by Wendy Davy
“What if it’s already occupied?”
“I’ll have them or you moved to another room. We’ll get some rest, and then we’ll figure out what to do tomorrow.”
“We will? It’s nice to know I still have some say in the matter.”
“It’s not my intention to make you feel as if you have no control. As a matter of fact, it’s the opposite I’m hoping for. If you have ideas, tell me. I’m willing to listen. I’m just trying to keep you safe.”
Sierra’s shoulders relaxed as she looked at him with widened eyes. “That’s not what I expected to hear from a cop.”
“I’m just full of surprises aren’t I?” He waited, watching to see if her anger had fully dissipated. When her lips curled into a smile, relief flooded through him, and he took that simple act as a sign she’d forgiven him.
He returned her smile, cupped her calf and lifted her leg onto his bent knee. Her skin felt warm and smooth, and he had to force himself to concentrate. Her wound served as a reminder of all that was at stake. “The first time you ran from me you nearly got crushed by an SUV. And this time”—Chase met her gaze and lowered his voice, emphasizing his point—”if Eason had found you before I did, you’d be dealing with much worse than a scrape.”
“Kevin can’t possibly know I’m at this motel. I’ve only been here a few hours.”
Chase lifted a brow. “I found you, didn’t I?”
Her blue eyes darkened with fear, and the slight color that had returned to her cheeks drained away. Chase fought the urge to comfort her. Unnerved by the effect she had on him, he concentrated on his task. He unlatched the first aid box and thumbed through the contents.
“How did you find me?”
“I told you. Luanne—”
“Not today. I mean, the first time. How long did it take you to trace me to Shenandoah Valley?”
“Less than twenty-four hours.”
“I don’t understand. I left my car in Seattle and took public transportation from there. I used cash, no credit cards. I even bought pre-paid cell phones. I never told my sister I was in Virginia. How was it so easy?”
“I’m a detective, remember?” He selected a small bottle of hydrogen peroxide, a tube of antiseptic cream and a bandage.
“Right. It’s your job.”
Something in the tone of her voice made him pause. Compelled to explain, he said, “It is my job, but I’m not on the clock.”
“Well, for what it’s worth…I am glad I’m not alone in all this.”
Chase had been surprised when Sierra had opened up at breakfast, but he shouldn’t have been. She’d probably needed someone to confide in. A tinge of satisfaction coursed through him because that person had been him. He opened the bottle of peroxide and hesitated. “This is going to sting.”
Sierra flinched when the liquid hit her wound, feasting on germs and covering the entire area in white bubbles. “I’ve been through worse.”
“I know you have, honey.” Chase hadn’t intended to use the endearment, but he’d been enamored by her so long, it slipped out easily. He reminded himself to use caution—he’d known her a lot longer than she had known him. He leaned close and blew on the area. “This should help keep any infection away.”
Sierra nodded. “Did you use your police connections to track me down?”
“Partly. It wasn’t as difficult as you might imagine. I figured you’d want to stay as far away from Eason as possible.” Chase gently dabbed the excess peroxide from her skin. “You can’t get much farther away from Seattle than here, at least not without leaving the country. And, considering you were attacked in a large city, I assumed you’d head for a smaller town.”
“But, there are so many places I could’ve gone.”
“True, but most people seek help from relatives or friends. Maybe someone in their past they think no one would still connect them to.”
“Allie.” Sierra’s shoulders slumped in defeat.
“That’s right.”
“But she was my college roommate. We had kept in touch, but I hadn’t seen her in a long time. I never suspected…I thought I was doing everything right. I guess I’m not so good at this cloak-and-dagger stuff.”
“Don’t be too hard on yourself. It takes months of preparation and research to drop out of sight for good. I’m willing to bet you hadn’t planned on going anywhere until the night Eason attacked you. Am I right?”
“Yes. I’d hoped he would leave me alone.”
