by Laura Scott
Her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Sure.”
“If you don’t like it, just tell me. I’ll find something else.” He showed her the cabin on his phone. “Is it too much like the one you stayed in with the Preacher?”
She swiped at the screen to view the various pictures. “It’s very nice, and no, it isn’t at all like being with the Preacher.” She met his gaze as she handed back his phone. “I love the woods; it helped us escape.”
“Are you absolutely sure you don’t mind staying there? I don’t want to upset you more than I already have.”
“I’m not upset,” she protested.
“Yeah, you are. I get why you’re feeling that way; after all, I told you I would keep you safe.” He sighed. “And that’s still my goal, Jayme. I promise that your safety is my top priority. But I also need to find this guy, which means going back to the PT clinic to sift through the debris and then heading over to the garage to examine the damage to my vehicle. Stuff that will take up most of my day, and maybe into tomorrow.”
“I understand, and I do appreciate your help.” Her gaze was solemn. “But I’m worried about Caitlyn. She and Annette should be returning to Sevierville sometime today. I’d like them to join me at the cabin.”
“Done.” He would have moved the Earth’s axis for her if he could have. He took a moment to book the cabin via his phone. “I need to pick up my rental car. We’ll grab something to eat along the way before heading to the cabin. I’ll wait with you there until the officer is able to relieve me.”
“I’m ready.” She turned to pick up her purse from the chair. He frowned when he noticed she’d made the bed but held his tongue, unwilling to shatter the fragile truce shimmering between them.
Hopefully, the maid would figure it out.
He left a tip on the bed before following Jayme out of the room and into the hall. Outside, he used his phone to obtain a rideshare.
“I need my power cord for my phone,” Jayme said. “I’m not sure about your battery life, but I’m down to twenty percent, and I need to be able to talk to Caitlyn.”
“Okay, I’ll take care of it.” Linc considered their options. He could swing by his place after dropping her off at the cabin to get her things. Or they could stop at a store. Although he’d need his power cord too.
And a change of clothes.
The rental car was another SUV, dark blue instead of black. An hour later, he pulled up in front of the cabin, feeling good that the rear part of the building was nestled close to the hillside. No one would be able to sneak up that way, they’d be forced to come in from the front.
“Oh, look. A hot tub. Too bad I didn’t bring a bathing suit.” Jayme’s dry tone indicated she was joking.
“Maybe next time.” He walked up to the door and punched in the code on the lockbox to access the key. Inside, the cabin smelled like lemons as if it had been recently cleaned. “I hope this works for you.”
“Looks great.” Difficult to tell if she was being sincere. “Thanks.”
He wished he could do more, but he had to be satisfied with knowing Officer Rainer would be there soon. He’d already paid the young man using an online banking website.
“Books!” This time, there was no denying the excitement in Jayme’s tone as she spied the bookshelves flanking the fireplace. She hurried over to examine them. When he remembered the notebook she’d used at his house, he mentally added that to the list of items he’d need to pick up for her.
Devon Rainer arrived five minutes later. Linc introduced the young, and annoyingly handsome, cop to Jayme. “Nice to meet you,” Devon drawled.
Linc forced a smile. “I’ll be here to relieve you at nine o’clock tonight.” His efforts to cover the night shift had been futile. “Call me if you need something before then.”
“Will do,” Devon agreed. “I’m sure the most difficult thing we’ll face today is boredom.”
“Speak for yourself,” Jayme piped up. “I’ve got books to read.”
Devon looked a bit disappointed at her statement, which made Linc want to smile. “I’ll be back with some additional things, okay?”
“Okay.” Devon strolled over to the kitchen table. He was dressed in casual clothes, since he wasn’t on police duty, but thankfully he carried his sidearm on his belt holster.
Linc left the cabin, praying the officer wouldn’t have to use it.
Jayme did her best to lose herself in her book, but it wasn’t easy. The hired cop was grating on her nerves with his constant fidgeting. How on earth did he manage the simple task of patrolling the streets? There wasn’t that much crime in Sevierville, there must be times when it was slow.
