Darkness Lurks by J.L. Drake
Chapter Five
I woke up to the sun shining brightly on the bed. Seth’s arm was wrapped around me, and I smiled, as I felt rested and nightmare-free. It was amazing how he chased the bad dreams away from me. I carefully moved off the bed and ran water for a shower, then hopped in and got cleaned up. I put a towel around me, walked over to my dresser, and slipped on some yoga shorts and a tank top. Then I grabbed my phone and headphones, and I found I had an extra spring in my step as I hurried downstairs. I found Garrett at the table, a cup of coffee in hand. He had just ended his call with his youngest brother Phillip.
“Morning,” he said. “Where are you going?”
I took a bottle of water out of the refrigerator. “I was going to go for a run.” He looked at me. I paused and let reality hit me. Crap!
“Travis is out there. I wasn’t going to be alone.”
Garrett laughed. “Emily, you don’t even know him.”
This sucks.“Fine.” I set my bottle on the counter and looked outside.
He handed me a cup of coffee. “You seemed to make quite the impression last night.”
“They all seemed like nice guys.”
Garrett nodded. “Yeah, they are. It was kinda fun watching Seth squirm.”
“Yes, it was.” I laughed then took a jump. “I saw the picture of us that he keeps in his bag.”
Garrett looked at his coffee cup. “Yeah, well, we’re his family.” I guessed he’d seen it too.
I shrugged, not sure if I should ask any questions. “Does he ever talk to you about his family?”
He cleared his throat, visibly uncomfortable. I had obviously crossed the no-go area. “Not really. Just that his dad is a lawyer and they don’t see eye to eye on much. They try to avoid each other, other than when they have to. His mom and sister don’t live too far from here. He visits sometimes, but it’s hard on his mom that they all don’t get along. I know his mom is throwing a big party for his dad’s law firm in a bit, so I bet he’ll be in a fine mood about that.”
“Oh, joy,” I said, as my sympathy poured out for Garrett’s pain on that one. Seth was already so shut down about his personal life that I couldn’t imagine what he’d be like when his father was in town. I thought about all the times when Seth had been in an especially bad mood and wondered if his father had been in town on those days too. We sat in silence for a few moments.
***
“Lorie Marshall.” Professor Dean flashed a photo of a young girl wearing a white, torn dress. She was tied to a tree, slumped over, colorless. “At age twenty-two, she, like five other girls, was being stalked by the same man, Alexander White.” He switched the photo on the screen to that of a middle-aged man in a suit. “Lorie Marshall was the last of his victims, before he finally killed himself in his home. Some say he did it out of guilt. Others say he was just crazy. Let’s look at the facts and come up with our own conclusion.”
I felt like the walls were about to close in around me. My throat swelled shut and my hands went clammy. The professor began to disclose the details on where the man would watch the women and how he chose them. I zoned out for a few minutes and recalled my own attack and the events that led up to my being right here. Maybe taking this course was a bad idea.
“If only they could have caught him sooner. Sadly, ‘if’ is always the hardest word to swallow when stuff like this happens.” The professor’s words hit me hard. Before I knew what I was doing, I tossed my bag over my shoulder and headed down the steps to the door.
“Where’s the fire?” Professor Dean said, catching me off guard. I felt my face flush in front of sixty students.
“I’m sorry. I…I just remembered I had to be somewhere.” I was a terrible liar.
He looked at me, puzzled, but then nodded and went back to teaching.
I flagged down a cab. “Orange PD, please,” I said to the driver. I once again went over the hundred and one possibilities of things that this two-hundred-and-fifty-pound cabbie could do to me. I tried to concentrate on something else, anything else.
I looked out the window and tried to act normal, but I caught him looking at me in the rearview mirror. I forced a smile, nonchalantly reached for my cell, and hovered my thumb over Seth’s number.Oh Lord, Emily, get a grip.I rubbed my head with my free hand. I had never been this paranoid in my life; this had to stop.
When my heels hit the pavement and the station steps were in view, I found myself relaxed. I quickly made my way inside. Lou greeted me with a warm smile and checked me in. I was about to pin my ID badge on when I walked right into Davis’s open arms.
“Hey, Emily, how are you?”
“Oh! Hi, I-I’m okay.” I wiped my sweaty hands on my jeans once he released me.
“You here to see Seth?”
I hated to lie to him, but I couldn’t risk Seth bombarding my plan—well, not until I pitched it, at least. Seth was going to flip when he found out what I was up to. I lowered my voice. “Yes, but first can you point me in the direction of the detective who’s working my case?”
Davis gave me a funny look. “That’s Detective Michaels. I’ll show you where he is.” I followed him back, keeping my head down and hoping no would call out my name. After a short walk past a few officers I didn’t recognize, we stopped at a gray door with the detective’s name written in black print over the window. The door had the OPD logo beneath it.
Davis knocked on his door and went in. “Detective, do you have a moment? There’s someone who would like to speak with you.”
I stepped forward and started to feel nervous all of a sudden “Hi, I’m Emily McPhee.” Wow, where did my voice go?
The detective looked surprised to see me. “Um…hi. Please come in.”
I turned to Davis. “Thank you.” He smiled, patting my arm, and closed the door behind him.
Michaels motioned for me to sit as he rose politely. “I have to say, Emily, I’m surprised to see you.”
I nodded and guessed I should hurry this conversation along before the guys found out I was there. I cleared my throat. “Um…about a week ago, I had a beach party at my house. When a friend and I went back up to the house to grab something, we heard a noise.”
He nodded, as he followed.
“Footsteps,” I continued. “I sent her back to find Seth and Garrett, and then I…uh…I went and checked it out.”
“By yourself?” he asked, wide-eyed.
“The guys showed up moments later and did a sweep of the house, but they couldn’t find anyone. But there was definitely someone in my room.”
He leaned back in his chair. “Why do you think that?”
“Because I think they took a pair of my panties.” I felt my face grow hot.
He took a moment, thinking. “Are you sure you didn’t misplace them? Maybe you forgot and put them in your laundry room?”
I really didn’t want to let him know where the creep took them from but I wanted to give as much information as possible. “No. I had just worn them the day before, and I tossed them in my usual spot in front of my dresser. Later I checked, and I noticed they were gone. I searched everywhere. They’re a distinctive color, Detective, hot pink with little black VS’s all over them. Hard to miss. I know it sounds crazy, but I really think someone took them.”
