by Laura Scott
Back inside the precinct, Penny gestured toward the interview room they’d used earlier. “Why don’t you and Lucy wait in there? Your stroller is still inside, too.” She knelt down in front of Lucy. “Thanks for talking to me today, Lucy. I had fun showing you the dogs.”
Lucy grinned and said, “Me, too,” and Penny returned to her seat behind the front desk. The officer who’d taken over in her absence left with a smile at the three of them.
“Sounds good. And thanks for the tour. It was nice that you let Lucy play outside for a while.” Willow was truly grateful for Penny’s assistance with Lucy.
“It’s the least I could do.” Penny’s gaze dropped to Lucy, who was occupied a few feet away by the basket of toys and stuffed animals Nate had told her the unit kept for little visitors “I know only too well what your niece is going through. As you know, I was Lucy’s age the night my parents were murdered. My older brother, Bradley, was spending the night at a friend’s house. A man dressed in black, wearing a clown mask with blue hair, came in through our backyard, where I was playing. He gave me a stuffed monkey, then went inside the house. I heard the gunshots, but was too little to understand what had happened.”
“I’m so sorry.” Willow knew that Penny had suffered through a murder that was exactly like Lucy’s, but she shivered at the similarities between the two cases.
“I’m grateful that I have my brother. It’s nice that Lucy has you, Willow.” Penny flashed a sad smile, then quickly picked up the phone when it rang, understandably relieved for a reprieve from the harrowing conversation.
Willow wondered about the terrifying similarities. The same killer was back? Why? Could there be a connection between Penny’s parents and Alex and Debra? Something they had in common? Twenty years ago, Willow’s brother had been nine years old. It seemed so strange to think that the same killer had targeted Alex and his wife all these years later.
It didn’t make any sense.
Willow ushered Lucy into the interrogation room, and the little girl went straight to a book and doll that Penny must have put on the table before the tour. The door opened, revealing Nate and Murphy. She had to tamp down the urge to greet him with a hug as if he’d been gone for days rather than a couple of hours. “Hey, are you two ready to go?”
“Yes.” She rose to her feet and reached for the stroller, searching his gaze. “How was the interview?”
He shrugged. “Berk denied knowing the guy, claimed their conversation was related to an ‘anonymous customer’ being upset that he’d cracked a tooth on a burger.”
“What? No way. I would have remembered something like a chipped tooth. I can’t imagine Damon wouldn’t have told me about that, considering I make the burgers. He never hesitated to tell me about food complaints.”
“I know. I’m pretty sure he wasn’t being honest with me.”
It bothered her to know that Damon Berk had lied to the police. What sort of shady dealings had her former boss gotten involved in? Something bad enough to send someone to break into her apartment to find the photographs, and to risk attempting to kidnap her right off the street.
“Willow?”
“Yes?” She met his gaze, realizing she’d been lost in her thoughts. “Sorry, what did you say?”
“Are you and Lucy ready to head out?”
She nodded. “Of course. Come on, Lucy, time to get back in the stroller.”
She half expected an argument, but Lucy willingly came over. After buckling Lucy into the stroller, she pushed it through the doorway.
“I’ll carry her down the stairs.” The muscles in Nate’s arms bulged as he lifted the stroller and carried it down the few steps leading to the sidewalk. He gestured toward the parking spaces. “I’m at the end of the row.”
She pushed Lucy’s stroller down the sidewalk. “Where would you like to get our hot dogs? There’s a vendor that usually sits a few blocks down from my apartment.”
Nate opened the back passenger door, so Willow could place Lucy in her car seat. “I was thinking it might be nice to eat at Owl’s Head Park.” He glanced up at the overcast sky. “According to my weather app we have a few hours before the rain hits.”
“That sounds nice.” Willow hoped he didn’t notice her pink cheeks. She knew better than to treat this little outing as a date, as she knew full well that Nate was only looking out for her and Lucy’s welfare.