Linc had returned with her duffel bag, phone cord, and her notebook, along with basic easy-to-fix food. When Linc had left for the second time, it was all she could do not to beg him to stay.
Hence, her desire to lose herself in her book.
She had to give Devon credit for taking his duty seriously. He walked around the outside of the property every thirty minutes. She felt safe enough in the cabin that would have been quaint under different circumstances. There was no way the arsonist would have been able to follow them there. But she still wasn’t thrilled with the arrangements.
And if Devon interrupted her with inane chitchat one more time, she was going to seriously lose it.
“Hey, Jayme, are you hungry?” Devon was looking through the food Linc had stored in the refrigerator. “Looks like we have mixings for sandwiches here.”
She bit her lip to prevent herself from snapping. “Help yourself. I’ll grab something later.”
“Maybe we should check out that hot tub.” He winked at her from across the kitchen. “Could be fun.”
“No thank you.” Her phone rang, and she practically pounced on it in relief. “Caitlyn, are you on your way home?”
“Soon, I just got your message.” Her sister sounded distracted. “What is all this about a safe house? Annette and I have classes tomorrow morning.”
“But not until ten, right?” She knew full well her night-owl sister hadn’t taken any early classes. “I’ll make sure you and Annette get to school on time.”
“Jayme, is this really necessary? We’d rather head to the apartment.”
“Please don’t do that,” Jayme pleaded. “I’ve been in danger for the past two days. I wouldn’t ask you to do this if it wasn’t important.”
“What kind of danger? Are you okay?” Caitlyn’s voice held concern.
“I’m fine, but only because I’ve had help.” She swallowed hard, knowing it was ridiculous to miss Linc, a man she hadn’t known two days ago. “I’ll give you directions to the cabin, let’s at least talk things through before you make any rash decisions, okay?”
“Fine,” Caitlyn sighed. “Go ahead and give me the address.” Caitlyn’s resigned tone made her feel better. Her sister might be irritated, but she wouldn’t ignore the threat of danger.
Tension eased from her shoulders after her brief conversation with Caitlyn. Knowing her sister would be safe was a relief.
Now if Devon could only morph himself into someone with a better personality, she’d be even better.
When he took another walk outside, she made a quick sandwich. The kid was nice, but he was acting a bit too flirty for her peace of mind. Caitlyn was only twenty-two and had long blonde hair and beautiful blue eyes. If he continued with that attitude toward her sister, she might have to resort to drastic measures to get his attention.
The rest of the afternoon passed with excruciating slowness. She finished her book and wrote some notes about the plot of a new story that had been swirling around in her mind. Not that she wasn’t living a suspense story in real life.
By five o’clock, she was concerned something had happened to her sister. She called, but Caitlyn didn’t pick up.
It was her turn to pace the cabin, glancing constantly outside, hoping to see her sister’s car pulling in. Even if the girls had gotten lost or stopped fo
r food, they should have been here by now.
She eyed Devon’s rusty pickup truck. His keys weren’t sitting out, or she’d have already made a run for it.
Frustrated, she called Linc. He answered quickly. “Jayme? You okay?”
“No. Caitlyn should have been here two hours ago. She’s not answering her phone, and I’m worried something has happened to her.”
“Hang on a minute.” She heard the muffled sounds of a conversation. “Okay, I’m finished here at the physical therapy building. I’ll head over to the apartment to see if her car is there. A dark gray Honda, right?”
“Right.” She let out a breath. “Okay, thanks. Call me back as soon as you can.”
“I will. Try to stay calm, I’m sure she just stopped there to get her things.”
Yeah, that’s exactly what Jayme was afraid of. She gripped her phone tightly and continued her pacing.
What if the arsonist was hanging around Caitlyn’s apartment because she was out of his reach? She’d done her best to protect Caitlyn from the harsh realities of living on the streets, but that may work against her now.
Would Caitlyn recognize a potentially dangerous man? Jayme was wired to be suspicious of everyone, but Caitlyn tended to be friendly and outgoing, even with strangers.
