You’re not helping Branson, you’re helping Adler.
He was. Or was trying to. Though at the moment “helping” was a generous term. Thomas Adler’s grandmother had refused to come to the station, and Ethan hadn’t been allowed in when they were questioning the kid. Now, several hours later, Branson, frustrated by Thomas’s lack of cooperation, had finally let Ethan have a crack at him. Ethan knew they weren’t alone. Branson and a handful of other cops were undoubtedly listening and watching through the one-way glass, but he was too pissed that he was back in this damn police station again to care. Once was way more than enough in one lifetime. And the fact that it was possible his kid was the one harassing Samantha Parker left him seeing red.
“I didn’t do anything wrong,” Thomas finally said, staring down at the table, his shaggy light-brown hair falling over his eyes.
“Then you have nothing to worry about. Tell me about the key.”
“I don’t know anything about a key. I don’t know anything about the break-in in Ms. Parker’s room either. I like her. I wouldn’t do nothin’ to cause her trouble.”
Ethan wanted to stay mad, but he knew he needed to remain professional. According to Thomas’s case file, the boy wasn’t aggressive. The few instances of assault on his record had been provoked. Judge Wilson believed he’d acted in self-defense. Was Thomas prone to bad choices? Sure. Did he come from a shitty family? You bet. He’d been orphaned as an infant after his mother was killed. His file didn’t give a lot of details, but it was clear there was no father figure in play. Two years ago, the aunt who’d raised him had died in a car accident, and he’d bounced from foster home to foster home before Judge Wilson had tracked down his grandmother in Hidden Falls. Did any of that make him violent, though? Only if Ethan had missed something big.
He pulled out a chair and sat. “Tell me about Ms. Parker.”
Thomas picked at a spot on the table. His nails were chewed down to the quick, and he was too thin. Thinner than he’d been only a few weeks ago when Ethan had met him in Portland. Ethan made a mental note to have children’s services take another look at his grandmother’s home. “She’s okay.”
“You didn’t get upset that she flunked you on a test a few days ago?”
Thomas glanced up. “How’d you know about that?”
“I know everything, Thomas. Don’t try to snow me.”
The kid lifted a shoulder and dropped it. His gaze slid back to the table. “Didn’t care. Didn’t even try.”
Full of attitude, defiant, and a loner. But that didn’t necessarily mean he was guilty. It didn’t mean he was innocent either. “I can only help you if you’re honest with me. That police chief? Principal Burke? They’re ready to pin this on you whether you did it or not. The judge gave you a freebie last time by only assigning you to counseling. The next time you get charged, you and I both know you’ll be looking at probation, if not detention. You’ve got a history with the law. You’re new around here. Nobody’s going to think twice if you take the fall.”
“I didn’t do it!” Thomas folded his arms protectively across his middle. “Go on. Don’t believe me. You’re like all the rest.”
Ethan studied Thomas’s tense face, the eyes shimmering with tears the kid wouldn’t let fall. If he were inclined to go with his gut, he’d say the teen was telling the truth. But he’d learned over the years that his gut was sometimes wrong. And he definitely didn’t trust it in this town.
“Then let’s start at the beginning. Tell me everything you did today, where you went after school, and who the hell you could have possibly pissed off. Because if you’re telling the truth, then that means someone’s trying to frame you. And I’m possibly the last friend you’ve got, kid.”
The doorbell rang later that evening, sending Sam’s nerves right through the roof all over again.
She pulled the door open and looked into Will’s drawn face. “Well?”
“Adler didn’t admit to anything.” Will strolled into her house, shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans, and turned to face her in the entryway of her mother’s old house. “No surprise there.”
Sam closed the door behind him. From his spot by the fireplace in the living room, Grimly groaned and rolled to his side. “Do you really think he did it?”
She was still struggling with the idea that Thomas could be involved in any of this. He’d never once acted hostile toward her. But what did she really know about him? Not a lot. Just that he was a bright, quiet teen with a questionable past who, in some ways, reminded her of her brother.