“They have hot dog stands around the park, so we’ll pick up something there.” He took the stroller, folded it up and slipped it on the floor of the back seats. Then he let Murphy in the back. “This helps me, too,” he confided, once they were both buckled in. “I need to spend some time playing with Murphy. He worked hard again today.”
There, see? Not a date. “He’s so smart.” Willow glanced over her shoulder, watching as Murphy pressed his nose against the wire crate near Lucy. Even with the barrier between them, she sensed that his intent was to protect the little girl.
Willow settled back in her seat, reminding herself that she needed to be thankful for Nate and Murphy’s presence. For their protection and dedication to finding the man who’d killed her brother and his wife, and the guy who’d tried to kidnap her.
It would be selfish and wrong to wish for anything more.
* * *
Nate told himself that the main reason he was taking Willow and Lucy to the park was because he needed to reward Murphy. And because he’d promised Lucy a hot dog.
But deep down, he knew that wasn’t the entire truth.
No, this little trip to the park was his attempt to make Willow happy.
For being a guy who didn’t intend to have a family of his own, he couldn’t deny how he’d grown attached to Willow and her niece. He’d laughed upon hearing Lucy barking like a dog and it occurred to him that he hadn’t laughed like that in a long time.
He’d always been focused on work, on taking criminals off the streets. His personal life was always secondary, not deemed a priority.
So why was he making Willow and Lucy a priority now?
Sure, his job was to keep them safe, and that might be easier to do while being in her apartment rather than out in the park.
Not that he was really worried about their safety. He trusted Murphy to alert them to any potential danger, especially since he had Craggy Face’s scent.
It took a while for him to find a parking spot, but he managed to snag one that wasn’t far from the park entrance. He kept a wary eye on the cloudy sky as he followed Willow, who pushed Lucy’s stroller along the sidewalk.
Murphy’s nose worked as he took in the new scents surrounding them. Willow headed straight for one of the hot dog stands.
“We’ll take two hot dogs,” Willow said, digging in her purse for her wallet.
“Make it three, my treat.” He nudged her aside so he could pay for their meal. “And make mine a chili dog.” He turned to Lucy. “What would you like on yours?”
“I just like plain hot dogs!” Lucy said.
Willow smiled. “I’ll take mine with mustard and sauerkraut.”
“And now what to drink?” Nate asked.
“Chocolate milk!” Lucy said, kicking her heels with excitement.
“Add a chocolate milk, and—” He turned to Willow. “What would you like to drink?”
“Water is fine.” She looked nonplussed at his taking over the food ordering.
“Add one root beer and one water,” he told the vendor. “Thanks.”
“No problem.” The woman handed over a cardboard tray loaded with the hot dogs. He passed it to Willow so he could take the drinks.
“You didn’t have to pay for our lunch. I’m not destitute.” Willow’s voice was quiet as they headed toward the closest picnic table. He pushed the stroller, as Willow’s hands were full.
“I never said you were. But this was my idea, remember?” He set the drinks down, then
took the hot dogs and napkins from her. “Playing is an important reward for K-9 training, so it really is critical that I spend some time throwing the ball for Murphy.”
“I guess I didn’t realize it was such a big deal.” She released Lucy from the stroller and set her on the bench of the picnic table. She quickly unpacked the food, giving Lucy the milk first, before opening the wrapper around the hot dog.
Willow watched Lucy eat with gusto before taking a tentative bite of her own hot dog. “Delicious.”
“Of course. All New York City hot dogs are delicious.” Nate grinned as he quickly ate his chili dog. “I may have seconds.”
Willow smiled and he was struck again by her beauty. When he’d finished his hot dog, he wiped his hands and took Murphy off his leash.
“Sit.” Murphy sat, his gaze going from Nate’s pocket back up to his face. He waited a long moment before reaching in and pulling out the bright orange ball.
Murphy strained forward, his gaze locked on the orange ball.
“Get it!” Nate threw the ball and Murphy took off like a rocket after it, capturing the ball in his mouth and then rushing back to him.
They repeated the sequence several more times, Murphy loping back and forth, ears flopping as he gamely fetched the ball. Lucy came running over.