“Is it possible someone from your party took them, and maybe you heard something else that day? Being in your situation could make anyone hear things.”
“Huh.” I shook my head. “I knew this was stupid.” I bent down to pick up my bags.
“Please wait, I’m sorry. That was rude of me to imply that…But it’s my job to look at everything from all angles.”
I hesitated for a moment, and then let go of my bags and let them slump back down to the floor.
He ran his hand over his face, leaned back, and looked out his office window. “Do Connors and O’Brian know you’re here?”
I huffed. “No, not yet, but I’m guessing Davis will tell them.”
He thought for a moment.
I felt like this was my last chance at trying to help myself. I sat up straighter and planted my hands firmly on my lap. “Detective, the one thing you should know about me is I’ve been through a lot in my life, and I’m only twenty-two. I’ve been on my own since I was fourteen. I can handle a lot. I’m a fighter, and I want to get this guy before I’m found tied to a tree in the middle of the woods somewhere.” Here went nothing. “I was thinking that maybe I could contact him and get him to meet me somewhere. Then you guys could grab him.”
He looked at me, shocked again, as he leaned forward with a heavy thud. “You’re offering yourself up as bait?”
I nodded.
He laughed slightly. “Well, this is a first for me.” He tossed his pen up in the air, letting it hit and roll off a fan that sat on his desk.
I jumped at a knock.
“You’ve been found,” Michaels said dryly.
I stiffened as he waved for Seth to come in.
“Emily!” Seth came like a bullet into the office. “Are you okay?”
“Yes,” I said quietly.
Michaels shook his head. “You’ve got a brave one on your hands, Connors.”
Seth looked from me to him. “What do you mean?” I looked down. I knew he was about to blow. I felt like I was holding a ticking time bomb and it had about three seconds left on it.
“Please sit,” Michaels said. Seth cautiously sat next to me. Michaels folded his long fingers together on top of his desk. “Emily here wants to use herself as bait to lure out the guy who has been stalking her.”
I held my breath.Three…two…one.
Seth whipped his head over to look at me. “No! No way!”Boom.“She hasn’t had much sleep. She’s not thinking clearly. She—”
I put my unsteady hand on his leg. “Seth, it’s all right. I can do this.”
He shook his head. “This guy is too good. Look what he’s already done to you!” He appealed to Michaels. “Fuck, he’ll get her and then he’ll kill her!”
Michaels looked at me. “If he can get into your house and steal something from your room, Emily—”
“Wait! What? When?” Seth’s face was pale.
“Beach party,” I whispered. “He took my Victoria’s Secret panties.”
“Are you sure? Why didn’t you say anything?”
“I think so. I was going to yesterday, but we…got sidetracked.”
Seth shot up so fast it was a blur. “I’m going to kill this—” He stopped to calm himself.
Michaels’s cell rang, and he answered it quickly. He probably welcomed the interruption. He stood up, excusing himself. I noticed he closed the door on the way out. Great, just me and one pissed-off Seth alone in an office.
Seth ran his hands through his hair. He turned to look at me. “Emily, please, you can’t do this.”
I moved to stand in front of him and kissed him softly. He didn’t kiss me back.
Oh please, Seth, why can’t you understand?I hated to see him hurt, and it pissed me off to know I was the one doing it.
“I can’t keep looking over my shoulder,” I tried to explain. “I’m always paranoid that he’ll be waiting for me. I will not end up six feet under. I need to do this.”
He stepped back out of my hold to put some distance between us.
“Okay, so where are we?” Michaels said as he came back in.
“I want to help catch this guy,” I said quietly.
Seth’s face was…indescribable. It made my heart ache. He muttered as he left the office.
***
Lasko
I sat in my car, watching Emily and Seth walk to theirs. Seth looked angry with her.Huh. She stopped and tossed her ID badge in a trash can. I reached over for my camera and snapped a few photos of them. I ran my free hand over my lip and squeezed my chin. “They never listen.”
***
Emily
I had dinner alone, and I felt a little lost. I went up to my room to get ready for tomorrow. I could hear the dumbbells clacking together, so I knew Seth was in his workout room with the door closed. I thought maybe he needed some time to process his anger, so I let him be. The one thing my mother did teach me was men needed time and space to get through their feelings. Unlike women, who needed to talk things through until we were blue in the face. Christ, men were frustrating!
I opened my bag, plugged in my laptop, and changed into a pair of shorts and a tank top. I lay across the foot of my bed and watched a little TV. The fan blew a nice breeze as I tried to push the day’s events out of my mind.
My eyes popped open and I glanced at the clock. 3:30 a.m. I jumped when I heard it again. What was that? My heart nearly leaped out of my chest as I peeled myself off the bed. I looked out my door and quietly walked to Seth’s room. The door was open, but he wasn’t there.
I went into his closet and grabbed his bat. I headed down the stairs, my fingers flexing nervously on the rail. My eyes immediately focused on the front door. It was unlocked, and the security system was unarmed. I pulled the door open and stepped outside, hearing the roar of the ocean. My eyes caught sight of Seth on a patio chair in the front yard.
When I got closer, I saw a bunch of beer cans around him. I moved in front of him, still holding the bat, ready to swing. “Seth?” He looked up at me with heavy eyes. He was drunk. Seth didn’t get drunk. Buzzed, maybe, but never drunk. “What are you doing?”
He took another drink of his beer and then tossed it on the ground next to my feet. I’d never seen him act this way before.
I knelt carefully to avoid the cans. “Hey.” I kept my voice low as I placed my hand over his. “You wanna come to bed with me, baby?”
He leaned to his right and reached for another beer out of a cooler. He took his hand from under mine and cracked it open. I knew he was angry at me for not talking to him first.
“I didn’t mean to go behind your back to Michaels. I just think it’s my only option.”
His eyes flickered at me as he took a drink.
“Seth, please say something.” I felt tears prickle in my eyes. I was trying to hold it together, but he frightened me like this. He shifted his eyes and looked over my shoulder. “Okay,” I whispered, then stood.
He leaned forward and rested his arms on his knees. His eyes dropped to the ground before he cleared his throat. “I knew I shouldn’t have gotten involved with you.” His words slashed me like a belt breaking the surface of the skin. I looked down. He must have been able to tell by my face that I had passed my breaking point. I took a shaky step back and then turned on my heel.
I walked back to the house, up to my room, and pulled out my suitcase. I packed as much as I could since I didn’t have any idea how long I would be gone. I just knew I had to leave. I took a seat by the window and felt myself shut down while I waited for the sun to come up.
