Shiloh opened the door, then frowned. “Did we have plans tonight?” She glanced down at her workout pants and T-shirt. “Because if we did, I forgot.”
“No, we didn’t.” Maybe coming over here hadn’t been the best idea. “But I missed you today.”
“I wondered where you were when I got to work this morning.”
He heard a hint of vulnerability in that tone, as if maybe she’d missed him, too.
“Thought maybe you couldn’t take the heat anymore.”
“What? Like being run off the road and having the car I’m riding in trashed all within a week would scare me off?”
She laughed, but then her lighthearted expression gave way to something else. Something much more serious.
“Shiloh, what is it?” Adam asked.
“You’d better come in.”
He followed her inside, discomfort growing as she glanced both ways in the front yard before shutting and locking the door with more force than was necessary.
“What?” He felt the urgency build in his tone.
She sank down into her desk chair. “I realized you didn’t know yet.”
“Didn’t know what?”
“Someone broke into my place last night. Well, early this morning, really.”
Heat surged through his veins. They’d been in her home? The previous attacks were in another category. On the surface, they looked more dangerous. But the knowledge that someone had managed to get into her house...
“Are you okay?” His arms ached to reach for her, but she’d chosen that desk chair on purpose, probably to keep him at a distance, judging from the way her arms were crossed protectively.
She gave a quick nod. “I’m fine. Physically. Emotionally, I can’t decide if I’m mad or scared.”
“It’s okay to be both.”
“Annie wouldn’t have been scared. I don’t think I ever saw her anything less than determined.” Shiloh’s shoulders sank a little. “I keep thinking I’ve come so far, but I’m still the nervous history teacher who refused to help at first when Annie needed it because I let fear control me. If I’d said yes to start with, maybe we’d have figured it out fast enough, and she wouldn’t have...wouldn’t be...”
He heard her sniff and thought she might cry again, but, instead, she blinked her eyes a few times, took a deep breath and sat up straighter. “I owe it to her to solve this. And I will.”
“But you don’t have to do it by yourself.”
She nodded. “I know. You’re right. That’s why I finally told you.”
“I wasn’t talking about me. God is even more interested in justice than we are.”
Shiloh snorted. “So I’ve heard. I’m not seeing it, though.”
“You’re only seeing part of the picture. Trust Him, Shiloh. He can help you sort through this.”
She opened her mouth, maybe to make a snide remark, when their eyes met. “You...you really believe that, don’t you?” She said the words so softly, so hesitantly, he had to strain to hear them.
“I do, Shiloh. And it has nothing to do with being a pastor.”
She seemed to be considering his words. “I’ll try to keep that in mind. But for now, I seem to be the only one working on this case.”
“What about the department? Didn’t they send someone to check out the...” He’d almost said crime scene, which a break-in technically was. But maybe that wasn’t the best choice of words in relation to her home.
“The crime scene? I’m a big girl, Adam. I know what it is.” She shook her head. “Yeah, they sent someone all right. He took pictures of my desk and bookshelf, which is all they seem to have disturbed, and went on his merry way. Oh, he also used a fingerprint kit circa 1980 but strangely enough wasn’t able to find anything.” She shook her head.
“He noted some scratch marks on the paint by the lock on the front door that show us that the intruder or intruders picked the lock to get in, but I could have guessed that anyway. Other than that...” Her voice trailed off.
“Not much of a crime-scene team. Or maybe I’ve just watched too much TV?”
“No, it’s not much of one. It’s just Officer Hitchcock, when he’s not doing his patrol duties. If it was a murder or something, they’d call in a group from Savannah or Brunswick, but for stuff like this...”
“It falls through the cracks,” he finished for her. “That’s got to be frustrating. Why don’t they do something?”
She shrugged. “Lack of interest or lack of funds, probably. It’s not unusual for a town this size. Not that it makes it any less of a problem, in my opinion, but there’s not a lot I can do about it.” Shiloh sighed, then looked in his direction. “Why did you come again?”
“I thought you could use a break.” And he was more convinced of that now. “Come with me.”
“Where?”
He shrugged. “Anywhere. Out of this house. Maybe out of this town.”
She looked down at the stacks of paper on her desk. “I should stay here and see if I can sort out what they were looking for. It’s almost good they broke in. Everything they do gives us another clue, another chance to get closer to catching them.”
“You realize you just said you’re glad your house was broken into. You need a break. The case will wait, Shiloh. Let’s go.”
She opened her mouth to protest again and then closed it. “All right. Let me go change into jeans.”
“You look fine like you are.”
This time her laugh was genuine. “Thanks, Adam. I’ll change anyway, though.”
She returned in less than two minutes in a pair of blue jeans and a Georgia Bulldogs T-shirt.
“Okay, let’s go.”
They walked outside, and he watched her lock the door and test it.
He opened the door of the truck and motioned her inside. “Your carriage, m’lady.”
She laughed. “I’d forgotten how you have that uncanny ability to make everything better.”