“Can I throw the ball?”
It wasn’t part of the training, but he couldn’t stand the idea of disappointing the little girl. “Sure.” He crouched beside her, then looked at Murphy. “Sit. Stay.”
Murphy sat, tongue lolling, sides heaving from exertion. Still, his gaze didn’t waver from the ball.
Lucy threw the ball, but it only went a foot. Murphy cocked his head to the side, as if confused, but then went over to pick up the ball. He dropped it in front of Lucy, then sat.
“I’ll help you,” Nate offered. He picked up the ball and helped Lucy throw it a little farther this time. Murphy didn’t hesitate to chase after it.
“I want to throw it far like you.” Lucy gazed up at him with her wide cinnamon eyes.
His heart squeezed and for a moment he imagined what it would be like to be a father to a little girl just like Lucy. Then as quickly as the thought formed, he shoved it away.
“You’ll be able to throw it farther when you grow up to be big and strong.” Nate picked up the orange ball and stood. He tossed it again for Murphy, watching his partner gallop across the grassy area to fetch it.
A few minutes later, he tucked the ball away and bent to give Murphy a rub. “Good boy, yes, you’re such a good boy.”
“I have water left, if he needs it.” Willow lifted her water bottle toward him.
“It’s okay, there’s actually water in the back of my SUV.” He glanced at the picnic table; the waste from their meal was cleared away. “Ready to return to your place?”
“Of course. I know you have things to do.”
He lifted a brow. “I’m planning to camp out on your sofa again, if you don’t mind.”
“Oh, um, sure. If you think that’s necessary.” She looked flustered and he wondered what she was thinking. Had she expected him to drop her and Lucy off and head back to work?
Gavin had given him permission to work from Willow’s place, so he could keep an eye on her. But maybe she didn’t want him and Murphy invading her personal space.
“Just a couple more nights,” he assured her. “I’m sure we’ll get this guy soon.”
“I know you will. It’s truly not a problem.” Willow put Lucy in the stroller. “Thanks for the picnic. This was really nice.”
The clouds overhead were growing darker and he realized they’d stayed out longer than he’d intended. “We better hurry, or we might get drenched.”
He connected Murphy to his leash, then followed Willow toward the park entrance. The low rumble of thunder reached his ears, so he quickened his pace.
Murphy began to growl low in his throat. Nate glanced at his partner in surprise. Normally Murphy didn’t react like this to bad weather.
“What is it, boy?” He glanced around the area, searching for something that may have caught his K-9’s attention. There weren’t many people in the park, and those who were there were scurrying toward the exits as well in an effort to beat the rain.
More growling, then Murphy abruptly put his nose to the ground. Nate frowned. Was it possible Murphy had picked up Craggy Face’s scent?
He reached for the evidence bag. “Seek, Murphy. Seek!”
Murphy took in the scent and quickly alerted along the edge of the sidewalk.
Craggy Face was here? Nate’s heart thudded in his chest. “Willow? We need to hurry.”
As much as he wanted to keep Murphy on the scent, he didn’t like having Willow and Lucy out in the open. He huddled behind her, protecting her with his body as much as possible as he urged her toward his SUV.
It wasn’t far, but the ten feet stretched for what seemed like ten miles. He quickly opened the rear passenger door. Before Willow could get Lucy out of her stroller, a sharp retort echoed through the air.
“Get down!” Nate curled his body over Willow and Lucy, the open door offering some protection from the right. Lucy began to cry, and he could hear Willow softly praying.
He grabbed his radio. “Shots fired at Owl’s Head Park! Officer requesting backup. Hurry!”
Murphy continued to growl low in his throat. Nate couldn’t move; he needed to protect Willow and Lucy.
He kept himself positioned so that he was a human wall in front of Willow, Lucy and Murphy, braced for the inevitable impact from a bullet.
TEN
Dear Lord, keep us safe in Your care!