At 6:00 a.m. I walked out the front door with my suitcase in hand. I turned the key to my lipstick-red BMW 5 Series and drove off. I didn’t stop once on my three hour drive to Temecula to the only family I had in the United States. I hadn’t seen them since my dad died. David and Shawna were like my second set of parents as I grew up. They had loved me as if I were their own.
I drove up their long driveway and hoped I had made the right decision. As I parked, Shawna came outside the house. When she saw me, she put her hand over her mouth. “David!” she yelled, coming toward me as I reached for my purse. She came right up and hugged me. “Emily,” she said through tears. “We’ve missed you so much.”
David came running out. “Oh my God, come here, girl.” He wrapped his big arms around me. I felt like I was hugging my father. We all hugged and cried together for what seemed like forever. It was wonderful.
***
Seth
I heard someone turn a key and come into the house. The beeping of buttons on the security pad sounded utterly too loud in my thumping brain. My eyes fluttered open, but everything was blurry. I closed them again, moaning. I felt like shit.
“Hey, Seth, wake up,” I heard my partner say. “Jesus, you smell like a frat house.” The footsteps moved around, and Garrett’s shadow cast dark moments of relief on my eyes. “Where’s Em?”
I flashed back to several hours ago and tried to replay what had happened. I heard Garrett go up the stairs. I pulled my heavy body up and held my head in my hands. This was one of the top reasons why I didn’t drink.
“Seth!” Garrett ran back down the stairs. His face was pale. “Did Emily have plans today?”
“No. Why?” I flinched at my growing headache.
Garrett held up the note. “Because she’s gone.”
I didn’t think twice and shot toward him. “What?” I pluck the note, all pain pushed aside for the moment.
Need some time alone.
Em
Garrett looked at me. “Do you think he took her?”
I shook my head, holding my stomach. “No,” I whispered. “I think this was my doing.”
“What do you mean?”
I rubbed my hands over my face as the night came rushing back to me. “I was really upset last night. I had a lot to drink, and I think I told her that I…I shouldn’t have gotten involved with her.”
“How could you do that to her, man?” Garrett looked horrified. “It’s Emily. You’ve been in love with her since the day you met her.”
My stomach twisted and rolled. I felt like I was going to be sick. Garrett pulled out his phone. “You’d better hope we get to her beforehedoes.”
***
Emily
I sat in their big, country kitchen. The walls were painted a cheerful shade of green, and a large picture of a meadow hung beside their breakfast nook. The appliances were new, and I could tell their floors had been redone, but it still had that same homey feel it had always had.
The faint smell of fresh-baked banana muffins filled the air, something I had so desperately missed since I came here as a little girl.
Shawna handed me a cup of coffee. She could always tell when I was upset. I wrapped my hands around the hot mug, seeking warmth even though I wasn’t cold. I just felt numb.
I felt a slight pinch in my gut for the way I left. I was sure the guys were going mad looking for me. But Seth’s words,I knew I shouldn’t have gotten involved with you,repeated over and over in my head, and it made my eyes moisten. I swallowed hard and pushed the thought back down deep inside me. I didn’t want to show my pain. I…I didn’t know what I wanted.
I felt David’s eyes on me. Finally he broke the silence. “I feel like I’m looking at Mitch.” His voice cracked as he reached for my arm, giving it a squeeze.
I forced a smile through the pain of his name. Hardly anyone talked about Dad anymore, let alone used his name. “I miss him,” I whispered.
Shawna looked down, no doubt trying to restrain herself. “We do too, sugar. He was such an important part of our lives. You all were. How is your mother?”
Who cares?
I shrugged. “She’s alive. That’s about as much as I know.”
Shawna took my hand. “We always hoped you would visit us again. Is everything all right, dear?”
I have a crazy psychopath after me and my boyfriend wishes he didn’t know me. Everything isnotall right!
“Would it be okay if I stayed here a couple of days?”
I’ve never felt more lost and alone. I need you guys.
Shawna squeezed my hand in delight. “Of course. Stay as long as you like.” I let out a thankful sigh.
The sun felt nice as I stood and leaned over the rail and sipped the remainder of my coffee. My gaze traveled over their massive piece of property. I closed my eyes and remembered running through the tall grass up to the stables to find my pony waiting for me. I’d pick some fresh carrots along the way, knowing they were her favorite. My father would laugh when she nuzzled at my hand, wanting them. His laugh seemed to echo off the hills. God, I missed him so much.
“Em,” David said as my eyes popped open, “you want to come into town with me this morning?”
I quickly wiped away a tear as I turned. “I’d love to.”
It took me two tries to get into his silver Ford F350. It was higher than I expected it to be. David didn’t strike me as someone who would lift his truck, but guys would be guys, I guessed.
He didn’t say much on the drive in, which was perfect for me. I watched as the rolling hills flew by the window and then were taken over by small town buildings. It was such an old-fashioned-looking town, but with a mix of new. I had missed this little place.I missed a lot of things I didn’t know I did.
We pulled up to Berry’s Hardware Store. Okay, so some things hadn’t changed at all. The paint still looked like the original coat. I hopped out carefully and rested my hand on the door to better stabilize myself. David waited patiently as I made my way over to him. He opened the squeaky screen door for me and gestured me forward with his hand.
A tall woman came to greet us. “Morning, David, what can I do for you today?” She turned and gave me a friendly smile. “Hello.”
I smiled back and moved off to the side and pretended to look around. I wasn’t overly friendly today. The woman and David talked for a bit about what he needed. She made a few comments about me, but he didn’t bite or give away any information. He must have thought I was in trouble, but he never let on, nor would he ever gossip about it. A guy loaded up the back of David’s truck with plywood and fencing material.
When we were done, he pulled into a little diner named B & P’s. “You need to eat something. You’re too small,” he muttered as he opened the truck door. I huffed under my breath. David was always concerned when people didn’t eat, or maybe he thought I wouldn’t ask if I was hungry.
When we walked through the doors, all eyes were on me. David ignored them and sat at a table in the corner. I looked down at what I had on, a pink tank top and ripped jean shorts. I didn’t think I stuck out. Maybe they thought I was his niece. Most folks knew he and Shawna had tried to have kids, but Shawna wasn’t able to carry one. When I was a baby, they decided to co-own me with my father. That had always made me laugh.