“That’s the goal. Now let’s leave all of this behind us. Where should we go?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. Just drive.”
He couldn’t think of any words he’d rather hear at that moment. He climbed into the driver’s seat, and they were out of Treasure Point’s town limits within ten minutes. Adam almost thought he’d heard her breathe a sigh of relief when the lights of town were behind them as they drove along on a dark Georgia highway.
Neither one said anything for the first twenty minutes or so. True to her wishes, Adam just drove.
“I know where we’re going.” She finally broke the silence. “Turn left in about half a mile, at the big oak tree.”
He did as she’d said. This road was dirt and bumped beneath the tires. Something about the rhythm of it calmed him, and he hoped it did the same for Shiloh. She’d been running for so many years—from memories, from him, from the men who had killed her cousin and even from God, too.
If he could get her to slow down, just for a couple of hours, maybe it would be enough to convince her to stop running.
“Pull off here.” She motioned to what looked to be a field, shaded by a couple of large trees in the corner and then just open sky. “Drive on in. I know the owners. They don’t mind.”
He parked the truck in the middle of the field and looked to her for further direction. She grinned back at him as she reached for the door handle. “This is my favorite place to come and look at the stars.”
He watched as she walked around to the back of the truck and climbed into the bed, situating herself with the cab for a backrest. “Come on.” She motioned for him to join her.
He settled next to her, looking up at the inky-blue sky. “You’re right. The stars are beautiful here.”
“It’s why I spent so much time at Tybee when I lived
in Savannah. The city isn’t that big, but the lights are still bright enough to dim the stars. It’s even like that in Treasure Point. Here it’s just pure, untouched darkness.”
Adam drank in the brilliance of the stars, silently thanking God for His creativity and for the woman next to him. He reached for her hand, not sure how she’d respond, only to have her willingly thread their fingers together. He squeezed gently, feeling more content than he had in years.
Since she’d left.
“Hey, Adam?” Her voice broke into his thoughts.
“Hmm?”
“I still loved you, you know.”
He was pretty sure his heart stopped beating. “What?”
“I still loved you, when I left. That wasn’t why I ended things. I just wanted you to know.”
Adam’s thoughts battled within him. Part of him said it was time to demand some answers. He’d been left with a broken heart and a ring. No explanation. Nothing.
The other part of him said to wait. Let things happen this time without the past casting a shadow over what the future could be.
“I know I never told you. And I’m sorry for that. I left because...” She drew a breath.
He tightened his grip on her hand. “Shiloh, wait.”
“Why?”
“It’s in the past.” His heart lightened as he said the words. “Maybe it’s better if we leave it alone for now, just keep getting to know each other again without everything from back then crowding in. Sometime I want to know. I do. But maybe we should focus on right now. Let the past stay there.”
* * *
In Shiloh’s experience, the past never stayed there. It stalked her, haunted her thoughts and her dreams. It refused to give her a moment’s peace.
But for Adam, she could try to ignore it. His hand tightened against hers and squeezed gently. He seemed to relax, and she found herself fully immersed in the present, being here with him under the stars like some kind of fairy tale.
What she’d said had been the truth. What she hadn’t told him was that she wasn’t sure if she ever had stopped loving him.
She worried they could never find their way back together with all the obstacles between them. But she wouldn’t think about that tonight.
They sat in silence, maybe for an hour, maybe longer. For once Shiloh ignored the time, ignored what she should be doing and let herself just be.
Be still and know that I am God.
The words didn’t come as an audible voice, or even a whisper, but more an impression on her heart. Could God truly still care about her? For the first time since she could remember, Shiloh felt at rest.
Maybe even at peace.
She knew the feeling wouldn’t last. That as soon as she went back to real life, this feeling would evaporate like a fragile soap bubble, leaving no evidence that it had ever existed. But for now, she snuggled closer into Adam’s side and closed her eyes.
* * *
It had been almost midnight when Adam had dropped her off. As much as she’d enjoyed their time together, she felt overwhelmed, and a few mornings later she was thankful that she still had a little while before she had to be at work so she could think things over. She needed to deal with some of the confusion swirling in her brain. Was Adam still interested in her? Did she even want him to be? She was the one who’d called off the relationship, and her reasons hadn’t disappeared. If anything, they’d become more magnified.
Desperate to make sense of her thoughts, she drove down to the docks. Being by the water had always helped her think. She parked her car and walked toward the shore, taking a long breath of the warm, salty air and feeling her face relax into a smile.
Harry waved as she passed. “Morning, Officer Evans.”
He was one of the fishermen always down at the docks readying for the day this early. She and Harry had had several conversations on mornings like this when Shiloh had come to sit on the docks. She’d even helped him with his nets one time, though the smell of fish combined with peppermint candy, which Harry always carried, had turned her stomach. Now she just waved and tried to keep her distance.
“Good luck fishing today,” she called as she waved at him.
