Whispers of You, page 17
“I know.” But it was the last thing I wanted to do. In this moment, I wanted to hide—somewhere there were no shootings or cruelty or pain. Where everything was easy, and life always worked out.
Holt sighed as he let me go, turning off the engine and climbing out of his SUV. I reluctantly followed suit. His hand found mine the second I was out of the vehicle. I squeezed his fingers and then tried to let go. He wouldn’t release me.
“Holt,” I hissed.
He glanced down at me. “You’re not hiding us, are you?”
My jaw went slack. “No, but I don’t need anyone knowing my business either.” Because if he decided to leave, Holt wouldn’t have to face countless nosy people around town. I would.
“You’re right, it’s none of their business.” He still didn’t let go of my hand.
“Holt…”
“Not going to pretend I’m not in love with you, Wren. Missed touching you. Sometimes, I’d be walking and swear I felt your hand in mine.”
Everything inside me jerked as if I were in a car, and the driver had slammed on the brakes. It was a painful lurch that demanded attention.
“Oh.”
It was the only thing I could say.
Holt dipped his chin and pressed a kiss to the top of my head. “Yeah.”
He held the front door to the station for me but still didn’t let go of my hand. I didn’t try to shake it free. As we stepped inside, my skin started to itch at the feel of so many eyes on me. I did my best to ignore the sensation as Holt led us toward Lawson’s office.
Clint and Amber were talking in hushed tones as we passed. Clint’s gaze zeroed in on our joined hands. His eyes flashed, but he didn’t say a word.
My stomach churned, but maybe it was better this way. Rip the Band-Aid right off. He could find someone that actually suited him.
Holt came to a stop outside Lawson’s closed door and knocked.
“Come in.”
Holt opened the door and ushered me inside, still not letting go of my hand.
Lawson looked exhausted—stubble coating his face and dark circles rimming his eyes. But when his gaze caught on our hands, his mouth curved. He was polite enough not to say anything, though.
Nash was not.
“Holy shit.” Nash let out a hoot from the couch. “It’s a Christmas miracle in the middle of spring.”
“Nash…” Holt warned.
“What?” Nash asked with mock innocence. “I can’t be happy for my brother?”
“You are welcome to your happiness, but you are not welcome to give Wren a hard time.”
Nash’s gaze went from Holt to me, a devilish grin playing on his lips. “Little Williams, you don’t look too rested. Could someone have kept you up all—?”
Lawson threw a pen at Nash.
“Ow! That was uncalled for, big brother. I could report you to HR for an abusive work environment.”
Lawson shook his head. “Good luck with that. Morning, Wren. Holt.”
“Morning,” I said, my cheeks still fire engine red.
“We wanted to see if there were any updates,” Holt said, bringing us back to the point.
All humor fled Lawson’s face. “We don’t have much. A figure in a black hoodie, fleeing the McHenry home and heading into the woods.”
Holt glanced between Lawson and Nash. “This one’s different. The other was through a window. This is up close and personal.”
“Someone’s getting more comfortable with killing,” Nash said, shadows swirling in his eyes.
Nausea swept through me at such callous disregard for human life. “The officers were right? Mrs. McHenry didn’t make it?”
Lawson shook his head. “They called it at the scene.”
I didn’t know if that was a kindness given that Mrs. McHenry wouldn’t have had anyone left. I had to hope that she and Gretchen were together somewhere and that they were at peace, even if it was far too soon.
“Who are you bringing in for questioning?” Holt asked.
Lawson and Nash shared a look.
Holt let out a growl.
“You’re not police,” Lawson said. He turned his focus to me. “And neither are you.”
I stared back at him. “Maybe not, but I could be on some asshole’s hit list, so I’d say that entitles me to a little information. And it’s not like I won’t see whoever you bring in.”
Holt’s hand twitched in mine, holding me tighter.
“Little Williams has a point,” Nash said.
Lawson blew out a breath. “We’re talking to a lot of different people. Everyone with a connection to the shootings years ago and everyone who was in the vicinity of the recent ones. But we aren’t bringing anyone in for an interrogation just yet. We’re also contacting all of those who survived the shooting ten years ago and warning them to be cautious. But we’re asking them not to spread that around.”
I ran that over in my mind. “You don’t want to spook anyone.”
“No, I don’t. I don’t want panic in my community, and I don’t want whoever did this to cover their tracks any better than they already are,” Lawson agreed.
I gripped Holt’s hand tighter as I searched for the words I needed. “What if there was a third shooter?”
I hadn’t talked about my suspicions since that third and final conversation with the police ten years ago. The acting chief then had made me feel like a hysterical child whose mind couldn’t be trusted. And I’d started to believe him.
“I know the doctors said that I might have been confused because of the blood loss and trauma, but I swore there was a third person in the house that night.”
Lawson leaned forward in his chair. “I thought you said you were mistaken. That it was only two.”
“The cops back then... They made me doubt everything I remembered if it didn’t fit with their narrative.”
“Assholes,” Holt muttered.
Lawson sent him a quelling look. “Trust me. I’m not a fan of how they handled things back then either. But they were under a hell of a lot of pressure to lock this one up and throw away the key. That led to them forcing things where they probably shouldn’t have. The truth has its own timeline.”
But the time it took to get there could sometimes do irreparable harm. They knew that better than most because they’d seen Roan be destroyed by questions over whether he had been involved. It didn’t matter that none of us believed it. That suspicion had changed him, and he hadn’t been the same since.
Nash studied me. “Randy and Paul always swore up and down that it was only the two of them. No one else. Don’t you think they’d want their partner doing time with them?”
