“But your dad just got released this morning.” Nate wasn’t sure why he was so reluctant to leave Mercy. Perhaps the strange little town had grown on him over the last few days. “Are you sure you don’t want to spend more time with him?”
Olivia glanced out the window. It had started to rain in the last few minutes. “To be honest, it’s been really hard to be around him. I keep wanting to confront him about the divorce papers. But I can’t do that now while he’s still healing. A little space is probably best for both of us.”
“I can’t image space from you ever being a good thing,” Nate said. He reached across the table and grabbed her hand, threading his fingers between hers. Each time he touched Olivia, he wondered how he had managed to spend twelve years around her without being able to touch her that way.
“If I haven’t already said it a dozen times, I’m really glad you are here.” She squeezed his hand lightly. “I hate being away from you.”
“I know the feeling.” He brought their hands up to his lips and lightly kissed the back of her fingers. “You know, there’s a way we could make sure we never have to be apart again.”
Olivia’s eyes narrowed. “Suicide pact?”
“In a way, yes,” Nate said with a laugh. “But some people call it marriage.”
He had tried to keep his voice light, but inside every muscle was tense. Nate and Olivia had never really talked about their future. They certainly had never talked about marriage. He knew it was crazy to even bring it up considering they had only been dating for a few weeks. But they had been friends for over a decade and Nate knew that this was what he wanted. Olivia was what he wanted.
“Marriage?” She stammered a few times as she struggled to find her next words. “Nate, you don’t believe in marriage.”
It was true. After his divorce, he had sworn off marriage. Back then, it had seemed like marriage was only for people who enjoyed being miserable. But he didn’t believe that anymore. Being with Olivia was nothing like what he had experienced with his ex.
“I believe in us,” he said, looking directly into her eyes. “Believe me, Liv, I’m just as surprised as you. I never thought I would ever want to get married again. But everything has changed since then. Because of you, I believe in happily-ever-after again.”
Olivia looked at him with unblinking eyes, studying his face. “I’m not sure you really believe what you just said, Nate. I want it to be true, but I think maybe you’re just convincing yourself that you feel that way.”
“How can you say that, Liv? You know that I love you more than anything in this world.” A dull pain began to ache in his chest. He was desperate for her to know how he felt. “Do you not want to be with me?”
“I know you love me,” she said, squeezing his hand again. “And there’s nothing I want more in this world to be with you. But I think that if you really wanted to marry me, you probably wouldn’t bring it up over coffee in a diner. Did you notice that you never even asked me?”
She was right. He hadn’t meant to be so casual about it. In his head, it had seemed like the perfect opportunity to bring it up. He had assumed that he would tell her how he felt and she would quickly agree. But he had screwed it up.
“Okay. Will you marry me, Olivia?” He gave her what he hoped was an endearing look.
“Nate.” She slid her hand free from his and cupped his face gently. “Someday, when we are both ready, I will marry you and it will be the happiest day of my life. But right now I just want to enjoy being with the love of my life. That’s enough for me.”
“You’re right,” Nate said, his lips just an inch away from hers. “You are enough.”
* * *
Olivia was doing her best to act normal around Nate, but he could tell that she hadn’t moved on from what had happened in the café. All throughout the afternoon at Brian’s house, her smile was weak and strained.
Ed sat in a chair looking pale, but better than he had looked in the hospital. For the most part, his eyes remained locked on a football game playing on television. Nate sat on the couch next to his chair and tried to strike up a conversation.
“They should stick to the running game,” he said.
Ed grunted.
“You a college football fan?” Nate asked.
“Not really.”
This was harder than it should be. Nate usually had no problem getting people to warm up to him. “How about the pros? Got a team?”
“Son, I appreciate that you want me to like you. But you can cut that small talk bull crap.” Ed glanced at him. “My daughter is already in love with you. My opinion isn’t going to change that.”
Nate paused for a second. “Maybe not, but for some reason I really need you to know that I love her, too.”
“Idiot.” Ed laughed deeply. “I knew that before you even realized it. As long as you are good to her, I’ve got no problem with you.”
As if she knew that she was being discussed, Olivia entered the room. Her eyes darted between the two men, a pained expression when she looked at her father that turned softer when she looked at Nate. “Are you boys playing nice?” she teased.
“Just chatting about football,” Ed said, a glimmer of humor sparkling in his eye before he turned back to the television.
Olivia stood next to Nate, looking anxiously around the room.
“Hey, is everything alright?” he asked.
Her hand stroked his cheek softly as she smiled and said, “Everything is perfect.”
Nate would’ve known she was lying even if he hadn’t been her best friend for twelve years. Her cheek twitched and her eyes were guarded. Something was bothering her and Nate had a suspicion that it was related to their earlier conversation. He wished that he could go back in time and tell his former self not to be such an idiot.
“Care to sit?” He patted the cushion next to him.
Olivia looked at her father again, her expression openly perplexed. Her head shook slowly. “No. I’m ready to go home.”
Home. Nate knew she wasn’t talking about her father’s house. They had been planning to leave in the morning, but Olivia didn’t want to wait. Instead, they packed their cars that night and drove back to the city.