“I don’t know,” Will said with a shrug. “Any dumbass can break into a locker these days. McClane doesn’t think Adler’s involved, but that doesn’t mean much. He’s on the kid’s side.”
Sam’s thoughts spiraled back to Ethan, just like they had several times over the last few hours. After walking through her room and finding nothing of significance missing, she’d given the police a list of kids she’d had confrontations with over the last week. When she’d finally headed out to the parking lot, only a handful of cars had been left, and she’d wondered if one was Ethan’s. Since then she couldn’t stop thinking about where he’d gone.
Had he returned to Portland, an hour away? Or was he staying the night somewhere in town?
“Sam?” Will asked. “You okay?”
“What?” She looked up at him, refocusing on their conversation. “Yeah. Fine.”
His eyes narrowed, and she knew he didn’t believe her, but before she could reassure him, those familiar eyes softened, and he took a step her way. “Look. About earlier. I wasn’t trying to imply that you’re—”
“Losing it?”
A sheepish look crossed his features, and because she knew he hadn’t intentionally tried to make her feel foolish, she let go of the lingering hostility. “I know that wasn’t your intention, Will. But I know what I saw.”
Now, thankfully, someone else had seen it too. Again she thought of Ethan. And her chest warmed the way it had when he’d stood up for her at the hospital.
Will rested both hands on her shoulders and squeezed gently, drawing her attention back to him. “I have to go on the facts, Sam. It doesn’t mean I don’t believe you. But I am worried about you.”
She focused on his familiar hazel eyes and waited for that burst of excitement she used to feel when she was ten and he’d come over to hang out with her older brother, but it didn’t hit. Time and distance had changed more than just her schoolgirl heart. It had changed her entire life. She wasn’t ten anymore. Seth was dead. And right now the attraction coursing through her wasn’t for Will but for a therapist she shouldn’t be thinking about.
She looked down at his blue shirt. “I know you are, but I’m fine. You’ll figure out whoever’s doing this, and everything will get back to normal. I trust you.”
His hands lingered, and she sensed he wanted her to step into him. But she couldn’t. Because he wasn’t the one she wanted.
After several long seconds, he finally let go and moved back. “The Crawford place is empty.”
Sam looked up at the mention of the teacher who’d held the teaching position before her. “It was?”
Will nodded. “He moved up to Hood River about a month ago. Cops there questioned him. He’s got a lock-tight alibi for the day. And for each of the instances when you were harassed.”
It wasn’t the former teacher. Relief slid between Sam’s ribs, allowing her to breathe a little easier. That had been her biggest fear. “So it is just a kid.”
“Looks that way. But to be on the safe side, I’ll have an officer do some drive-bys. In the meantime, if anything comes up, be sure to call it in.”
“I will. Thanks.”
Will glanced down the hall, past the boxes stacked against the wall near the kitchen, then back at her. “I could stay tonight. If you don’t want to be alone.”
She saw the hope in his eyes. And not for the first time, she wondered why the heck she couldn’t be attracted to him.
He obviously cared for her; they had a history. He was handsome and kind, and everyone in town liked and admired him. But the chemistry just wasn’t there. And she couldn’t force herself to fall for him anymore than she could stop herself from having those nightmares.
“Thanks for the offer, but I’ll be fine. I’m so tired I’ll probably just pass out anyway.”
“Okay. If you’re sure.” Will stepped back toward the door and reached for the handle. “Oh, I meant to ask you something.”
“What?” She held the door open for him as he moved onto her front porch.
“Adler’s shrink. McClane. Have you ever seen him before?”
Ethan’s attractive face flashed in Sam’s mind, and her stomach tightened at the memory of their time alone together in that closet. Of the way his body heat had surrounded her. Of how much she’d wanted to kiss him. Warmth rose in her cheeks. “No. Why?”
“I don’t know. There’s something familiar about the guy. I just can’t figure out what.”