Willow repeated the prayer over and over as she clutched Lucy close, reassured by how Nate covered her back. Lucy’s tears ripped at Willow’s heart and she would have done anything to prevent her niece from reliving the sound of gunfire, a horrifying reminder of her parents’ murders. Murphy crowded close, his low growls seeming nonstop.
Craggy Face wouldn’t stop until he had her—or the camera with the digital proof of him at the Burgerteria. Why was the photo so important? Because it put him with Damon? Because it placed him in the restaurant? She had no idea and could not figure out what was behind all this. He had to figure that she’d shared the photo with police, so what was the point of coming after her?
She strained to listen, fearing more gunfire, but all she could hear was the roll of thunder, the air thick with humidity.
“Are you okay?” Nate’s voice was low and husky near her ear. “You and Lucy weren’t hit?”
“No physical injuries.” She didn’t add that she and Lucy couldn’t possibly be all right, now knowing someone had actually aimed a gun and fired at them. But she tried to reassure her niece. “Shh, Lucy, it’s okay. Detective Nate and Murphy will keep us safe.”
“I want my Mommy.” Lucy’s wail stabbed deep. It was the one thing Willow couldn’t do for the little girl. She couldn’t bring back her mommy or her daddy.
“I know, baby, but I’m here. I love you, Lucy. We’re going to be okay.” Willow wondered if she repeated that often enough, she and Lucy might actually come to believe it.
The faint sound of police sirens grew louder as Nate’s backup came rushing to the scene. Willow tentatively lifted her head, her gaze finding the reassuring red-and-blue swirling lights. They’d arrived quickly, but those tense moments had stretched endlessly.
Fat drops of rain splattered against her, and she had the ridiculous hope that the storm may chase away the gunman.
Nate didn’t move away from her and Lucy until a member of his team arrived. When he stepped back, a cool breeze made her shiver. Willow lifted Lucy and placed her in the car seat, so she would be protected from the rain. Turning, she recognized dark-haired Vivienne and her K-9, Hank, from the station tour earlier and also the previous day.
; Was it really only twenty-four hours ago?
“How many shots were fired?” Vivienne asked.
“Just one, came from the east.” Nate’s expression was grim. “Murphy picked up the scent just before the gunfire, but I had to get Willow and Lucy out of harm’s way. I need to go back and see if Murphy can find it again, before the rain washes the scent away.”
“Go. I’ll stay here.” Vivienne smiled sweetly at Lucy, then gestured to the vehicle. “Willow, you should get inside. I won’t let you two out of my sight, promise.”
She wasn’t going to argue. She decided to sit beside Lucy’s car seat in the back, rather than up front. The little girl had stopped crying, but her tear-streaked expression was forlorn. Willow bent close to kiss her forehead.
“Where’s Murphy?” Lucy rubbed at her eyes, looking exhausted. Willow wondered if her niece needed a nap.
“He’s with Detective Nate. They’ll be back soon.” At least, she hoped so. Gazing over Lucy’s head through the window, she could see Nate and Murphy making their way along the sidewalk not far from where they’d been just a few minutes earlier.
Knowing that Murphy had picked up the scent gave her a flare of hope. Maybe the K-9 would find Craggy Face so Nate could arrest him, putting an end to this nightmare once and for all.
Nate and Murphy headed east, toward a cluster of trees. Her heart thudded painfully as Nate held his weapon ready, clearly expecting the worst.
The inside of the car window grew foggy with their breath, so she reached over to lower the window just enough so she could see. The minutes dragged before Nate and Murphy returned.
“Find something?” Vivienne walked toward him.
“This.” Nate held up a plastic evidence bag. She squinted trying to see what was inside, swallowing hard when she caught a glimpse of brass. A bullet? Her stomach knotted, then she realized that wasn’t right. It was a shell casing from a bullet. “I’m hoping the forensic team can come up with a match in the system.”
“Good work,” Vivienne said.
“It was all Murphy.” Nate bent and rubbed his K-9, who immediately shook his body to get rid of the rainwater. “We need to spread out in a half circle, see if we can find the bullet.”