by Lara Lacombe
Was this some kind of con? Perhaps Fiona and the robber from last night had cooked up this scheme, and when things had gone south, someone had come after her to collect. He dismissed the thought almost as soon as it entered his mind. He’d seen the actions of the robber last night. The man hadn’t known anyone else was in the store, and he’d still gotten violent with her quickly. Those weren’t the actions of a partner in crime. Furthermore, Nate had seen Fiona in the aftermath, had held her close to his body and felt the subtle, involuntary tremblings of her muscles in response to her adrenaline surge. That wasn’t a reaction you could fake. No, whatever was happening here, he doubted very much that Fiona was involved.
He headed back into the squad room and caught Owen’s eye. His partner stood and walked over without hesitation. “What’s up?”
Nate gave him the basic rundown. “Will you listen to her story? Maybe you’ll catch something I missed.”
Owen snorted. “I doubt that, but, yeah, I’d be happy to.”
Together, they entered the interrogation room. Fiona turned as they opened the door and gave Owen a nod.
“I’m Owen Randall.” He held out his hand with a reassuring smile, and Nate watched as Fiona’s shoulders relaxed a bit.
She took his hand with a small smile. “Fiona Sanders.”
“I understand you’ve had quite a few scares lately,” Owen said.
“You could say that,” Fiona replied, her hand absently moving in the bag. A faint purr rose from the depths of the fabric, and Nate bit back a smile. The cat was resilient, he’d say that much.
“Would you mind telling Owen what you told me?” he asked. “I’d like him to hear the details from you.”
“Sure.” Fiona launched into her tale again, and Nate took a seat and listened. People rarely told a story exactly the same way twice, and if they did, it was a sign it was a well-rehearsed lie. That wasn’t the case here. The basic events were identical, but Fiona used different words and slightly different descriptions when talking that told him she hadn’t practiced this on the way over. It was another sign—not that he needed one—that she was a true innocent in all of this.
Unfortunately, she didn’t recall any new details. But that was something he could continue to ask her about.
“And you didn’t recognize the man who broke into your house?” Owen asked.
She shook her head. “I had seen him earlier at the store, but I didn’t see his face then, either.”
“So how did you know it was the same man?”
She gave him a wry look. “He was wearing the same clothes and had the same build.”
Owen smiled at her. “Fair enough.”
“Do you think there’s a connection here? The store gets robbed last night, then this morning a man gets into an argument with Ben.”
“Maybe,” Nate hedged. “Did you overhear any of the argument?”
She nodded. “He said he wasn’t going anywhere until Ben gave him what he wanted.”
“And what was that?” Owen asked.
Fiona shrugged. “I don’t know. I didn’t hear that part.”
A niggling suspicion tugged at Nate’s awareness, and he stood. “I’ll be right back,” he said. “Just going to check on something.”
It took only a moment to log in to the system, and what he found there made his stomach drop. He stared at the computer screen for a moment, refusing to believe his own eyes. But the information didn’t change.
“Fiona,” he began, once he was back in the room. “Is it possible the man who argued with Ben this morning and later broke into your house is the same man who tried to rob the store last night?”
She stared at him, confusion taking over her features. “No. I mean, how could that happen? The guy who tried to rob the store is in jail, right?”
Nate shook his head. “I’m afraid not. He posted bail early this morning.”
“What?” Her voice rose as the color in her face faded. “How is that possible? He held a gun to my head! Why was he allowed to go free after doing that?”
Nate and Owen shared a glance. “The judge set a high bail. Usually, that’s enough to keep guys like this in jail until their trial. But in this case, his attorney posted for him and he was allowed to walk out.”
“Where did a guy like that come up with that much money? And if he’s that rich to begin with, what’s he doing robbing a convenience store?” Fiona’s confusion echoed his own, and Nate found himself nodding in agreement.
