor. How did it get way over there by the cabinet? Shivers raced over his skin, bringing up a layer of goose bumps, as if someone brushed their hands teasingly over his arms. His heart thudded heavily in his chest. He walked over to the picture, and just as he bent to pick it up, the phone rang. Loudly.

Joseph jumped and swore.

“Lomonte Construction,” he greeted into the receiver.

“Hello, yeah, this is Mark Eylinder. I’m calling about rescheduling the walk-though. Obviously, there must have been a mix-up with the time.”

Joseph frowned. “Mr. Eylinder? The inspector?”

“Yes. I thought I was supposed to meet Mr. Lomonte today, but when he didn’t show up I—”

“What do you mean, he didn’t show up? He left this morning at seven for the inspection.”

“I’m sorry,” Mark said. “He never showed up at the site.”

Dread suddenly flooded Joseph’s body. He knew, instantly, something was terribly wrong.