David chuckled while I looked at the menu. “You look the same, honey. People are most likely trying to place you.” That was probably true since most of the people here had watched me grow up.
Breakfast was good. David still snarled at how little I ate, but the servings were too large to begin with.
I knew I had to call someone so they didn’t worry about me. I needed them to know I just needed some time to sort out things in my head. I grabbed my phone and walked out to the patio. I turned it on, and noticed seventeen missed calls and a billion texts from Seth and Garrett. I quickly scanned through my list of favorites and called Erin. She answered on the second ring.
“Emily? Where are you? Are you okay?” Her voice sounded stressed.
Guilt flooded me again. “I’m all right. I just needed some time to clear my head. Things got to be too much.”
Shawna popped her head out the door.
“Hey, sugar, we’re heading for a ride, you want to come?” I shook my head no but mouthed, “Thank you.”
“Who was that?” Erin demanded, but I didn’t answer. There was a pause. “Emily, what ifhefinds you? What if—?” I felt the knot in my stomach twist.
I cut her off. “I’m being careful.”
I heard a door shut on her end of the phone. She lowered her voice. “What happened with you and Seth? He’s freaking out.”
I looked down and pinched the bridge of my nose. I needed a moment to lean on my best friend. “He said it was a mistake, getting involved with me.”
“He said what? I’m going tokick his ass.”
I paused and swallowed back a sob that was trying to fight its way up. “Look, Erin, I’m fine. I just wanted you to know.”
“Emily, please tell me where you are. Or at least, when you’re coming back,” she pleaded with me.
“Not sure.” I hung up quickly; I didn’t want to hear her voice. What a shitty friend I was for putting her in the middle of this after she had cared for me when I got…hurt.
I felt like I’d just gotten punched in the stomach. Everything was so confusing. I took a seat and watched David and Shawna happily ride up the trail together.I wanna be happy.
***
Seth
I stood impatiently in the patio doorway of Emily’s house. “What did she say?” I felt exhausted, and the constant waves of nausea didn’t help the situation.
“Not much,” Erin said as she shook her head. “She sounded tired, but okay. She said she needs some time.”
I took a shaky step forward. My eyes narrowed in as they tore into hers. “Are you aware of how much danger she’s in? She didn’t give you any indication of where she was? Come on, Erin, think!” I shouted in her face. Fuck! This was so frustrating!
Erin’s lips drew into a thin line and her eyes narrowed. “Actually, she did. When I asked her what happened with you guys, she said she was a mistake. She tried to hide the fact that she was crying, but I could hear it in her voice! What did you say to her, Seth?” Her hands were on her hips and her chin stuck out.
My face snapped back like she had just slapped me. Oh God, what had I done?
Garrett came out behind me. “She didn’t say anything to you about where she was?” he asked as he refocused the conversation.
Erin’s body language loosened as she shook her head. “Umm…” She tried to think. “Wait!” I looked up, hopeful. “A lady spoke to her.”
I ran my hand through my hair. “What did she say?” I asked gently. I didn’t want to be any more of an ass than I already was.
Erin closed her eyes. “That she and someone were taking a ride and wanted to know if Em wanted to go along. Oh! And she called her sugar.”
Garrett nodded. “Well, that’s a start.”
***
Emily
I walked up to the barn. David and Shawna were long gone now. The heavy, red barn doors slid open surprisingly easily on their tracks. The smells of fresh hay and horse manure filled my nose as I stepped onto the concrete floor. A few photos hung on the walls, mostly of me when I was little with my pony, and two of my dad and me up by the old lake. In one of the five, Mom was off to one side, looking a million miles away. She had only been here a handful of times. She always had a reason not to come. Not to be a part of our lives.
Shaking my head at the memory, I headed to the third stall on the right in the back corner. I ran my fingers over the carving in the wood. It read, “D & E”—Dad and Emily. I was surprised by the emotion that came over me. I was glad I was alone.
After my brief cry, I decided to take Claire, their new horse, for a ride. She had a sweet personality and the whitest mane I’d ever seen. We took the trail I knew best. I rode for about fifteen minutes until I came to a little water hole. We used to take family picnics there. It had been our little slice of heaven.
I hopped off, bringing Claire to the water for a drink. I splashed some cool water on my own face, relieving my puffy eyes. Then I looked around. It hadn’t changed too much. Big weeping willows lined the edge of the water in a horseshoe shape. Rays of sun shone through the branches. It looked like a Thomas Kinkade painting. I leaned my head against Claire’s neck as she moved into me, seeking attention too. Seth’s words were still playing over and over again inside my head. They made my insides ache.
We both stood like that, enjoying each other’s company. Neither of us made a sound. There was no judgment, just unspoken companionship.
When I was a few feet away from the barn, I hopped down and walked the rest of the way. I stopped in front and turned to Claire. “Thanks for the ride, girl.” I leaned over and rubbed her neck. She was fast becoming my new best friend.
“She likes you,” a voice said, startling me. I whirled around to see a guy holding a saddle. He wore a white t-shirt, jeans, and cowboy boots. He was tall, with a five o’clock shadow. I smiled, thinking that Pete would be a puddle at this man’s feet if he were here. I missed Pete.
I walked past the man into the barn. He watched me but didn’t say anything else.
After I got Claire settled and removed my dirty riding boots at the door, I grabbed a bottle of water and went upstairs for a shower. I pulled on a white sundress and silver flip flops and made my way down to the kitchen.
Shawna smiled. “Don’t you look pretty? The neighbors are going to be joining us for dinner tonight.” I nodded as I leaned over the counter and rearranged the apples in the bowl. Shawna opened a bottle of white wine and poured us each some. She raised her glass. “To family.” I smiled and tapped her glass to mine.
“Emily, could you be a dear and get me some fresh tomatoes from the garden out back?” I grabbed a basket and went outside. The garden was full of fresh vegetables: green beans, yellow beans, carrots and…oh yes, tomatoes. Everything looked delicious. I picked a few tomatoes and watched as the sun set over the house.
I couldn’t help but wonder what Seth was up to. Then I heard voices. Our company had arrived.Time to be friendly, Emily.I set the basket on the counter and quickly washed my hands. Shawna came over and introduced me to Nancy and Gary, saying I was a family friend. “Oh, and there you are. Emily, this is Vince.”
There stood Pete’s cowboy, and he flashed me a crooked grin. “Hello again.” He was dressed in a light blue dress shirt and dark jeans. His brown hair was slightly shaggy and fell over one eye. He pushed it back as he watched me.