Sam leaned against the door. “Maybe you ran into him in Portland. David said he used to work as a counselor for the state. I’m pretty sure he used to treat troubled kids.”
“Maybe.” But something in Will’s voice didn’t sound convinced. “It’ll come to me.” He flashed a smile and winked before stepping outside. “Lock your doors, Sam. You know I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if anything happened to you.”
CHAPTER FIVE
“Workin’ late tonight, Sam?”
Sam glanced up from the stack of labs she was grading and tried to hide her annoyance at the interruption. Ken Saunders pushed the broom around her classroom. His sandy-blond hair was in serious need of a cut, his dirty sneakers squeaked against the floor, and his keys jangled from the waistband of his worn jeans. “Trying to get some things done before the weekend, Kenny.”
“It’s almost six o’clock on a Friday night. Everyone else has already gone home.” He paused, leaned on the end of his broom, and studied her over the lab tables. “You’re either dedicated or way behind.”
He had no idea. Sam shifted uncomfortably under his steely gaze and glanced back down at her papers. She’d come in early this morning to get her room back in order, then spent the day putting out rumors over the break-in. There was no word from Will on the investigation, and she hated that she was agitated over the fact that she’d only seen Ethan for a few minutes when he’d been observing Thomas in her class. So she hadn’t gotten to talk to him. Big deal. Did that mean she had to think about him? Every hour?
Irritated with herself, she flipped a page and made a mark. She was obviously spending too much time with teenagers and their raging hormones.
“Sam?”
She jumped at the nearness of Kenny’s voice and looked up. He stood in front of her desk. “Yes?”
“You okay? You look kinda lost.”
Lost. Great. Like she needed the janitor thinking she was nutso too? No way.
“I’m fine. Just a lot on my mind. I have a few more papers to grade, then I’ll be out of your way.”
“Don’t mind me. I got other rooms I need to clean first. Take your time.” Kenny tugged his headphones back on and pushed his broom across the floor. The faint sounds of whistling drifted from the hall as he left.
As soon as he rounded the corner and disappeared out of sight, Sam dropped her head against the desk. Six o’clock on a Friday night and she was here, at school, with the janitor. God, her life was pathetic.
Okay, two more labs, then she was out of here. She went back to grading and made another mark. She didn’t want to take this work home with her on a long weekend.
The lights flickered, hummed, and went out.
“Dammit. Can’t one thing go right?” Sam pushed back from her desk and headed for the hall. “Kenny?”
The stupid breaker had a habit of going out when Kenny was running machinery in the other wing. She didn’t have enough money in her budget for decent supplies, and David was skimping on the electrical system, but the football team had spiffy new uniforms every year.
Great new career you picked, Sam.
When Kenny didn’t respond, she stepped into the darkened hall, missing her old lab at the pharmaceutical company she’d worked for before coming home. Unfortunately, there were no pharmaceutical companies in Hidden Falls, and the only job she’d been able to find that she was even remotely qualified for was the chemistry position at the high school.
Where the heck was Kenny? Frustration morphed to agitation. Unable to find him in her wing, she headed for the front of the school. The breaker box was in the office. A flip of the switch would fix the problem so she could finish her work and get the heck out of here.
Her sensible flats clicked along the dim passageway. The janitor’s closet sat open halfway down the hall. She paused at the door and scanned the wall for the flashlight Kenny kept strapped to a charger just inside. She didn’t particularly want to go in. Dark places had never been high on her list, and after being trapped in a closet just yesterday, she wasn’t excited to repeat the event.
You’re being silly. No one’s here.
Sam looked up and down the hall to make sure she was really alone, then reached in and fanned her fingers along the Sheetrock. The scent of strong cleaning chemicals cut through the darkness. Her hand passed over the flashlight, and she exhaled a relieved breath.
She’d been through too much in her life to be scared by some stupid kids playing pranks on her. Flicking on the flashlight, she headed for the office.