The way most young people were.
Fear gripped her tightly by the throat, making it difficult to breathe. She sank onto the sofa and bowed her head, hoping Caitlyn wasn’t hurt.
Please, God, keep her safe!
The unbidden prayer slipped through her mind before she could think about it. And surprisingly, it brought a sense of peace.
“Jayme? You okay?”
She lifted her head. “I will be. Linc is going to see if he can find my sister and her friend. They should have been here by now.”
Devon nodded. “I’d head out to look for them myself, but I promised Linc I wouldn’t leave you alone.”
Again, she couldn’t fault the way he took his job seriously. “She drives a dark gray Honda, in case you notice one passing by.”
“I’ll keep a lookout for it.” He glanced toward the fridge. “I was thinking of tossing in a frozen pizza for dinner. You interested?”
“Yeah, sure.” Her stomach was so knotted up there was no way she’d be able to eat, but cooking the pizza would keep him busy.
And if Caitlyn did show up, she loved pizza.
Not if, when, she silently corrected. When Caitlyn and Annette showed up, they’d likely be hungry.
Her phone rang, and she gratefully answered Linc’s call. “Did you find them?”
“Yes, they’re here at the apartment.” He sounded a bit tense, and she imagined the conversation hadn’t gone well. “They’re packing their stuff now. Apparently, your sister’s phone battery died.”
“Put her on, please.” Jayme waited until she heard her sister’s voice. “Caitlyn, what part of being in danger didn’t you understand?”
“Hey, you didn’t tell me that someone actually blew up your car,” she said defensively. “I made sure we weren’t followed, and we came in through the back door.”
“But why did you go to the apartment at all?” Jayme asked. “I asked you to come straight here.”
“We needed clean clothes to wear, and it only took us a few minutes. Or would have if your guy friend hadn’t tracked us down.”
She loved her sister, she really did, but it wasn’t easy to hang on to her temper. “There’s a washer and dryer here. But never mind, just get over here as soon as possible.”
“We will. Sorry, sis.” At least Caitlyn sounded contrite.
“Jayme?” Linc had taken the phone. “I’ll follow them to the cabin, okay?”
“Okay, thanks, Linc. I’ll throw in another pizza for them. Devon ate most of the one he made.”
“See you soon,” Linc said before disconnecting from the line.
She slid her phone into her pocket, those three words brightening her day more than they should. It was ridiculous for her to have missed Linc in a measly eight-hour period of time.
These feelings she had for him were becoming a problem. The hero in the story she was writing had changed to the point that he looked just like Linc.
Fifteen minutes later, Caitlyn, Annette, and Linc arrived. She’d put two more pizzas in the oven just in case Linc was hungry too.
“Jayme, I’m so sorry about your car.” Caitlyn came over to give her a big hug. “And I’m sorry we worried you. Linc filled us in on what’s been happening.”
“I’m glad you’re here now.” She glanced over Caitlyn’s shoulder to find Linc. “Thanks for dropping everything to check on her.”
“It’s not a problem. Actually, I’m finished with investigating the two recent scenes,” Linc admitted. “Devon, if you’d like to head home, I can take over from here.”
“You just want to keep all the pretty girls for yourself,” Devon joked, eyeing Caitlyn and Annette. “I can return tomorrow morning if needed.”
“That would be great, thanks.” Linc slapped the young officer on the shoulder. “I really appreciate your willingness to keep these women safe.” The added emphasis on the last word wasn’t lost on Devon. He may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, but he understood a reprimand when he heard one.
“Yes, sir.” Devon bobbed his head toward her. “Good night, Ms. Jayme.”
Oh, so now she was Ms. Jayme? She smiled wryly. “Good night, Devon.”
Linc locked the door behind him, then turned toward her. “Please tell me he didn’t act too badly.”
“He was mostly fine.” She shrugged off her annoyance; after all, it wasn’t Devon’s fault she hadn’t liked him.