They went home.
“It feels like we were gone longer than a week,” Olivia said as she started unpacking her bag. Nate dropped his bag on the floor and watched her. “I bet you’re glad to be going back to work. Vince will be glad to have you back.”
Nate leaned against the wall, arms crossed over his chest as he watched her. He didn’t think he would ever get tired of looking at this woman.
“What?” she asked, nervously tucking her hair behind her ears.
“You are so lovely,” he said. “I continue to be awed by you every day.”
Her cheeks flushed pink and she turned her back on him. “You know I can’t take a compliment, Nate.”
“Too bad.” He straightened and took a step forward. “Look at me, love.”
She turned slowly, hesitantly lifting her eyes to meet his. There was fear in her eyes as she anticipated what he was going to say next.
“I know that you thought I was being impulsive earlier today. You think I was being rash and that I’m not ready to commit to you. But you’re wrong.” He grabbed her hand and pressed it to his chest, just over his heart. “I’m already yours, Olivia. My heart has belonged to you since the night we met.”
She took in a halting breath. “Nate, I have never doubted your love for me. I’ve only doubted that I’m worthy of that love.”
“You are,” Nate said instantly, with absolute conviction. “Someday soon, I’m going to ask you to marry me again. I really hope you’ll say yes.”
Her mouth opened, an answer on the tip of her tongue. But Nate didn’t get to hear her answer because his phone rang just before the words left her lips.
“Perfect timing,” he said, reaching to shut off the phone. He spotted the number and his curiosity got the better of him. “Detective Tucker
.”
“Detective, this is Loni, from the hospital.”
“Right. Is everything okay?” Nate’s heart began to pound faster as he tried to guess what she might be about to say. Olivia’s hand was still on his chest and she looked at him with concern in her eyes.
“You wanted me to call if there was any change. I thought you might like to know that Jenna Kramer is awake.”
Nate let out the breath that he had been holding. “Thank you, Loni. I’ll be there soon.”
“Good news?” Olivia guessed when she saw the relieved look on his face.
“The latest victim woke up from her coma,” Nate explained. “I need to go to the hospital.”
“Of course.” Olivia stepped back. “Hopefully she’ll be able to remember something that helps you solve the case.”
Nate hurried out of his faded t-shirt. Olivia might have been okay with his unkempt look, but he couldn’t look like a total degenerate when he showed up at the hospital. “She suffered a pretty bad trauma. There’s a good chance she won’t be able to remember anything about what happened to her.”
“If she does remember, she might not want to tell you about it,” Olivia said thoughtfully. “You need to take me with you.”
“Come again?” He paused in his undressing, standing in the middle of the room wearing nothing but a pair of boxers. “You want to interview the victim with me?”
“Actually, when you’re standing there half-naked like that, there are many other things I want to do with you.” She reached into her closet and pulled out a pair of his pants. With a flick of her arm, she tossed them right at the center of his chest.
He snagged them easily with one hand. “I’m not sure it’s a good idea for you to come with me, Liv. This is a pretty sensitive situation and believe it or not, I’m actually pretty good at my job.”
“I’m sure that you are.” Now she threw a button-down shirt at his head. “But this young woman has been through something you can’t even imagine. Most likely at the hands of a man. I’m just saying, she might prefer to speak to a woman.”
Nate had to admit that she had a point. “Alright. You can be the Watson to my Sherlock.”
“I think you’ve got those reversed, buddy.” Olivia was already putting on her shoes. “I’m the star of this duo; you’re the nerdy and slightly inferior sidekick.”
“Yeah, that’s it. I’m the nerdy one.” Nate looked pointedly at Olivia’s bedside table where a stack of five books was precariously perched.
“Glad we agree.” Olivia grinned. “That shirt looks good on you. I look forward to taking it off you later.”
She was being silly, in typical Olivia fashion. She had no idea how much her sassy banter turned him on. But they didn’t have time for that right then.
It was well past visiting hours when they arrived at the hospital. The florescent halls were oddly quiet and empty. Nate glanced at Olivia as the elevator doors closed.
“He’s on the same floor.” He knew that he wouldn’t have to explain what he meant. Olivia was biting her lip nervously, clearly thinking about the fact that the man who had tried to kill her was in a coma in this very hospital. “I went and saw him earlier this week.”
“Why?” She sounded utterly baffled.
“I don’t know.” Nate hadn’t given it much thought. It had just felt like something he had to do. “I guess I just wanted to make sure he was still breathing through a tube.”
Olivia nodded slowly. “I guess that makes sense. I’m surprised you didn’t pull out the tube.”
“I thought about it,” Nate admitted with a guilty smirk. “But then I thought about how mad you would be at me if I was arrested for murder.”
“Damn straight.” She playfully elbowed him in the side before stepping off the elevator. They were greeted by the smell of antiseptic and sickness.
Nate didn’t bother checking in at the nurses’ station, instead going straight to Jenna’s room. A uniformed officer sat outside, staring hard at his phone. He glanced up as they approached, looking bored.
“Detective Tucker.” Nate quickly flashed his badge. “Any visitors been by?”