I nodded and stepped forward. “Hi again.”
Nancy looked at her son. “Have you already met?”
“Sort of. We go way back to this afternoon.” He chuckled as he moved toward the table and took a seat.
I pushed my dinner around my plate while I listened to everyone talk.
“So, Emily, where are you from?” Gary asked.
I looked over and tried to recall what he had just said. “Um…Orange County.”
“A city girl. Are you in school?”
I didn’t like the attention on me. “Yes, I go to Orange University. Fourth year.” I didn’t feel like I needed to give any more information since it would only lead into more questions.
Nancy smiled. “That’s nice. Are you here visiting long?”
I shook my head, looking at David for help. “Not sure yet.”
David changed the topic. “So, Gary, how is the new steer doing?” He winked at me when he knew only I could see. I thanked him with a small smile.
After dinner, everyone moved into the living room. Shawna filled up my glass.
“If you want to slip out and get some air, that’s fine.” She nodded toward the door.
Yes, please.
“Thanks.”
Shawna touched my arm. “We’re always here for you, no matter what. We love you, sugar.”
I wrapped my arms around her, fighting tears that desperately wanted to escape. “I missed you.”
The moon was full and the sky was crystal clear. I slowly made my way to the fence and ran my fingers along the tall grass. The breeze made a soothing sound as it rustled the leaves of the autumn trees. I leaned over the rail and watched Claire. She took a nibble at a weed nestled in the dirt. After a few moments she sensed my presence and moved toward me, her eyes never leaving mine. Her stare was intense, almost like she was trying to tell me something.
I didn’t move as she gently touched my cheek with her nose and breathed out quietly. A tear slipped down my cheek from her act of kindness. We stayed like that for a few more moments. She stepped back. I could see in her look that she knew I was hurting. I reached up and rubbed her nose. “Thanks, sweet girl,” I whispered. Something caught her eye and she moved away slightly and made a sorting sound.
“I’ve never seen her connect with anyone before,” Vince said quietly as he came up next to me. He leaned over the rail also. “They say horses can feel what you’re feeling.” I looked over at Claire and took a sip of my wine. He turned to me. “They’re great listeners too.”
“I’ll remember that,” I said softly.
He scuffed his boots in the dirt. “Shawna says you used to come here a lot when you were little. How come you haven’t been here in the last few years?”
I sighed. More questions. “Things are different now.”
“That’s too bad. Would’ve been nice to see you around.”
I smiled a little, looking up. “I have a lot of good memories here.” Vince joined me and admired the sky.
***
Seth
I picked up my cell and tried to call Mrs. McPhee for the fourteenth time.Come on!I had just about lost it when I finally heard her voice.
“H-Hello?”
I let loose a sigh of relief and then quickly did the math. Mrs. McPhee was nine hours ahead of local time. “Sorry for calling so early Mrs. McPhee,” I said. “It’s Seth Connors calling.”
There was a pause as she tried to place me. “Hi, Seth, is everything all right?”
I ran my hand over my pounding headache. “Yes, ma’am, I just have a question for you.” I didn’t have time to dance around. I decided to dive right in. “This is going to sound strange, but was there ever a family member or friend who used to call Emily ‘sugar’?”
Jenny McPhee laughed. “Okay, that is a strange question. Are you sure everything is all right…Seth, is it?”
I closed my eyes.Just answer, please.“Yes, I’m just trying to figure out something for Emily.”
She laughed again, not getting my tone at all. But she never did really catch much unless it was something she truly cared about. Emily was obviously not included in that list.
“Um…let’s see.” I nearly broke the phone in two while she took her goddamn time thinking. “Well,” she said finally, “I guess that would have been Shawna. She owns a ranch in Temecula with her husband, David. Mitch used to take Emily down there every weekend. They were all very close. Emily hasn’t been there since Mitch died.” She stopped talking for a moment and cleared her throat. “Does that help, dear?”
I ripped a piece of paper out of Garrett’s notebook. “Could I have her address?”
I stood up from my bed and spotted Garrett zipping up his overnight bag. “Temecula,” I shouted. We both grabbed our bags and ran out the door, jumping in my car.
***
Lasko
My phone buzzed, and I opened the text.
Unknown Number: 8519 Cherry Rd Temecula.
A smirk ran across my face as my hand reached for my keys. “Found ya, darlin’.”
***
Emily
I woke up around 5:45 a.m. and looked out my window at the stables. I pulled on a yellow sundress and headed downstairs. I took an apple off the table and quietly opened the door. The sun was just about to peek out over the barn. The sudden burst of heat felt nice. It made Claire’s mane glow even whiter. I went to the garden and picked a few carrots and left the tops on, then bent down and moved through the wooden rails toward Claire, who was grazing quietly by a huge oak tree. As I whistled in her direction, her ears twitched, and then she saw me. She pranced over, happy to see me.
“I have something for you.” I held out the apple.
***
Seth
I was already up and changed by 6:00 a.m. I looked at my watch, anxious to see Emily. I needed to hold her, tell her I was sorry, and know she was all right.
“You almost ready?” I shouted through the bathroom door to Garrett. We’d had spent the night in a hotel, as we didn’t want to be knocking on the door at 3:00 a.m.
“Let’s go,” Garrett said, as he lifted his bag off the counter.
When we were five minutes from the house, I felt my stomach knot even tighter. I wasn’t sure how we’d find her. Would she even want to see me?at least Garrett was there for a buffer. I pulled out my gun and checked the clip.
Garrett leaned over and pressed the silver doorbell. I stood, hands on my belt, sunglasses resting in my hair, and one hell of a lump in my throat. A man opened the door. As soon as he saw the two of us, his face dropped.
“Good morning, sir. I’m Officer Connors, and this is my partner, O’Brian.” We both held up our badges and let him inspect them. “We need to speak with Emily McPhee.”
David’s face drained of color. “You’re a long way from home, officers. What is this regarding?”
Garrett put his hand up. “Hey,” he said gently, “she’s not in any trouble. We just need to speak with her.” David thought for a moment, and then he opened the door wider, letting us come in. We followed him into the kitchen, and I noticed the pictures on the wall. Most of them were of a young Emily.
“Shawna, these officers want to speak to Emily,” David said flatly.
Shawna rose, nearly knocking over her tea cup.