Having Linc around relaxed her. Scary, but true. She donned quilted oven mitts and pulled the pizzas out. Caitlyn jumped in to set the table.
“It’s my fault, Jayme,” Annette said. “I’m the one who convinced Caitlyn to stop at the apartment.”
“No, I should have insisted on coming straight here,” Caitlyn countered. “I . . . should have known Jayme wasn’t overreacting.”
“I wasn’t, but everything is fine now, right?” Jayme sliced the pizzas and set them in the center of the table. She dropped into the chair across from Linc, then folded her hands. “I know you’d like to pray.”
“I would,” Linc agreed. Caitlyn and Annette looked at each other in surprise but didn’t say anything. “Dear Lord, we thank You for this food, for this safe place to stay, and for bringing Caitlyn and Annette home. Please continue guiding us on Your path. Amen.”
“Amen,” Jayme echoed.
Linc’s eyes widened at her participation in his prayer, and when he smiled, she could feel herself blush. Not good with Caitlyn sitting right beside her.
Thankfully, the girls chatted about their trip to Nashville throughout the meal. When they were finished, Linc suggested the girls clean up, and both of them readily agreed.
“That was slick,” she said in an undertone.
“Tell me the truth, do I need to knock a few of Devon’s teeth out?” Linc asked.
She laughed for the first time in what seemed like forever. Somehow, she couldn’t seem to stay mad at Linc. Even when she’d resented the fact that he’d exiled her to the cabin with Devon. “If I say yes, will you stay here instead?”
There was a moment of hesitation, as if he wasn’t sure if she was joking. But then he smiled ruefully. “It wasn’t easy for me to leave you here, Jayme. And to be honest, the day felt like a waste of time. There isn’t enough of a link between these incidents from an arson perspective to say they were done by the same man.” He shook his head. “I’m hoping that talking to Kevin Leib tomorrow will help.”
All humor faded from her face. “And if it doesn’t?”
“I don’t know.” His expression was full of frustration. “It’s horrible to think that we might have to wait and see when and where he strikes next.”
“Yeah, that’s not good.” She suppressed a sigh. “Thanks for b
eing honest with me.”
“Always.” His low, husky voice made her remember the heat of their kisses.
Good thing the girls were here as a distraction. Which reminded her. “The girls need to go to class tomorrow at ten o’clock. I’d rather they not be alone.”
“Ten o’clock, huh?” He grimaced and nodded. “I’ll be on the road to Nashville, but Devon can drive them. You’ll need to tag along.”
“In his pickup truck? Or with you?” She held his gaze. “You said I could meet this arson suspect, right?”
“Yes. Okay, you and I will head to Nashville, and Devon can act as a bodyguard for Caitlyn and Annette.” He glanced over to where they were finishing the dishes. “Girls? I want you to let me know if Officer Rainer steps out of line.”
“You mean Devon?” Caitlyn asked as Annette giggled. “Don’t worry, I’m sure he’ll be a gentleman.”
“He better be,” Linc muttered.
The dark clouds made the hour seem later than it was. Both girls were exhausted from their trip, so they went to bed early. Jayme yawned, thinking it would be prudent to do the same.
“You sure you’re okay on the sofa?” She thought it looked far too short for his frame.
“I’ll be fine. I’m going to be up every few hours to check things out anyway.”
She nodded. “Good night, then.”
“Good night, Jayme.”
She fell asleep quickly, maybe because of Linc’s reassuring presence nearby, but awoke with a jolt to the sound of shattering glass.
“Jayme! Caitlyn! Annette!” Linc shouted loudly. “Hurry!”
She pulled on her shoes and sweater, then ran into the main living room to grab her purse. She gaped in surprise when she saw the broken window and fire sprouting from the center of the sofa.
The arsonist had found them!
Chapter Ten
My fault. This was all my fault!
Linc grabbed a quilt and tossed it over the burning sofa, even as he continued shouting for the girls to get up. Jayme rushed over to the kitchen, grabbed a large saucepan, and filled it with water. She tossed it onto the quilt, which helped tamp down the flames.
