“Guess which one is you. And back at ya, Matt. You’ve always stuck your nose in our business.” A long sigh over the line suggested Ethan was just winding up. “Billy said you still haven’t explained why Carina visited. Please tell me you’re not rubbing Katt’s nose in your castoff’s business.”
“Carina is not a castoff.”
“Christ! You’re seeing her and stringing Katt along? You prick. You’d better—”
“No!” Matt roared, the hoarseness of his voice cracking in the small confines. “I told you, Carina stopped by to ask for help, but she didn’t get to the particulars before Katt walked in. I didn’t invite either of them.”
“Your constant flirting with Katt is an invitation, and you know it. Damned longest foreplay I’ve ever seen.”
“Knock it off. Nothing’s going to happen. Did you call for a reason, or did you just want to harass me?”
“First, you need to explain why Carina was there. To Katt. So she understands. If you don’t want a relationship with her, stop the textual intercourse—”
“For Chrissake. We don’t now, nor will we ever have, a sexual relationship!” The thump of Matt’s fist hitting the desk elicited a whine from Damien. He reached out to calm the shepherd.
“Then you’d better make that clear to her and stop stringing her along. Otherwise, the rest of us will make sure she is taken care of. We’ll find her a good rebound.”
“Don’t you dare!” Memory of Katt wiggling her ass against his groin created the same response as his initial surge of lust. “Don’t tell me how to handle Katt.” His brother’s chatter continued as Matt briefly set the phone down to take a deep breath and center his thoughts. The hard edge of his emotions sliced deep into his chest. He could taste the bitter zest of regret and discontent that struggled against a boundless libido. The tangle coiled low in his belly until he thought he wouldn’t be able to stand. The phone should’ve broken within his grasp.
“Did you find Carina yet?” When she’d showed up on his doorstep, the seductive tactics that once snared his temporary interest stirred nothing but repulsion and overwhelming disgust.
“I’m not sure I should give you that information. This is a homicide and you’re K9.” The edge of steel in Ethan’s tone smacked of further intention to defend Katt.
The dose of his own demons coming back to roost didn’t sit well. Little more than a growl emerged.
“We did find something interesting at Carina’s home, though.”
“Well?”
Ethan sighed. “The only reason I’m telling you is because you need to keep closer tabs on your girl.”
“I’ve told you—she’s not my girl!”
“Then you won’t care about her name written on a napkin at Carina’s apartment or the fact that I’m going to assign Ruckers and Latham to cover her twenty-four seven if you don’t step up to the plate.”
“What? What the fuck is going on?”
“Don’t know, but I suggest we find out. And soon.”
Stunned silence prevented Matt’s mind from sorting random facts and suppositions. “Shit. After this morning... Call me with all updates.”
“What the hell did you do now?” Ethan demanded.
“Just a misunderstanding. I’ve got to find Katt and watch over her. I’d assumed she didn’t know Carina. I saw no sign of recognition in either of their faces.” Matt disconnected the call before another accusation zinged through his consciousness and soured his stomach.
Punching up the program to locate the puck attached to her POS, he saw she’d been at one location for over an hour. Thank god. It’s not Denny’s workplace. If Carina and Denny were working together, then Horizon Solar might be a place they’d look for Katt.
Confusion and desperation forced him from his chair. “Let’s go, Damien. We’ve got to check on our pink-striped pixie and see what new trouble she’s found.”
The squad room occupants all found their computers and paperwork fascinating as he hurried out with the shepherd on his heels.
No amount of apologizing or trying to smooth things over would excuse his actions in Katt’s house. If he didn’t face his feelings soon, the backlash could push her into the cross hairs of a killer.
The thrum of his tires on blacktop did little to sooth his conscience, the repetitive ripple paralleling his mistakes with a woman who tied his mind and soul in knots. He’d reacted badly and owed his bundle of energy more than an apology. He owed her an explanation and oh, so much more. The apology would be a good starting point. She’s over twenty-one... and I’ve crossed thirty. He felt old every time he saw her pink-striped hair.