I flashed my bright white killer smile that always calmed people down. “She’s not in trouble. We just need to see her.”
“She’s in the pasture with Claire.” Shawna nervously looked at David. He pointed to the door, and we followed him out.
“Is she expecting you?” David asked over his shoulder.
“I’m thinking not,” Garrett answered. My heart started to beat hard when I saw her; she was so beautiful in her yellow dress with the sun behind her. She was all right—well, at least physically.
As we started up the long path, I could see Emily wasn’t alone. There was a guy standing next to her, smiling as he told her something. Who the hell was this guy?
***
Emily
I stared at Claire as Vince spoke. “She hasn’t taken to anyone since she arrived a few months back. I thought maybe it was because she didn’t like men, but not even Shawna can ride her.” He looked down at me. “Maybe she sees something in you, something she connects with.”
“Maybe.” I ran my hand down her long neck.
“What do you think it is?”
I laughed. “Okay, Dr. Drew, enough with the psychobabble.”
He laughed, holding up his hands.
Claire nudged my arm. She knew there were more treats. I laughed as I pulled out the carrots. She started to go for a bite, but then her head moved up so she could look past me. I reached up and patted her soft pink nose.
“Emily?” a soft voice said. I turned to see Seth as he stood by the rail.What?How in the world did he find me?
“Back to reality,” I whispered as Vince shot me a puzzled look. “Just…give me a moment.” He nodded and walked toward the barn. I started toward Seth with Claire close behind me. I stopped a few feet in front of him. I wasn’t sure what to make of this. I wasn’t sure if I was ready to see him yet. He bent in through the rails as he moved toward me.
“Em, I’m…” He paused. There was so much pain on his face. He ran his hands through his hair. “I’m so sorry.”
I didn’t move. We stood there for a few minutes, neither of us saying anything. Seth looked around. “It’s nice here.” I saw Garrett walk up and meet Vince at the barn. I moved past Seth, ducking under the rails.
Garrett’s face lit up when he saw me. “There she is!” He came up, wrapped his arms around me, and lifted my feet off the ground. “You had us pretty worried,” he whispered into my hair.
“I’m sorry, Garrett.” He hugged me tighter. Seth came up behind me.
“Let’s go back to the house.” Vince’s voice was nice, but I could tell he was just friendly, and he must have wondered who the hell they were.
Shawna met David out on the patio. “Is everything all right?”
“These are my…friends…from back home, Garrett and Seth. They work for the Orange Police Department.” I felt like I needed to explain their badges. They shook each other’s hands.
“Sorry for not informing you that we were her friends earlier, but we had to make sure she was all right first,” Seth said as he looked at David.
“All right?” Shawna asked, her voice rose.
“Yes, ma’am. Emily is in a bit of trouble right now, and we needed to know she was okay,” Garrett answered as he looked at me. My eyes were wide. I couldn’t believe he had just divulged that information.
Vince stepped toward me, almost like he was protecting me. “What kind of trouble?”
“Unfortunately, we can’t go into too much detail, but she’s not safe,” Seth informed them, eyeing Vince.
Shawna’s hand flew over her mouth. “Oh, sugar.” She looked over at me with tears.
David put his hands on my shoulders. “If there’s anything we can do, we’re here to help in any way.” The guys smiled. I knew they could tell how much they loved me and why I had chosen to come here.
Shawna took my hand. “Does this mean you have to go now?”
I looked up at Seth, then at Garrett.
“Maybe we could stay till tomorrow…” Seth said, but I could tell he wasn’t overly sure if it was a good idea.
“Wonderful,” Shawna said. She still seemed worried. “You boys can stay in our guest room tonight. I’m going to go make us something to eat.” She always cooked when she was upset. David followed her into the house.
“I’ll show you to the guest room.” Vince waved to the guys.
I touched his arm. “Thanks.” I was appreciative that he was being so friendly.
Vince covered my hand with his and then walked inside with Garrett.
“They really care about you,” Seth said from behind me.
“Yeah, they do.”
He took my hand and turned me to face him. “I was so stupid, and I never meant what I said. I’m so scared he’s going to take you from me. Then you went to Michaels—”
“I’m tired of being scared,” I cried out. “Your life and Garrett’s life revolve around me and this mess I’m in. It’s not fair to you guys.”
He moved in closer. “You wore a purple shirt that hung off your right shoulder with a pair of ripped jean shorts. You had on pair of wedge shoes and gold earrings. Your hair smelled like vanilla.” His eyes sparked. “I fell for you before we even met. You were laughing, and you were so kind to everyone around you.”
I grinned while I remembered with him. “So why did it take so long for you to make a move?”
He looked down at himself. “Dating a cop isn’t exactly easy. We can be pretty messed up sometimes. Emily, when I said those words to you, I wanted to take them back so badly. I never wanted to push you away. I never wanted to hurt you.”
I breathed out; I hadn’t realized I’d been holding my breath. I dropped my gaze down to the ground, but he lifted my chin with his hand. “I don’t want to lose you.” He leaned in slowly and then stopped, waiting to see if this was what I wanted. I paused to feel out my shattered heart. It would take time, but hewaswhat I wanted. I stepped in and met his lips. Seth slid his arm around me and pulled my body into his. “Oh, baby, I’m so sorry.”
After some much needed alone time with Seth, we joined everyone for lunch out on the patio. Shawna shared lots of stories about me when I was younger. I caught Vince as he watched me a few times. I wasn’t too sure where his head was with me or what he thought I was involved in.
After lunch, David asked for the guys’ help with his truck. They seemed pleased to be asked. I wandered back up to the pasture to see Claire. I really enjoyed her company. She was so relaxed and easy. I got her ready to ride and hauled myself up. Then I pointed her toward the mountains and let her run as fast as she could.
***
Seth
I took a seat on a wooden rail when we finished with David’s motor. Shawna brought us out some cold beers and bottled water, and we all took a moment to relax. I decided on a water, as my stomach hadn’t forgiven me for the other night.Nor should it. Vince was balancing on an upside down bucket as he took out an old rag and wiped his dirty hands clean.
“Why is it that Emily hasn’t been back until now, David?” I glanced at Garrett, and knew he wondered the same thing. Emily never talked about what had happened to her father. Other than the little bits and pieces I’d heard, I really didn’t know the story.
David stared off toward the driveway and began to talk like he was watching it play out in front of him. “Well, Mitch, Emily’s father, and I grew up together. We did everything together. Heck, we even went to the same college. We considered ourselves brothers. I knew Jenny, Em’s mother, wasn’t the right fit for Mitch, but he just loved that woman with all his heart.