“That’s a good question,” Owen said. “It’s something we should take a look at. If you’ll excuse me a moment?” He stood and left, apparently heading back to his desk to do a little digging.
Nate shot him a grateful look. He didn’t want to leave Fiona in the room alone for too long, and he knew Owen didn’t miss a trick when it came to investigating a mystery. If there was something fishy going on, Owen would find it.
“Oh, my God,” Fiona muttered, more to herself than to him. “What if it really is the same man? He knows where I live! I can’t go back there as long as he’s after me.”
“Don’t worry about that,” Nate assured her. “We’ll get you a hotel room or something.”
“No.” Her rejection was quick and automatic, a knee-jerk response that made his eyebrows rise of their own accord.
“No?” he repeated, drawing the word out. He felt like a foreign-exchange student trying to puzzle out the meaning of a tricky new phrase. Surely she didn’t mean that. After all, she’d just claimed she couldn’t stay at her home until they figured out what was going on. Why would she reject his suggestion?
“I can’t afford a hotel,” she clarified, sounding miserable. “Can I just stay here?”
“You mean in a holding cell? Absolutely not!” The very idea was ludicrous. Did she actually think he’d leave her in a bare-bones holding cell until they found the man who had broken into her home? “Do you have a friend you can call?”
“Not really.” She shifted in her seat, as if she was uncomfortable. “A lot of the people I went to school with moved away, and I lost touch with those that are still here, while I was taking care of Mom. I can’t very well call them out of the blue and ask to crash on their couch.”
“And you don’t have any family.” It wasn’t a question. They wouldn’t be having this conversation if she had a place to go.
Fiona shook her head. “No,” she said, very softly.
Nate’s heart twisted as he looked at her, so small and alone. At least she had Slinky, but even the company of a cat wasn’t enough to provide emotional support in tough times like this.
“I have an idea,” he said. “Give me a minute. Owen or his girlfriend may know someone.”
He found Owen at his desk, typing away at the computer. “Anything turn up?”
Owen tilted his head. “Maybe. I have the name of his attorney—Richard Beck. Haven’t found much about the guy yet. Looks like he doesn’t have many clients.”
Nate studied the screen. “There’s got to be some kind of connection we haven’t seen. No way does a selective lawyer like that stoop to doing public defender work.”
“No kidding. I’ll keep digging.”
“Thanks, man. Say, Fiona doesn’t have anyplace to go tonight. She’s too scared to go home, and she can’t afford a hotel.”
“She can stay at Hannah’s apartment,” Owen said, his gaze never leaving the screen.
Nate frowned. “I didn’t know she still had her own apartment. Isn’t she staying at your place pretty much full-time?”
“Yeah. But it’s cheaper for her to pay rent than to break her lease. It’s only through the end of the year, and then we’re officially moving in together.”
“Congrats, man. That’s awesome.” Nate clapped his partner on the shoulder, feeling genuinely happy for him. Owen had experienced several rough months after his former partner had died, and for a while, Nate worried that the other man was too mired in grief to ever really function again. But meeting Hannah had ch
anged him and brought him back to life. Hannah had endured her own troubles, and it was great to see both of them happy. They certainly deserved it.
Owen smiled, his eyes warming as they always did at the mention of Hannah. “Thanks. Feels like a big step, but we’re really excited about it.”
“You should be. She’s a great catch.”
“You don’t have to tell me that.”
“Are you sure Hannah won’t mind Fiona staying in her apartment for a couple of days?”
“I’m sure it’ll be fine. But I’ll give her a call, just to check.”
“Thanks. I’ll go let Fiona know.”
“Speaking of...” Owen said, halting Nate’s getaway. “Is there something going on between you two?”
Nate cleared his throat. “Uh, no. Not really.”
Owen raised his brow. “If you say so.”
Walk away, Nate told himself. But curiosity got the better of him. “Why do you ask?”
Owen turned back to the computer, but not before Nate saw his mouth curve up. “Just a vibe I picked up.”