“He’s obsessed with you, Sierra. No amount of time or distance will change that.”
****
If Sierra hadn’t been sitting, she would’ve hit the floor as a wave of dizziness washed over her. “You make Kevin sound as persistent as the Terminator. What am I going to do?”
“For starters, you can let me help you.” Chase smoothed antiseptic ointment on her wound, and secured a large bandage over the area. “This should heal up nicely in a few days. Just keep it covered, and when you shower, change the bandage.” He set out two more bandages, shoved the peroxide into the kit and cleaned up the trash.
“You’re pretty good at doctoring injuries. Maybe I can return the favor one day.” As soon as she’d said the words, she wished she could take them back. “Not that I want you to get hurt…or anything. I just meant…well, thanks.” Flustered, Sierra clasped her fingers and bit her lower lip. She hadn’t expected tenderness from such a virile, authoritative man, and she didn’t quite know what to think about it.
“You’re welcome.” He stood and found the empty donut wrapper. He lifted it between two fingers. “Is this what you ate for lunch?”
She nodded. No wonder her head spun. The sugar rush had waned, leaving her weak and disoriented. “I didn’t have a lot to choose from.” She considered telling Chase about what happened in the convenience store, but just because she’d caught the scent of peppermint didn’t mean Kevin was the source. Deciding her fears were unjustified, she kept the incident to herself.
“There’s a diner next door. Let’s grab something to eat.”
“I’m not sure I can eat anything right now.”
“You should try. You need to keep up your strength. I don’t want to give Eason any kind of advantage.”
Chase was right. She had to remain vigilant. After adjusting her jeans back over her bandaged leg, she took his offered hand and stood, bringing her eye-level with his chest. His masculine presence filled the small room, and her heart skipped a beat. Wary of her strong reaction, she slipped out of his grasp. “I guess it wouldn’t hurt to see what they have there.”
Chase answered with a smile. Pressing his hand to the small of her back, he followed her out the front door. “Do you have your key?”
Sierra checked her pocket, trying unsuccessfully to ignore the warmth and gentle pressure of his fingers. “Got it.”
He nodded and shut the door behind them, double checking to make sure the lock caught. His lingering smile faded, and his features tensed as he scanned the area and fell into step close beside her. “Keep the key accessible in case we need to get inside quickly.”
The sun had set, leaving shadows stretching far into corners and crevices. The darkness, along with Chase’s sudden mood change, made her uneasy. “You’re making me nervous. Do you really think Kevin could be close by?”
“Eason’s not in Seattle.” A muscle bunched in Chase’s jaw, and his lips formed a tight line as he continued to look around. “He could be anywhere.”
Immobilizing fear caused her steps to falter. “How do you know?” Frantic, she looked around. Shadows created haunting images everywhere. She watched cars as they passed, trying to catch glimpses of the drivers.
Chase wrapped an encouraging arm around her waist, keeping her moving. “I’m a detective. I know things.”
“Right. Kevin knows things, too. That’s what worries me.” After checking for oncoming traffic, they stepped off the curb and onto Market Street. “He always seemed to know more than he should, about me…perso
nally.”
“He kept tabs on you from the beginning.”
“You talk as if all this is common knowledge.” Sierra drew her brows together.
“I’ve been watching him as much as possible, keeping track of his moves.”
As they approached Carl’s diner Sierra stopped him with a hand on his arm. “So, you’ve known about me since the beginning of my relationship with Kevin?”
“Yes. The first time I saw you was when Eason took you to see The Phantom Of The Opera.”
“That was our first date, last fall.”
“It was October fourteenth.”
“You remember the exact day?”
“I keep detailed records.”
“Oh.” Sierra wondered what else Chase knew about her.
“I wanted to warn you about Eason, but without evidence to back up my claims—”
“I wouldn’t have believed you. At least not at first. In the beginning Kevin had charmed me and treated me so well I even ignored my family’s concerns. My sister saw through his masquerade long before I did, and if my parents were still alive, they probably would’ve too.”