“Thank you.” He nodded and went back to what he was doing but then paused. “Are you doing okay, Shiloh?”
The word yes was on the tip of her tongue when she realized that talking about this out loud might help. Maybe if she stayed far enough away from him to avoid too much of that smell in her nose?
“To be honest, not really. I’m confused about some things.”
“You’ve come to the right place, then. I always think better out on the water.”
“Life is just complicated,” she stated.
Something flickered in his eyes. “I understand that.” His eyes fell to the dock, and he muttered, “Too well. But don’t you worry—I’m sure you’ll work out whatever’s bothering you. You’re a smart girl, Shiloh. I’ve always liked you.”
She smiled. “Thanks, Harry. I hope I will.” Shiloh glanced at her watch. She had to be at the station soon. If she wanted time alone, she had to hurry. “I guess I better go think some more and see if that helps.”
“Have a good day.” He waved again and this time fully refocused on his task.
She made her way along the dock, pausing to say hi to a few other fishermen she recognized. This was what she loved about a small town. Everyone knew everyone and liked them. She realized that sometimes newcomers were treated like outsiders, but she guessed the combination of her knowing the chief, showing up in town all alone with no family, had made the town accept her quickly. They’d adopted her as one of their own.
She walked down to the end of the dock and watched the waves lap against the weathered boards. There was something so constant about the ocean, even as it was so unpredictable. Its moods were almost beyond her understanding. Today it was relaxed, apathetic even.
She could have sat here for hours, but when she finally thought to check her watch, she had only five minutes to be at work. It took two to get there, but better to be a minute or so early than to be late.
She made it in plenty of time and sat attentively as the officer gave assignments for the day. She’d been tasked to drive Adam around, as she’d expected, and would be patrolling the area that included Widow Hamilton’s house again. Her pulse skipped. Had the chief intended for her to investigate further?
“And, Officer Evans?” the lieutenant continued. “The chief wants you to talk to Mrs. Hamilton. Apparently, she’s having problems with prowlers again.” He smirked and several snickers followed from the other officers. The widow had become a joke around the department, but after finding the gold doubloon so close to the path that led to her estate, Shiloh was taking the old woman’s stories more seriously.
“Yes, sir.” Her heart pounded in anticipation of finding another clue. She met Adam outside, and they climbed into the car.
“How many days is that with this car? Three? Four? Is that some kind of record for you?” he teased as he buckled his seat belt.
“Ha-ha. Watch it, buddy. If I get tired of your constant ribbing, I may lose it and do something crazy like drive into a creek just to get you to be quiet.”
She grinned at him, noticing that his eyes seemed to sparkle a little more than usual this morning. Because of their stargazing a few nights before?
“So what’s on the schedule for the day?”
“We’re patrolling near Widow Hamilton’s place.” Shiloh couldn’t keep the excitement from her voice.
Was it her imagination, or did Adam tense in his seat? For now, she decided to ignore it. “After finding the gold doubloon, I’m more certain than ever that she isn’t making things up. People probably really are prowling around her property. But why?” Shiloh frowned. “Maybe because it has so many priv
ate paths to the beach?”
“I can’t believe he’s sending you there knowing how much danger you’ve been in already.”
Shiloh fought to keep her voice even. Were they really dealing with the helpless-woman thing again? He had no faith in her at all! “I’m the only one who will take her seriously. The chief knows that. I’m the best for this job, Adam.” Finally, the snarkiness she’d been fighting to keep out of her tone crept in again. “Even if I am a woman.”
“Whoa.” He held up his hands in fake surrender. “This has nothing to do with you not being capable. I think you’re a great cop, Shiloh. I’m just worried about you. Can’t a man worry about the woman he...?”
He trailed off, and Shiloh thought she detected a blush creeping up his face.
“Look, it makes me uncomfortable to think of putting you in someone’s crosshairs. If you’re right that someone or a group of someones has been on her property, they’re probably up to no good.”
Shiloh nodded, though the words he said didn’t penetrate all the way to her heart. The other night might have been a nearly perfect fairy tale, but this morning they were back to the real world.
It was just as well, Shiloh tried to convince herself as she drove down the widow’s narrow dirt driveway. She had a job to do. And she intended to do it well.
NINE
One of these days Adam was going to give up on trying to understand Shiloh. He studied her as she drove down the long dirt road to the widow’s house. She seemed a little extra snappy this morning. That comment about being qualified in spite of being a woman had been especially pointed. Though he truly hadn’t meant anything about her gender when he had told her that he was worried about her being in such direct danger. Maybe she was assuming things based on his...well, lack of support in the past.
When she’d told him in Savannah of her plan to become a cop, he hadn’t known how to react. But she was starting to show him how well it suited her. It was almost as if she was made for the job, with the calm way she handled danger and kept her head in stressful situations. Even her reaction his first day in town, her choice to drive the car into Hamilton Creek rather than risk a crash, had been a smart decision. Shiloh thought on her feet well. She was a good cop.
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