Using the vehicle’s onscreen, he pulled up the information from his phone. Katt’s vehicle was located at her favorite dine and dash. If he could coerce her to come outside, he’d spare the patrons what promised to be a spectacular show.
Sunlight streamed through the windows and forced him to turn on the air despite the mild day. Leaving the car running with Damien inside would prevent anyone tampering with it. He slotted the car between Katt’s POS and a shiny, black sports car.
Here goes.
Fortifying his reserves with a few deep breaths, he stepped into the restaurant and surveyed the patrons. Several men and a young woman occupied stools at the counter. Two wait staff poured coffee and set platters before them. No pink-striped, spitting mad mini-warrior bounded forward for a face-off.
Diners sitting by the window glanced at the new arrival and went back to their meals. He sighed. It’s never that easy. A mild sense of panic stirred his gut as he waited to see if she’d exit from the restroom.
“Excuse me, sir. Grab a seat wherever and I’ll be with you in a minute.” A small black apron covered the front of the khaki pants worn by the server. “My name is Karen.”
“Um, I’m looking for someone.” Matt’s gaze surveyed the crowd again before lighting on the woman waiting expectantly.
“Does she have a name or will anyone do?”
The sass reminded him of Katt, but in that moment, he realized no one could match Nugget’s fierce loyalty, character, and strength of will. “Is Alena working today?”
Disappointment dulled her expression. “Figures. She’ll be right out.” Karen nodded to a coworker before padding off. “Alena. Tall, dark, and angry is here to see you.”
Matt did his best to smile at the approaching woman.
She frowned.
When her steps hesitated, he switched gears and pulled out his badge. “Hi, Alena? I’m Detective McAllister. I’m looking for Kathryn Nugle. Have you seen her today?”
“Ah, yes... She was in earlier. What do you want?” Belligerence and mistrust radiated from every pore.
If he remained in official capacity, the woman would stonewall him. He replaced his wallet.
“Look. She’s upset. I get it. But I still need to talk to her.”
Several nearby patrons stopped eating, setting their utensils on their plates.
Dawning crept into Alena’s visage with slow degrees of anger despite the ponytail that spoke girl next door. “If she’s upset, I’m confident she has a right to it. I’ve not met a young woman yet with such level thinking—until she gets around a certain man with his head up his ass.”
Two young women at a nearby table snickered.
Matt deserved that and so much more, but there wasn’t time for nonsense. “Listen. I know you two go way back. She’s in danger but doesn’t realize the extent.”
Alena frowned, pinching her lip between her teeth. “She did say she was having trouble with a case.”
“It’s now a murder case, and she might be in the killer’s crosshairs.”
“Shit. I told her she’d be safer as a cop. When she was eighteen, she took off from home but couldn’t wait three years to go through the academy.”
“Where. Is. She?”
“I—I don’t know. She was in here earlier and we talked. Then, she left.” Alena hurried to the front door and glanced out the win
dow. “Hell. Her car’s still here.”
“You have security cameras out front. Do they work?”
“Of course, they work. Why else would we have them?” Her gesture waved him back as she shoved open a swinging door leading to a narrow hallway. “The manager’s office is back here.”
Introductions aside, Matt laid out the scenario and insisted on seeing recent footage. Alena contributed her knowledge of the timeline.
A small plaque with the name Alan Magon declared the short, balding man’s position. “If she’s in trouble, why come here?” His insinuated accusation and warning pegged Alena for a future verbal reprimand.
Alena merely shrugged. “Guess she was hungry.”
A quad screen monitor on the desk displayed three different views. Two cameras out front and one inside. “The rear camera is off during the day so employees don’t feel like I’m spying on them. It goes live when we leave the building.”
“I want to see the front view for the past hour.”