“From her or from me?” Stop talking!
“Both.”
“Oh, really?” He tried to sound cool. Was it working? The last thing he wanted was for the guys to start razzing him about his love life. Usually, he was the one doing the teasing.
“Better get back in there,” Owen said, a smile in his voice. “Wouldn’t want her to be lonely.”
“Yeah. Well. I do need to let her know about the apartment.” Nate waved his hand in the direction of the interrogation room. “So, you’ll let me know what Hannah says? And if you find anything about the attorney?”
“Will do, partner. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
Nate walked away, feeling a little sheepish. He liked to think he was pretty suave when it came to women, but if Owen had picked up on his attraction to Fiona after only a few minutes, he must look like a lovesick puppy.
Owen is a detective, though. He took some consolation from the thought. As a cop, they were trained to pick up on details and signs that other people overlooked. So, maybe he wasn’t being as obvious as he thought. Maybe Owen was just putting those detective skills to work.
He stepped back into the room and was struck anew by how small and fragile Fiona looked, sitting alone with only her scared cat to keep her company. Suddenly, he didn’t care if the guys in the squad gave him crap about his love life. He didn’t care if he broadcast his attraction for this woman for all the world to see. All that mattered was keeping her safe.
Pushing aside the urge to wrap his arms around her, he took the chair across from her and smiled. “Good news. I think I have a place for you to stay until we can get to the bottom of this.”
“Really? That was fast.” She sounded hopeful and a little impressed, which did wonders for his ego.
“Owen’s girlfriend, Hannah, doesn’t really stay at her place anymore. He said you can crash there.”
“Will she mind if Slinky is with me?” Fiona’s hand clutched the bag protectively, the gesture telling him as clearly as any words that if her cat wasn’t welcome, she wouldn’t be going.
“I’m sure it will be fine.”
“Okay.” Her grip relaxed, relief stealing across her face. “Where does she live? Should I just follow you over?”
“First things first,” Nate said, standing and gesturing for her to do the same. “I’m sending a team out to your place to gather evidence, and I’m going to need to take your fingerprints to exclude them from the analysis. Let’s take care of that, and then we’ll get you set up at Hannah’s place.”
“Okay. But can we hurry? I want to get Slinky out of this bag and settled.” She cast a concerned glance down at the cat in question. “He’s still pretty freaked-out.”
Nate couldn’t help but smile. Even in the midst of her own problems, Fiona was more concerned with her cat than herself. “Yeah. I think that can be arranged. Come on.”
He guided her out the door, his hand landing on the small of her back as if it had always rested there. Fiona looked up at him with a shy smile. “Thank you for helping me,” she said softly.
“Thanks for letting me,” he responded, his protective instincts flaring to life in the wake of her unnecessary gratitude. “Try not to worry. I’ll keep you safe.” He looked back at the gym bag on the table and added wryly, “Both of you.”
* * *
Fiona had to admit, being around Nate did her a world of good.
After running from her home, Slinky in tow, she didn’t think she’d ever feel safe again. But there was something about Nate and his calm, confident demeanor that she found soothing. First, he’d helped her through the attack last night to the point that she’d been so focused on him she’d forgotten to be scared in the aftermath. Now, he was helping her deal with the insecurity that came from her home being invaded. And the best part was that he didn’t even realize he was doing it.
Did he have this effect on everyone, or was it just her?
It doesn’t matter, she told herself. Just enjoy it.
Her life was in such turmoil right now, it was probably best not to question any relief that came her way. And if that relief came in the form of an attractive man? Well, who was she to complain? Looking at Nate was a nice distraction, one she should appreciate while she could.
She pulled into a spot next to Nate’s car and turned off the engine, then let out a sigh. Staying in an unfamiliar apartment wasn’t ideal, but it was better than going home. She shuddered at the thought of her house and the memory of the man who had invaded her space. He hadn’t just broken her things, he’d shattered her peace of mind.
