Whispers of You (Lost & Found #1)(57)

“We’ll make sure Little Williams doesn’t get into any trouble,” Nash said with a smirk.

Lawson sent Nash a quelling look and then turned back to me. “Holt’s right about being careful. We don’t know if the footprints outside your place are related to this. But until we know otherwise, we have to assume they are.”

My stomach pitched, and Holt sent a glare in Lawson’s direction. I worked to keep the worry off my face. “I’ll be cautious. I promise. But right now, I need to get to work.”

Holt lowered his head to brush his lips across mine. “Call me if you need me.”

I swallowed the ball of emotion gathering in my throat. How often had I wanted to do just that? I would’ve given anything to hear Holt’s voice on the other end of the line countless times. “Okay.”

I forced myself to take a step back. “I should get to my desk.”

Holt nodded. “I’ll walk you.”

We started out of the room, and all eyes were instantly on us. Only Amber approached. “What did the chief say? Are they bringing in Joe Sullivan?”

My stomach cramped. “I don’t think he’s any more of a suspect than anyone else is.”

Amber glared at me, and her brown eyes sparked with some brighter color. “I thought you of all people would push for justice. Joe Sullivan is just like his brother, and everyone knows it.”

“That sounds more like a witch hunt than justice to me. Don’t you think Joe has been through enough?”

Redness crept up Amber’s throat and stained her cheeks. “You’ve got to be kidding me. You’d defend him?”

“I’m not defending anyone. I’m just saying that Lawson is following the evidence, and so far, nothing points to Joe.”

Amber stared daggers at me. “Have you forgotten what they put you through? What they cost you?” Unshed tears glistened in her eyes. “Or maybe you don’t give a damn because you didn’t die that day. Some people weren’t that lucky.”

Before I could get another word out, she spun on her heel and tore out of the station. Clint stared after his partner, wincing. “I’m sorry, Wren. She’s been torn up lately. These shootings are bringing everything back.”

“You need to have a word with your partner,” Holt growled.

Clint’s gaze hardened as he turned to Holt. “You’ve been back two minutes. I don’t think you have a right to demand that I do anything.”

“Guys,” I said, trying to stop things before they escalated. “Let’s take a breath.” I lifted my gaze to Clint. “I know she’s hurting. I don’t want to make that worse, and I know I usually do. I’ll do what I can to keep my distance. But Holt’s right, you need to talk to her. This obsession with Joe isn’t right.”

Clint’s focus drifted to the back door that Amber had torn through. “I know. I’ve tried. She doesn’t want to hear me.”

“So, keep trying. We all need to be focused on finding the person truly behind these attacks.”

Because if we didn’t, someone else would die.





27





HOLT





I pushed open the door and stepped outside, feeling a tug somewhere deep. I didn’t want to leave Wren. Even knowing she was in the safest place in town, it still felt wrong.

It didn’t help that I knew I was leaving her in the vicinity of Amber’s venom. I’d seen the way Wren had gone pale at Amber’s words. How her hands had tightened into fists as she struggled to stay in the here and now. And I’d wanted to throttle Amber for it.

I cracked my neck, trying to alleviate some of the tension there. It didn’t work. Instead of heading to my SUV, I moved toward the coffee shop down the block. It had obviously changed hands since I’d left. The sign above it now was painted in whimsical letters: The Brew.

The inside of the place had the same fanciful look like Alice in Wonderland. But the smattering of people inside told me they must have decent coffee.

As I opened the door, a tiny bell jingled overhead. A red-haired woman behind the counter smiled widely at me. “Welcome to The Brew. What can I get for you?”

“Can I get a drip? Black with one sugar?”

She visibly deflated at the unoriginal order.

“And, uh, I’ll have one of those scones.” I pointed to something in the bakery case.

Her face lit up again. “Those orange-cranberry ones are amazing. You won’t regret it.”

“Thanks.” I handed her a bill. “Keep the change.”

“Coming right up.” The woman bustled around to ready my order.

I turned to fully take in the space, and my gaze caught on the occupants of a corner table. Jude and Chris sat with what looked like breakfast burritos and large mugs of coffee.

Jude waved me over.

I made a motion for him to give me a minute, but I didn’t miss the hard set of Chris’s jaw. I wasn’t welcome.

“Here you go, sir. I hope you have a wonderful day.”

“Thank you. You, too.”

I took the to-go cup and bakery bag and moved in the direction of some of my oldest friends. No more running. If Chris was pissed at me, he could let that out to my face, and I’d take whatever he had to say.