Chase glanced around, keeping an eye on their surroundings as they talked. “Loved ones often pick up on odd behavior before the victim does.” He paused. “But not always.”
Sierra suspected a deeper meaning lay beneath his comment, but she didn’t press him. “I’d rather see a person for who they really are, faults and all, rather than to fall prey to idyllic hopes and false dreams. I won’t be a victim again, even if it means never having another relationship.”
“That would be a shame.” Chase’s voice dropped an octave, and his gaze flitted over her.
Although the temperature had cooled, heat crept up Sierra’s face. Chase looked like he saw something beautiful in her, leaving her breathless.
A moment passed in silence before Chase cleared his throat. “I know he hurt you, Sierra. But I hope you don’t let one man’s actions keep you from the life you’re meant to have.”
“Right now, I’m just praying I’ll have the chance to find out.”
11
Chase wanted nothing more than to promise Sierra she had a future to look forward to, but he couldn’t. Not with Eason still on the loose—which reminded him how vulnerable they were standing out in the open. He steeled his resolve and opened the diner’s door. “Head to the end booth, and leave the seat facing the door for me.”
“Is it the cop in you that makes you so edgy, or do you really think Kevin could be out there?”
“Both. I’ve always wanted to serve and protect, and yes, chances are good Eason could be close.” He nodded for her to enter and then followed.
Scents of grilled hamburgers and sizzling fries filled the air and made his stomach rumble as he scanned the narrow restaurant, taking inventory. Two waitresses, one cook, and three groups of customers occupied the building. The restrooms were located near the back, along with an emergency fire exit. Grateful for an escape route, Chase touched his fingers to Sierra’s lower back, guiding her toward the last booth as if they were a couple out on a casual date.
After they settled in, a waitress dressed from head to toe in pale yellow shuffled over and set down two menus and silverware. Gray roots peeked out from beneath dark hair, and sags under her eyes spoke of a long, hard life. “Specials tonight are clam chowder with biscuits, country fried steak with a side order of okra or green beans. But, we’re out of jelly for the biscuits, and the dinner rush took nearly all the okra we had in stock. What’ll it be?”
Chase nodded to Sierra and she glanced at the menu. “I’m a little hungrier than I thought I would be. I’ll take a grilled cheese with a dill pickle spear, fries and a glass of water.”
Chase asked for a classic hamburger platter and a soda. The waitress grunted her approval, scribbled the order and shuffled away.
Sierra hugged her arms around her middle and shivered, making Chase want to slide in next to her and dispel her fears. Instead of succumbing to his impulse, he offered, “You’ll feel better once you eat.”
“I doubt it. The hairs on my neck are standing on end.” She peered out the window. “Kevin could be watching right now.”
Chase glanced outside, looking for trouble, but darkness swallowed all but twin shafts of light from a nearby streetlamp. “If you’re uncomfortable, we can get our food to go.”
Sierra turned weary eyes toward him. “No. We’re already here. I’m just so tired of running, of being scared. I’m ready for all this to be over. Maybe I should call Kevin and dare him to come and get me.”
“Something tells me you don’t really mean that.” Chase sat back as the waitress delivered their drinks and left. Agitated Sierra would even make such a foolhardy suggestion he tapped his fingers on the table, and then picked up a straw and spun it between two fingers.
Sierra glanced at his movements. “Looks like you could use one of those smooth rocks Kevin carries around with him. He always said rubbing it helped to relieve stress.”
Chase dropped the straw and leaned forward, heart pounding and stomach twisting into a hard, unyielding knot. “Smooth rock? What did it look like?”
Sierra’s eyes widened, and she lifted her hand to her throat. “He called it a worry stone. It was kind of orange with swirled patterns in it.”
“Did it have a marking that looked like a cat’s eye?”
“Yes. Kevin pointed out that feature specifically.”