Rapid-fire keyboard clicking soon brought up the footage. Fast-forwarding yielded a comic-strip aura to the screen. Cars pulled in, patrons exited then returned sometime later. A clock in the bottom right corner of the screen kept the timeline.
Within minutes, Katt’s Civic took up its current spot.
“There she is.” Matt shook his head at Katt’s appearance. Despite the grainy image, her distress materialized in shoulders that couldn’t quite straighten, a gaze which remained on the ground, and her ferret cuddled against her chest as she nuzzled its head.
He’d never seen her look so defeated, so hurt. He preferred the anger.
“Prick,” Alena mumbled, earning a sharp look from her boss. She smiled. “He’s earned the title.”
After exiting the diner, Katt leaned against her car until a young man he didn’t recognize parked his sedan near the edge of the camera’s viewing range. As soon as he stepped near, Katt ran into his outstretched arms. Together they huddled, with his hands rubbing her back while she sobbed against his chest.
“Police investigation? Really?” Alena sneered in his direction. “Let’s see what you drive.”
“I know it looks bad. We did have words. But, she is in danger.”
“If I find out you’re lying, you won’t be able to eat in any restaurant within a ten mile radius.” There was no doubt she meant every word. He didn’t fancy an ER visit from food poisoning.
Minutes passed in an onscreen blur before Katt pulled back, Gila still cuddled against her chest. The young man wiped her eyes then produced a handkerchief. His tenderness spelled out his feelings in the soft touch and words mumbled against her hair.
“Now, they make a cute couple. I think I’ll encourage that the next time I see her. Maybe he can man up, take her away from this hellhole, and make her happy.”
Matt ignored the barb. “We can’t see the license plate and that vehicle’s not out there now.” Matt fisted his hands as the younger man led Katt away from the building. When she stepped around the back corner and out of sight, Matt groaned. “Where the hell did she go?”
“Depends on what you’re gonna say to her.”
“I’m going to keep her safe!” Why couldn’t people understand priorities?
Disbelief shadowed Alena’s eyes. She crossed her arms under her breasts and arched a brow. “She looks safe enough to me...”
“Do you know that guy’s name? Is that Laredo?” Matt pulled himself to his full height, crowding Alena with his most intimidating snarl.
Her bored expression declared his lack of making an impression. When her boss cleared his throat, he tried another angle. “If that’s him, I doubt he carries a gun, nor is he bulletproof. Do you want Katt’s death on your conscience?”
“Maybe you’re telling the truth. If that is her best friend, he’ll take her away from here, away from danger, and away from men who can’t decide on what they want.”
Unable to obtain more information from the stubborn woman, Matt headed down the hall and out the front. To swallow his pride meant nothing with Katt’s disappearance. Two months ago, she’d been kidnapped and almost raped. That encounter was one of the reasons he refrained from physical contact. Who the hell was the young man holding her? The sole male friend he knew about was Laredo, but the younger man worked during the day.
Despite his emotional investment in Katt, Matt didn’t know her confidant. Some insecure and sluggish part of his psyche rendered the matter unimportant.
Once outside, he looked around. No sign of a struggle near her car indicated maybe she hitched a ride or went for a walk in the woods to clear her head. She loves to hike.
Inability to run the tag denied the ability to focus his search. Without probable cause, he couldn’t access facial recognition software. Not through legal channels. Yeah, Captain, I need to find the asshole who was holding my girl so the pack of rabid wolves will cease shredding my gut. That wouldn’t fly. It dawned on him that he’d considered her his girl for some time.
The family’s resident white-hat hacker who blurred the normal lines governing legal activities would offer help with no strings attached. A quick call to Lexi turned into a discussion of his private business in order to gain the details sought.
“C’mon, Lexi. I know you can do this. You gonna make me beg?”
“Naw, save that for Katt, ‘cuz after what you’ve done, you’re gonna need knee pads for all the groveling required.”