A loud noise echoed from the direction of the gym just as she rounded the corner. Sam’s heart rate jumped. She slowed and glanced that way.
Just Kenny. He’d probably tripped in the dark and hurt himself. But as she stepped toward the gym door and peered through the darkened rectangular windows, apprehension curled in her stomach.
She’d be stupid to walk into a pitch-black room alone. Especially after everything that had recently happened. Common sense drew her back a step.
Something brushed her shoulder. Her adrenaline spiked. She whipped around, swinging out with the flashlight.
“Whoa, relax.” Ethan eased back and held up his hands.
“Oh my God.” Sam pressed a shaky hand to her stomach. “You scared me. What are you doing here?”
“I saw your car in the parking lot after my meeting. The front door was unlocked. What are you doing at school so late?”
A thrill shot through her at the knowledge that he’d stopped back by because of her. Followed by a host of nerves.
He’s still a shrink regardless of how hot he is.
“Um.” She turned back for her hallway. “Finishing up some work.”
“In the dark?”
From the corner of her eye she could just make out his sexy little smirk, and her heart raced faster. God, it had been months since she’d been attracted to anyone. Why him? And why now?
“The lights only went out a few minutes ago. I was on my way to the office to flip the breaker.” She flicked the flashlight over the floor, growing more annoyed with herself by the second. “At least I’m not skulking around a building I shouldn’t be.”
“You missed me.”
She huffed out a laugh that sounded more like a snort. Beautiful. “You read a lot into one little sentence.”
“I read between the lines. I’m a trained professional. That’s what I do.”
She was all too aware of that fact. And knew for certain she didn’t want to know what he’d “read” between her lines.
Change jingled behind her as she moved. She could feel his gaze at her back, knew his hands were in his pockets, that he was probably studying her like he did all his cases. Did he think she was as crazy as Will did? Ethan was nothing to her, so why did it matter so much what he thought?
“I consider lights-out a sign it’s time to call it a day,” he said in that sexy shrink voice of his. “Have you had dinner yet?”
Sam nearly tripped over her feet.
And hoped it was too dark for him to notice. “Are you for real?”
“Me? Always.”
She stopped and faced him. He was too cute for his own good. And dressed in crisp slacks and a white dress shirt rolled up to his forearms, he was currently looking at her in the low light as if she were all he could think about, not the other way around.
Her resistance wavered.
“I’m not . . . ” She bit her lip and focused on the pocket of his shirt. Dammit, how did she explain this? “I’m not the best of company, Ethan.”
“For me or Will Branson?”
She huffed in exasperation. “If I were interested in Will Branson I wouldn’t be wasting all my time thinking about you.”
His eyes widened.
Oh crap. Now she’d done it. Given away everything she’d been trying to hide. Her cheeks burned.
His thumb grazed the back of her hand where she held the flashlight, and she knew she should move away, but she couldn’t. Because heat seared her skin under the gentle touch. A heat that felt way too good.
“Well,” he said softly. “That’s something at least, huh?”
He was too close. Too enticing. Too real. All the things she wanted but knew she didn’t need. At least not now, when she was trying so desperately to get out of this town. “What are you even doing here, Ethan? It’s Friday night of a long weekend. Surely you have someplace better to be.”
“Honestly? There’s nowhere else I’d rather be right now.”
Oh man. Those deep-green eyes were going to be her undoing. That crescent-shaped scar above his eyebrow just begged to be traced. And though it was reckless and insane, her fingers itched to do so.
“Come on,” he said. “It’s late, neither of us has eaten yet, and I’m hungry.”
“Ethan—”
“It’s just dinner, Samantha. Tell you what, we’ll go casual. Just two friends sharing a meal. After the bruises I took for you yesterday, it’s the least you can do for me, right?”
She heard the teasing in his voice. Saw the spark of humor in his eyes. And felt the heat rolling off him in waves. The same heat which was rolling off her, but she tried hard to ignore.
Repressed (Deadly Secrets) Page 5