“When Emily was born, things changed in their relationship. She never wanted kids, and she made that very clear. It broke Mitch’s heart.” He paused and seemed to gather himself. “So he’d bring her down here as often as he could and shared her with us, kinda made us her family. I guess you could say we’ve been a part of that girl’s life since she could sit up on her own. Emily tried to get her mother’s attention any way she could, but nothing worked.”
David took a drink and continued. “One weekend when Emily was fourteen, she begged her father to come down here. She wanted to enter her horse in the town parade. She was so excited, and she wore her sparkly blue riding outfit. Shawna even made her horse a matching bow. The look on Mitch’s face when she waved and screamed ‘Dad!’ from the middle of the parade was a moment I’ll never forget.
“They left the next afternoon. It was raining pretty hard, and we told them to stay, but Mitch didn’t want Emily to miss school.” He cleared his throat again. “They said the kid who weaved into their lane and hit them head on was two times over the legal limit. He had fallen asleep at the wheel. Their car flipped twice and landed on the roof. Emily was pinned, and Mitch...well, he suffered a massive blow to the head. That poor girl watched her father die next to her. She was all by herself, so alone.”
A tear slipped down his cheek. He wiped it away quickly. “Jenny was devastated. She blamed Emily for making Mitch come, and in turn, Emily blamed herself. I guess maybe she still does. She closed herself off from everyone. We tried to get her to move down here, but she couldn’t bear the idea of leaving her home. We understood; we knew someday she’d find her way back.”
I felt ill over the story.Watching her beloved father die? Not being able to help…Goosebumps ran down my body. I knew Jenny had always been hard on Emily, but to blame her for her father’s death...I couldn’t even comprehend it, nor did I want to.
“It’s amazing after all she went through, from her mother’s lack of love and Mitch’s passing, that she turned out the way she has.” David shook his head and dropped his beer to his feet. “When she showed up here yesterday looking run down and lost, all I could think was,what did Jenny do now?”
I sank down into my chair. I hated how much I had hurt her, and the fact that she’d risked her own life just to get some space from me dug at my core. David glanced at me. “How bad is the trouble she’s in?”
“Bad.”
“What’s bad?” Vince piped in.
“Bad like she shouldn’t have come here on her own without one of us,” Garrett said as he set his empty beer bottle down on the ground.
“Whydidshe come here on her own?”
Garrett glanced at me, while I fought to hold back my anger. “Things have been tense at home, and she needed some space,” I said tersely. “But—” I held up my hand, not wanting to hear Vince’s next comment, “it’s not safe for her to be here without some protection.”
David scratched his head. “Okay,” he said softly. He gave Vince a look. “No more questions. It’s probably best we don’t know unless we have to. Unless she wants us to.”
***
Emily
I packed my bag and got ready for bed, feeling sad that I had to leave. I crawled under the covers. I’d forgotten how much I needed this place.
Seth appeared at the door. “Can I come in?”
I pulled back my covers and glanced at him in the moonlight. He looked just as tired as I felt. He slid in beside me, and I rolled into him and rested my head on his chest. He wrapped his arms around me and buried his face in my hair. Then he breathed in deeply as he murmured my name. We listened to the wind pick up outside. It made the windows rattle, and the soft sound of a wind chime sang off in the distance.
“How did you find me?” I whispered, breaking the silence.
His arm flexed around me. I could tell the past two days had been hard on him too. “When Erin was on the phone with you, she heard Shawna call you sugar. I got hold of your mom and asked her if anyone ever called you that. I got the address, and here we are.”
I looked up. “You called my mom?” He nodded, but he knew I wasn’t overly pleased.
He stroked my back gently. “But don’t worry. She doesn’t suspect anything.”
I shrugged and pulled the blankets up further. “Would she ever? And if she did, would she care?”
He bent down and kissed my head. “I know what I said hurt you, and I can never express how sorry I am. But if something ever happened to you…” He couldn’t finish. “You scared me, baby.”
I squeezed his arm. I knew it was hard for him to open up and show me how he was feeling, but I still couldn’t get his words out of my head.
“I’m sorry I scared you,” I whispered because I was. We both passed out shortly after.
***
“Mmmm, lavender,” his voice purred.
I shot straight up in bed, breathing rapidly. Seth’s arm reached for mine and brought me back to him.
“Emily, it’s okay,” he said as his hand stroked my back. “I’m here.” I looked around the room and realized it was morning. I let out a shaky breath, rolled out of bed, and headed for the shower.
“Did she get much sleep?” Garrett asked Seth as he walked toward the top of the stairs.
“A little. She tossed and turned a lot. Her dreams aren’t getting any…” He looked up to see me on the top stair. “Hey, baby.”
I smiled and hoped they didn’t know I had heard their conversation.
Later, Seth and Garrett helped Shawna clean up from breakfast, while I grabbed an apple for Claire and slipped out. I walked over to her stall and reached in to pat her when I noticed a yellow envelope nailed to the door. It read:
Emily
I looked around and then pulled the nail out. I opened it carefully and glanced inside. Something plastic hit my fingers first. It was my ID badge from the police station the day I spoke to Michaels. I flipped it over to find the words.
Should’ve kept your mouth shut.
My stomach sank. I quickly pulled out the rest. There was a black and white photo of me and Claire on our ride yesterday, when I’d thought we were all alone. I turned it over.
I see everything.
I dropped the apple and ran back to the house as fast as I could. My heart was lodged in my throat, and every movement sent my hawk eyes in that direction.
I flew through the door. “Seth!”
He dropped the dish towel and rushed over to me. I handed him the envelope and waited.
His eyes went wide. “Garrett!” His tone was all business. Garrett came over to my side, and Seth showed him the envelope. “Where did you find this?”
I pointed toward the barn. “It was nailed to Claire’s stall. Seth, do you think he’s here?”
He started to look around. “Where’s your phone?”
“I have it turned off. It’s in my purse. I’ll grab it.” I came back and handed it to him. He turned it on and waited for it to pick up its signal. “Seth, other than calling Erin once, it’s been off.”
Garrett looked at Seth. “I don’t want to say it, but we did call it in to the station that we were coming here.”
Seth shook his head. I could tell he didn’t want to go there. “For the sake of David and Shawna, I think it’s best if we leave now.”