“Thanks, text me when you find something.” He disconnected before she could continue the lecture on the virtues of consistency. To an outsider, maybe the fire and ice shuffle between himself and Katt appeared chaotic, but it was the how their relationship worked.
In the back of his vehicle, Katt’s worn boots sat on the floor. She’d forgotten to retrieve them after their last trek through the woods. She often found peace on the trails.
Damien didn’t wait for an invite when the door opened. Matt clipped his leash and retrieved the boots before holding them up for the dog to sniff. “Voran, boy. Let’s find her.” If Katt took off with the other man, there’d be no reference point to start the search.
When he did find her, he’d have to come clean or lose her forever; the latter he couldn’t contemplate. She deserved to know about Carina’s visit from both a professional and personal standpoint. That the busty blonde hadn’t gotten around to the point of her visit muddied the waters, and he prayed Katt would see the truth in his eyes. She would recognize raw honesty. He had to convince her.
Katt’s name turning up in Carina’s apartment booted his concern up several notches. Somehow, the kid got herself center stage in a murder case.
His earlier response proved she was no longer a kid.
Chapter Eleven
Katt sat on the bench behind the diner. Her back still burned with the memory of Matt’s heat surrounding her. Once again, she’d pushed him too far and paid the price. A million small infractions squeezed her lungs from all directions, each leading to the imprint he’d left on her backside.
Beyond the small turf area, thick woods played host to furry critters’ games as well as home for the morning’s songsters, yet nature’s soothing melodies brought no solace. Maybe obtaining it was a practiced art, learned when the mind could sort and absorb the smaller nuances of life’s picture and put them in a reasonable and tranquil order.
Gila romped through the leaves flipping in the morning breeze. His simple enjoyment of small pleasures provided inspiration for a new beginning. Maybe her longtime friend was right.
Laredo’s inducement to join him in California had shredded the edges of her tattered soul. In times past, he’d helped her stitch the remnants of her sanity in a loose web. Now, each human contact where she sought help created a greater rift in her spirit. His advice, though heartfelt, created more confusion.
It would take a bottle of acid to burn away the memory of the blonde bimbo, so sure of herself and of Matt. He was head of the McAllister clan, the family who’d virtual
ly adopted her and made her feel at home.
Matt had always been honest with her, and he’d made it clear she wasn’t his type, going so far as to throw other young men in her path. Understanding came in an hourglass figure and a bottle of bleach.
The focus of their relationship centered on outdoor activities, puzzle solving, and family gatherings, all benign and oriented toward friendship. Another swipe at her eyes removed an errant tear.
Sensing her distress, Gila hopped on the bench to bury his head against her chest, chastising her in his chittering way. His understanding her emotions always proved spot on, the same way Matt described Damien. “Yeah, boy. I know he’s not for me.” Then why was he so aroused when he’d pinned her against the wall?
Because it was stamped in every man’s DNA.
Sudden barking brought her attention to the shepherd tearing around the corner of the restaurant. Damien dragged his leash as he barreled up to her and rubbed his head against her lower legs.
“What are you doing here, boy?” Oh, shit. Katt looked up to see Matt slowing down when he saw her.
“Damien, come. Damn you’re fast.” An apologetic glance spoke volumes before he sat beside her on the bench.
Katt buried her face in the dog’s neck to hide the puffiness of her eyes. “What are you doing here?”
The accusation hit its mark. Matt heaved a heavy sigh. “We need to talk.”
“Why? You clearly don’t want to be around me.” The blunt approach usually proved the best way to face Matt. All this time, he’d only wanted friendship, but his body had acted on autopilot.
In current circumstances, sneaking up on the truth required more concentration than she could pull together.
“That’s not true and you know it.” Fisted hands at his sides betrayed inner turmoil. “It’s just that... you’re so damned young.”
“I’ll be twenty-two next month. I’m not a kid.”
“I realize that. I get it.”
No, but your body does. “What do you want, Matt?”
“First, to apologize.”
“Apology accepted. Now what?”
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