“Just her parents.” The officer was busy staring at Olivia. From the slight raise of his eyebrow and the quick straightening of his shoulders, Nate knew she had piqued his interest. It wasn’t surprising. “Did you know the victim?”
Even though Nate knew there was no threat, he found his protective instincts taking over. His hand wrapped over her arm as he said, “Olivia is here with me, actually.”
“Right.” The officer understood Nate’s implication that Olivia wasn’t available. “Well, you can go on in. The nurse says she is awake now, but I’m not sure she’s doing much talking yet.”
Olivia pulled her arm free and entered the hospital room a few feet ahead of Nate. He made sure the door was closed behind them and turned around to find Olivia waiting for him, an annoyed look on her face.
“You have to stop, Nate.” Her arms were crossed over her chest, a sure sign that she was ready for a fight. “I’m not your property, or some prize to be won.”
“I’m sorry if you don’t like me being protective of you, but I’m not going to stop.” Nate kept his voice low in case Jenna was able to hear them from across the room. “I love you, Olivia. When I see someone eyeing you like an object, my instincts take over. Not to mention, I’m pretty proud of the fact that you’re my girl and I want everyone to know it.”
He edged around her before she could protest. The fact that she didn’t kick his shin on the way past was a good sign.
Jenna looked more or less exactly the same as she had the first time Nate had seen her. Her small, fragile form was swallowed by the white sheet covering her body. A number of monitors beeped behind the bed, but this time she didn’t have a giant tube down her throat. Hopefully that meant she would be able to talk to them.
Nate remembered what Olivia had said about a female presence being more effective and he let her step into the small space between him and the bed. She touched Jenna’s arm with a sure hand and said her name softly. The girl’s eyes fluttered open.
“Are you done fighting?” she asked before either of them could speak.
Olivia glanced at Nate and he shrugged. “Jenna, I’m Olivia Thompson and this is Detective Tucker. How are you feeling?”
“Like a psychopath kidnapped me and then I was hit by a car.” Jenna coughed dryly. “Could you two stop ogling each other and get me some water?”
Nate touched a hand lightly to Olivia’s back. “I’ll get it.”
“Is this your idea of a romantic date?” Jenna asked her while Nate poured water from a pitcher into a plastic cup.
“Actually, I was hoping I could speak with you about what happened.” Olivia’s voice was even and emotionless. “I’m a doctor of psychology, specializing in criminal behavior. I’m helping Detective Tucker investigate your case.”
“And screwing him?” Jenna added.
“Yes,” Olivia said without betraying any surprise. Nate was glad that his back was still turned because he hadn’t been able to hide his shock over her blunt question. “Do you remember what happened to you?”
Nate handed Jenna the cup of water and she took a long sip. The darkness that had settled over her face wasn’t just from the bruising under her eyes.
“I was walking home from work. It was late, but not so late that I felt unsafe. I’ve walked that same route a hundred times and nothing bad has ever happened.” Jenna closed her eyes, either because she was growing tired or because she was trying to remember more clearly. “There’s this one spot at the corner with a dark alley. Every time I walk past it, I think about how easy it would be for someone to hide there. I never really thought that would happen though.”
Nate didn’t tell her that no victim ever thought they would become a victim.
“He came up behind me and knocked me out before I even knew what was happening. I tried to fight back, but he slapped something o
ver my face that was soaked in chemicals. It knocked me out cold.” Jenna shuddered, lost in the memory. “He must not have used enough because when I woke up, he was surprised.”
“What makes you think that?” Olivia asked softly. “Did he say something?”
Jenna’s eyes opened slowly and she focused only on Olivia as she said, “Because he wasn’t done yet. I woke up and he was still… on top of me.”
“You saw his face?” If Olivia was at all bothered by the conversation, she wasn’t letting it show. In fact, she was handling the whole thing like a professional.
“I saw a lot of him,” Jenna said bluntly. “But if you’re asking for a description, he was just a regular guy. Average height, average build, brown hair and eyes. He didn’t look like a rapist and murderer. But then again, I guess they never do. That’s how they get away with it.”
“You don’t remember anything else about his appearance? Nothing distinguishing?” Nate had stayed a few feet behind Olivia, reluctantly giving her the control of the conversation. But that didn’t mean he was going to remain silent.
Jenna glared at him, a hatred in her eyes that he was certain he didn’t deserve. If taking her anger out on him helped her recovery, he was happy to be the scapegoat.
“He liked it rough,” she said through a clenched jaw. “When he was finishing, he bit me. Said that he wanted to taste me.”
Nate understood instantly why the murder victims had been so badly mutilated. Not only had the murderer removed their teeth and prints to disguise their identities, he’d also been trying to erase any evidence of his identity. But he hadn’t counted on them finding a live victim.
“Where did he bite you?” he asked, trying not to sound too urgent.
She looked hard at him with eyes that had already seen too many terrible things. Her hand shook as she raised it the neck of her hospital gown, which she pulled aside to reveal a bandage covering her left shoulder. She said, “He broke the skin.”
Had a Great Fall (An Olivia Thompson Mystery) Page 9