I ran into the kitchen. David came up and handed me his car keys. “Take the Audi. He may know your car.”
“How did you…?”
He pointed to the living room where he had just been. “If you need anything, you let us know, and when this all goes away, you better come back here. You hear me?”
I squeezed him hard. “I love you, and I promise.”
I hugged Shawna.
“Be careful, sugar. We’ll get your car back to you soon.”
I watched as the house grew smaller in the side mirror of the Audi. Garrett was ahead of us in Seth’s car. Seth reached for my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.
The next day, I was tired, but that picture had consumed all my thoughts. I ripped open the sugar packet and poured it into my hot cup of coffee. I leaned my head on my hand over the table and picked up the stir stick to make figure eights through the cream. I tried to tune out the noise around me, but that wasn’t working so well. My hand rubbed my sore head. I was suffering from a headache, and my Advil were taking their sweet time to kick in.
A girl’s hand caught my attention. It moved in even strokes across her paper. She was drawing a portrait of an old lady who sat a few tables down from us. It was remarkable to watch the simple lines come together and form such a distinctive picture. This girl was talented. When she was nearly finished, I leaned over and took a better look.
“Impressive.”
“Hope so, or three years of college is down the drain.” She chuckled.
“Why her?” I asked as I nodded at the picture.
“I draw people who interest me. This lady comes here every day, sits in the same spot, and watches the door. Like she’s waiting for someone. The sad thing is, no one ever shows. Kind of heartbreaking.” She shrugged and went back to sketching.
I glanced at the lady and watched her wait. I imagined a man in a military uniform with a handful of flowers whisking her off her feet. My phone buzzed, and I left my happy conclusion to check the text.
Riggs: Out front.
Emily: Okay.
I gathered my things and leaned over the girl’s shoulder. “It’s beautiful.”
“Thanks.” She leaned forward for a new piece of charcoal. When she did, her papers shifted and some other portraits came into view. That’s when it caught my attention.
“May I?” I asked as I pointed to the papers. She nodded, still engrossed in her work. I tugged at the corner and slid it free from the rest. As soon as I saw those eyes staring back at me, I felt my stomach drop. I squinted and tried to flip through the files in my memory…no friggin’ way! I turned it around to show the girl. “Do you know this man?”
She lifted her small framed glasses and smiled shyly. “Yeah, met him in a bar a week ago, kinda creepy, a smooth talker.”
I shook my head to clear it.Jesus, get a grip, Em!But I had to ask.
“Did he tell you his name?” She squinted at her picture and focused hard at her task.
“Jimmy somethin’.” She gently blew her page clean. “Don’t think he’s from here, though. He said he was just passing through town.” I let out a sigh.Come on, Emily, really?I ran my hand over my shoulder; I felt stupid. “Take it if you want. I have others.”
I smiled weakly. “Thanks.”
She shrugged like she was still stuck in her memory. “Odd, his voice, the way he called medarlin’.”
I froze, my eyes locked on her. My legs could barely hold my weight. I turned on my heel and made my way out to the parking lot. I felt like I weighed three hundred pounds. My legs were like Jell-O, and my head was in a constant loop.
“Darlin’.”
Riggs hopped out of the car. He stopped when he saw my face. “What’s wrong?”
I didn’t answer him. “Where’s Seth?”
He glanced at his watch. “Should be heading back to the station in twenty. Why?”
“’Cause I just found out my attacker’s name.”
***
Seth
“Kinda fast, don’t you think?” My eyes squinted against the bright white paper as I wrote out the ticket to an old lady who had decided to do fifty-five in a twenty-five school zone.
“I’m too old to drive that slow. I don’t have that much time left.” She fixed her glasses. I had heard it all before. No doubt I would be saying the same line when I was seventy. I tried to hide my smile when I handed her the ticket.
“I’d love to give you a warning, Miss Wilson, but I see this is not your first speeding ticket.”
“And it won’t be my last.” She snatched it out of my hand and revved her engine. I stepped back, moving out of the way. I shook my head as I headed back to the squad car.
“Here,” Garrett said, tossing my phone when I got back into the car. “Riggs has been blowing up your phone.”
***
Emily
Iwalked straight into Detective Michaels’s office without even a knock. He was on the phone. He jumped in surprise, held up a finger, and then pointed to the chair in front of him. I couldn’t sit; I could barely wait until he hung up! The drawing was rolled up in my hand. I tried not to grasp it too hard, but my nerves were about to crawl their way to the surface. He finally finished his call.
“What can I do for you, McPhee?” He sounded tired.
I slammed the picture down on his desk. “This,” I pointed to the picture, “is the man who attacked me.”
“Emily!” Seth said as he barreled into the office. “What’s going on?”
“I found him.” I shook my head and struggled to get the sentence out. “I found my attacker!”
“Wait, wait, slow down and tell me why you think that,” Michaels said as he held up his hand. “Take a seat.”
Seth sat down, but I had to stand.
“I saw this girl drawing in a coffee shop, and I noticed something when she moved her pictures around. Something familiar. Then I saw him, his eyes. She said she met him in a bar.”
“Which bar?” Michaels asked.
I thought for a moment. “I don’t know. She said he called her darlin’.” I waited for them to remember the text he sent after the beach party. “He called me darlin’ in the texts and that night when I got...” They both looked at me and waited for more. I rubbed my face, frustrated. “Just scan it and put it into your database, run your magic, and find him! His first name is Jimmy.”
Michaels leaned back in his chair and watched me pace his office. Why weren’t theydoingsomething?
“Who was this girl?” Michaels pulled out a scrap piece of paper. “Her name?”
“I-I didn’t get it.”
His face scrunched.
“But-but she goes to that coffee shop a lot. She said she’s been watching this woman and that’s why she was drawing her.” I looked at Seth, who reached for my hand. I saw the look on his face. He thought I was losing it. Rage ripped through me. “Look, I was the one who got attacked. I was the one who had those eyes inches from my face.” I pointed at the drawing. “I haven’t felt surer about anything since that night. I would bet my life that this is my attacker.” My eyes started to water. “Please, Detective Michaels, please trust me on this.”
The detective’s eyes flickered over to Seth’s, then back at me. “Okay, I’ll get them to run this picture and see what we come up with.” I let out a long breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. “Give me a few days. This isn’tCriminal Minds. We can’t do it instantly.”
“Yeah…yes, okay.” I nodded. “Thank you, Detective.”