Fiona had grown up in that house. It was filled with memories—some happy, some sad—but they were hers. To have a stranger violate that sanctuary was disturbing on a psychological level, one that hit her harder than the physical damage he had inflicted.
But the worst part of this whole mess was the fact that she had no one to talk to, no close friends or relatives to lean on for support. Her mother was gone, and while Fiona missed her so much her heart physically ached with the loss, part of her was glad her mom wasn’t here to stress about the situation. Christine had always been a champion worrier, and knowing that her daughter was in trouble would only upset her. Still, it would have been nice to hear her mom’s voice and feel her touch once more. Even though she was a grown woman, there was something about being around her mom that made Fiona feel everything was going to be okay, no matter how bleak the situation.
A soft tap on the passenger window made her jump, and she turned to find Nate leaning down with an apologetic expression.
“I’m sorry,” he said as soon as she climbed from the car. “Didn’t mean to startle you. I thought I’d carry up Slinky for you.”
“That’d be great. Thanks.” Truth be told, her arm ached a little from carting him around earlier. For all his positive qualities, he was not a small kitty.
She pressed the button to unlock the doors, and Nate reached in and grabbed the bag. As he pulled it out, a pile of folders slid off the seat and onto the floorboards and parking lot.
“Crap,” he muttered. “My bad.” He set the bag on the ground and began to scoop up the papers. Fiona rounded the hood and stooped to help.
“It’s okay,” she said. “They’re not even my papers. Ben asked me to carry them out to his car earlier, and in all the excitement I left without giving them to him.”
“Do you know what they are?”
She shook her head. “No clue.”
Nate finished collecting the pages and studied the re-formed pile thoughtfully. “You said Ben and this other guy were arguing about something the other guy wanted, something Ben wouldn’t give him?”
Fiona nodded. “That’s what I heard. But like I said earlier, I have no idea what he wanted.”
“I believe you. But don’t you find it odd the same man showed up at your house not long after the argument?”
“I suppose,�
�� she replied slowly. “You think there’s a connection?” Why didn’t I think of that earlier?
Nate shrugged. “I think it’s a possibility we can’t ignore. For all you know, Ben told the guy you have what he wants, which is why you’re now a target. And if this is the only thing Ben has given you...?” He left the question dangling, and Fiona nodded in the affirmative.
“Then we should definitely look at these papers. See if there’s anything that jumps out as suspicious.”
“Good idea.”
He shot her a grin that made her stomach flip. “Thanks. You want to carry the papers while I get the cat?” He handed her the stack and turned to collect Slinky’s bag.
Fiona eyed the pages with distaste. Would Ben really set her up like that? It was possible—she didn’t know him well at all, so she couldn’t rule it out. But he had asked her to carry the files out to his car, implying he was going to take them back. And he couldn’t have anticipated that he’d get into an argument with the mystery man, so she had to believe he hadn’t planned this to happen.
But even though this hadn’t been premeditated on Ben’s part, Nate was probably right. The only reason the stranger had come after her was because Ben had pointed him in her direction. The realization left a bad taste in her mouth, and she wanted nothing more than to head back to the store and shake him until his bones broke. How dare he betray her like that! What kind of man put innocent people in danger to save his own skin?
Her rage must have shown on her face, because when Nate caught sight of her, he stopped dead in the hallway. “Are you okay?”
“Fine,” she muttered. “Just thinking about Ben.”
“Don’t. He’s not worth your anger. And trust me, we have a lot of questions for him.”
“If you can find him. It wouldn’t surprise me if he’s skipped town by now.”
“It’s possible.” Nate sounded unconcerned. “But my guess is he’s still here. I’ll send out a guy to check. If he did saddle you with something important, he’s not going to leave it with you for long. He’ll want it back, and the sooner the better. Don’t be surprised if he reaches out to you in the next few days.”