“I knew he had it.” Chase pounded a fist on the table, rattling silverware and condiment bottles. Heads turned in their direction, but he didn’t care. “That rock belonged to my sister. It’s been missing since she died.”
Sierra sucked in a breath. “Can you use it as evidence? If it was Amber’s—”
“No. It won’t prove anything. Although she never would have given it away, Eason could claim she had given it to him at any time.”
“How do you know she didn’t?”
“Because it belonged to me, too. We passed it back and forth through the years. I gave it to her to hold on to the day she started high school, and she gave it back the day I joined the Seattle Police Department. Each time something significant happened in our lives, we’d let the other take it for a while. When I had it, I always kept it in my pocket. When Amber had it…she always kept it in her purse. Eason hated the fact we were so close. He must have taken it when he killed her.”
“You mean like a memento, or a trophy?”
“Exactly like a trophy.”
“Kevin used to get this smug look on his face when he held the stone. I never understood why…until now. It makes me sick.”
“Men like him have no remorse.”
Sierra glanced out the window again. “I wonder why he picked your sister? I worked in the same office as Kevin, so I can see why he chose me, but what about Amber? How did they meet?”
Chase shrugged. “By chance. Amber needed legal advice about a lease she was thinking about signing, and gave Eason’s firm a call. Eason happened to have the first available time slot.” Chase took a long swig of carbonated soda, letting the bubbles soothe his dry throat. “That man took the spark out of her eyes long before he took her life. He deserves to be locked away.”
The waitress brought their plates and extra napkins. “Anything else you need, just holler.”
Chase nodded his thanks, and the waitress scooted away. He picked up the ketchup bottle and added a generous amount to his burger. He took two bites before glancing at Sierra as she trailed her fingers over the fading bruises on her neck. Tension knotted his muscles, and he forced down the food.
Sierra cleared her throat. “How long did Amber date Kevin?”
“About two years.”
“Two years? I can’t imagine staying with him so long.”
Chase ate a steaming french fry and swiped a napkin across his lips. “You have to remember, by the time Eason met you, he’d had experience tormenting women. Or, at least one woman. He’d gotten
away with it, so it probably didn’t take as long for his true self to come out with you.”
“I still should’ve recognized the signs earlier.”
“Regardless, we have to deal with the present.”
“Speaking of which, I’d like to hear your grand plan of how you’re going to keep me safe and catch Kevin at the same time.”
Chase would be glad to share his ideas with her, but so far, nothing had gone according to plan. He hadn’t intended to have personal contact with Sierra to begin with, and now he sat eating dinner with her and wanting to ease the concerns lingering in her eyes. “Right now, you need to eat.” He nodded toward the plate she hadn’t touched.
“What about tomorrow and the day after that?” She propped an elbow on the table and planted her chin in her hand.
Chase kept an eye on the door as a customer walked inside and sat at a stool. The aging man posed no threat. “I suppose we’ll eat then, too.”
“Very funny. Give me something tangible to focus on. I can’t take much more of the unexpected.”
“You can handle a lot more than you think.”
“You’re right. God’s grace is sufficient to help me through anything.” Sierra took in a deep breath, as if to steady shaken nerves. “It’s hard to remember I’m not alone in this, when everything is so scary.”
“God doesn’t want you to be afraid.”
She took a sip of water and carefully set down the glass. “I thought you didn’t talk to God anymore.”
For some reason, Sierra’s statement struck a nerve and guilt prodded him. “I don’t. That doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten He’s there.”
“So, you do still have faith?” Sierra straightened, looking intrigued.
“I know God exists, if that’s what you mean.”
“So how can you just ignore Him?”
“Let’s just say we have an understanding. I stay out of His way, and He stays out of mine.”
“That makes for a lonely existence, doesn’t it? I mean, without God, what’s the point?”
Suddenly uncomfortable, Chase shifted. “How did we get on this subject?”