I pulled my hand from Holt’s, and he let me go this time as if he sensed that I needed freedom to move. I twisted my fingers together as I rocked from the back of my heels to the balls of my feet. “I’ve played that night over and over in my head—even when it was the last thing I wanted to think about. I heard someone downstairs. Abel had told me the police were on their way, and I thought it was them, that they were sneaking upstairs. I thought I was going to be okay.”
A muscle in Holt’s jaw ticked wildly as he gripped the back of a chair.
I didn’t let it stop me. I had to get it out. “I heard them coming up the stairs and then heard someone say, ‘Where the hell is Holt? We need them both.’”
The room around me went wired. I’d never told anyone but the police exactly what I’d heard. I’d never recounted any of this to Holt. Every time I’d tried to talk about what had happened, he’d shut me down, saying it wasn’t good to rehash it all.
I turned to him. “I was glad you weren’t there,” I whispered. “I never would’ve made it if something had happened to you.”
So many emotions blazed across Holt’s face. They moved so quickly, I could barely track one before it morphed into the next. Then he was moving. He pulled me against him, wrapping his arms around me. “I’m right here, Cricket.”
Hope flickered to life in my chest. It was a hope that terrified me, but I couldn’t pull away. I gripped his shirt, my hands fisting there. “I’m just glad you’re okay.”
“We need to go back over the original case,” Nash said.
I turned in Holt’s arms, facing Lawson and Nash, but Holt didn’t let me go. The heat of his body seeped into my back and felt far too comforting. “It was ten years ago.”
Lawson began typing on his keyboard. “You never know what we might find. We’ve still got all the evidence and records filed. I’ll have them brought up so we can go over everything.”
“Want an extra set of eyes?” Holt asked.
Lawson shook his head. “I’ll keep you in the loop, but we can’t have you in the room. If we do find something, having you there could call chain of custody into question.”
Holt’s jaw worked but he nodded. “Call me if you find anything.”
“I will.”
Holt turned me back to him, brushing the hair out of my face. “I’ll pick you up at the end of your shift.”
“Thanks.”
“Remember, nowhere alone.”
I made a face at him. “I know. And I will be surrounded by cops all day. I think I’ll be safe.”
“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.
“Hey, guys. Late start?”
Construction was usually up and going before nine.
Jude grinned. “Just killing a little time before a client meeting. What are you doing in town?”
“Just dropping Wren at the station.”
Chris’s expression hardened, but he didn’t say a word.
I lowered myself into the empty chair without asking, turning to face him. “Look, I get that you were here for Wren when I wasn’t. I’ll never be able to repay you for that. Never.”
Chris grunted.
“I know I hurt you.” I glanced at Jude. “Both of you. I’m so damn sorry. And I’ll do what I can to make it right. You want to tell me what a shit friend I was? I’ll listen to every word you have to say. You want to deck me? I’ll give you one free punch.”
Chris’s jaw worked back and forth, but he wasn’t telling me to get lost. So, I kept pushing on.
“I love Wren. Never stopped. It killed me every single day to be away from her. But I’m here now, and I’m not going anywhere. I’ll fight with everything I have for her. And she’s giving me a shot. So, I’m taking it.”
Pain flashed across Chris’s face. I’d hurt him again. But the truth was, if Wren had been interested in him, they’d be together now. I wasn’t angry that he’d developed feelings for her. She was a living, breathing miracle and impossible not to love. But they weren’t meant to be.
“You’re sticking around?” Jude asked.
“I’m staying. Need to figure out what that looks like, but I’m not going anywhere.”
A grin stretched across Jude’s mouth. “I’m damn glad to hear it. Cedar Ridge hasn’t been the same without you.”
“Thanks, man.” I turned back to Chris. “I’d like for us to find a way back to our friendship.”
His jaw clenched. “It’s not about me. You didn’t see her, Holt. I’m not trying to be an ass, but you need to know. You wrecked that girl. And I’m worried you’re gonna do the same thing all over again if things get too hard.”
Chris’s intention might not have been to hurt me, but he’d succeeded just the same. The idea of how much pain Wren had been in after I left was something I’d never forgive myself for. “I didn’t leave because things were hard. I left because I thought I didn’t deserve her. That she needed someone better.”
It was the first time I’d stated it that plainly. Something about it was freeing.
Chris’s gaze met mine. “What makes you think you deserve her now?”
“Oh, I don’t. There’s no question. She deserves so much better than me. But I’m going to do everything I can to be that man.”
Chris studied me, looking for something. “I guess we’ll see.”
The words weren’t exactly full of confidence. But I’d take them anyway. “You will.”
Because I had a feeling that proving I could stick would go a long way to smoothing over some of Chris’s resentments.
Jude rubbed his hands together. “Gang’s all back together now.”
Chris let out another grunt.
Maybe we weren’t quite back to three-musketeers status. I got to my feet, grabbing my coffee and scone. “I gotta get back to the cabin. Hope you guys have a good meeting.”
A little of the humor fled from Jude’s face. “Any updates on things?”
I instantly knew what he meant and shook my head. “Nothing yet. But I hope like hell they get something soon.”
“Let us know if you hear anything,” Chris said.
“I will.”
I maneuvered around the tables and headed out into the morning sunshine. It was going to be a beautiful day—perfect weather for working with Shadow on a little training.
My steps faltered as I turned to head back to the station and my SUV. Joe Sullivan stood across the street, staring at me, his eyes blazing. And he was wearing a black hoodie.
