by Terri Reed
The young officer’s smile was slightly sad whereas the older man’s was blatantly patronizing as he said, “I suggest you stick to regular visiting hours.”
Kris ground her molars. The man made the center sound like some kind of prison. Under Ms. Faust’s iron fist, the place certainly felt like one. Kris’s gaze sought help from Gabe but his stony silence was all she received.
“It’s late and I must check on the residents to see that everyone is back in their quarters,” Ms. Faust announced before marching away.
With a police escort out of the building, Kris had no choice but to leave.
But she’d be back tomorrow and she would find out what was going on in the retirement center. Her gut instinct told her it wasn’t good.
Now all she had to do was convince Gabe that she and Sadie weren’t crazy.
“I can’t believe you did that.” Gabe ran a hand through his hair in an effort to control the frustration beating along his nerve endings. “Someday your impulsiveness will hurt you.”
He sat across from Kris in a diner near her loft. At this early hour they had the place pretty much to themselves except for a few other night owls. The familiar sounds of Christmas carols played in the background, the smell of bacon filled the air and the vinyl seats of the booth squeaked every time either of them moved.
“She needed me,” Kris said, her big blue eyes imploring him to understand.
He understood all right. The two women were nut jobs and he’d do well to walk away right now before the insanity rubbed off on him.
Searching her face, he marveled at her loyalty. What he wouldn’t give for someone to have that kind of faith in him. But that was a pipe dream for sure. Especially where Kristina was concerned. Even if she had changed since he’d cared for her, they were still worlds apart. That knowledge left a faint disquiet in his gut.
In an effort to distract himself from his thoughts, he picked up the cream container and poured a bit into his coffee.
Kris leaned forward. “Look, I know how this all must seem, but Grams isn’t losing her mind. She’s as sharp as ever.”
“Come on, Kristina, you have to be realistic.”
She frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
He reached across the table and took her hand. “She’s eighty years old. Maybe she’s not as sharp as you think. You aren’t with her 24/7. Maybe Ms. Faust sees more than you do.”
“No.” She tried to jerk her hand away but he held firm.
“I know you don’t want to hear this but someone has to say it. She’s—”
“She’s not senile.”
“Have you talked with her doctor?”
For a moment she stared at him with argument in her eyes but then she dropped her gaze and her shoulders sagged. “No, I haven’t.”
He hated to see her defeated but it couldn’t be helped. Enabling her and Sadie in this crazy game wouldn’t be good for any of them. “I think it’s time you did.”
She sighed. “I guess you’re right.” She lifted her gaze to pin him to the cushioned seat. “And if he says she’s not suffering from dementia, will you take her seriously?”
“I will.” He leaned closer. “And if dementia is setting in, you’ll accept it?”
Her eyes narrowed slightly. “Will I have a choice?”
“You always have a choice, Kristina.”
She sat back. “Really?”
“Yes, really.” Knowing she’d appreciate the comparison, he said, “Isn’t that what the Bible says? That God gives us free will? Choices?”
The tips of her mouth curved up slightly, though not in pleasure. “Choice is a funny thing, you know. We can choose to walk away from those who love us. We can choose to hurt those close to us. But what choice does that leave for the one left behind?”
He stilled. She wasn’t talking about Sadie. She was bringing up their past. His gut clenched. “To move on. To make the most of their life without the person.”
“I certainly have done that, haven’t I?”
Regret for hurting her lay heavy on his shoulders. “Kris, look. What happened between us that summer was doomed to fail from the moment we met.”
“What?” Fire flashed in her bright eyes. “You really believe that?”
“Yes. I told you as much then and I still believe it. We come from different worlds.” And she deserved so much better than him. Someone who could fit into her world.
She shook her head. “Not that different. Not anymore. But that isn’t the real reason you left me, is it?”
“Yes, it is. I couldn’t be the man you wanted, needed. I saved us both a lot of unnecessary pain.”
“Who said you get to decide what I want or need?” She gathered her coat and slid out of the booth to stand beside him with her gaze so full of hurt. “Just be honest. You left me because you didn’t love me.”
His heart constricted. Words danced in his head but refused to come out. Even as she turned and walked away, he still couldn’t voice the feelings choking him.
He didn’t believe in love.
But he’d cared enough about Kris to know he wasn’t the right man for her. So he’d done the only honorable thing he could. He’d said goodbye. He didn’t regret his decision. He’d done what was best. For her.
But that didn’t mean the pain wasn’t as fresh today as it had been then.
Kris stepped out into the cold night air and welcomed the stinging sensation of her tears freezing against her cheeks. What had she been thinking to bring up the past? She was over him. Or at least she’d thought she was. But having her suspicion about his feelings confirmed hurt. His silence spoke volumes; he’d denied nothing.
He hadn’t loved her. He’d just used her family as an excuse to dump her.
Scrubbing at her cheeks, she sloshed through the snow toward her apartment building, half hoping Gabe would come after her.
Her mind went back to that day eight years ago when he’d broken her heart. They were supposed to have attended dinner with her parents. Kris had taken the liberty of buying Gabe a new suit because she’d ascertained the one he owned wouldn’t do. Her parents already had expressed their disapproval of her relationship with a beat cop. She hadn’t wanted to give them another reason to hold Gabe in disdain.
But Gabe hadn’t appreciated her effort. Instead, he’d refused the suit. The dinner had been a disaster thanks to her parents’ veiled barbs. When he’d taken her home, he’d told her the relationship was over because he could never fit into her world no matter how much she wanted him to change.
She hadn’t meant buying him a new suit to seem that way, but he wouldn’t listen.
And just like that, he had wanted her out of his life.
For months she’d held on to some hope that he’d relent and call but he never did.
Now she knew it was because he hadn’t loved her. She wondered if he’d had any affection for her at all.
She should be grateful he’d broken up with her, because the breakup had been the impetus she needed to defy her parents’ wishes for her life. Earning a living as a photographer hadn’t been the way the Worthingtons had envisioned their daughter’s future. But she’d found some happiness.
The sound of footsteps behind her echoed in the stillness and sent a shiver of apprehension skating across her skin. The darkened street held shadows of danger she hadn’t noticed before. She quickened her pace and glanced over her shoulder to see the dark outline of a man following her.
She jammed her hand into her coat pocket, her fingers closing around her cell phone. Would she be able to get it out and dial 9–1-1 before the man caught up with her?
The outside door to the building was just steps away. She reaching into her other coat pocket for the keys just as a hand descended on her shoulder.
She screamed and yanked away.
“Hey, it’s just me,” Gabe said.
Heart beating wildly against her ribs, Kris sagged against the door with relief and pleasure. He had followe
d her.
The unlatched door swung open, sending her sprawling across the entryway linoleum.
“Kristina!” In a flash Gabe was there, gathering her close. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, fine.” Just a bruised ego.
Once upright, she stepped away from his concerned care. “You shouldn’t sneak up on people like that.”
In the dim light of the overhead fluorescent fixture, amusement played across his handsome features. “I didn’t sneak up. I followed you to make sure you got home safely.”
“Thank you.” She tried to sound grateful but she was thoroughly irritated at him and herself for being glad to see him. Shivers started running up and down her body, making her aware of the cold swirling inside the building and of the compelling heat emanating from Gabe.
“You should talk to your neighbors about leaving that door open. It’s not a safe thing to do.”
“Thank you for stating the obvious,” she snapped, disliking the lecturing tone in his voice.
“Whoa, sorry.” He held up his hands. “Let me walk you upstairs.”
Not a good idea. Not when she wanted to feel his arms wrapped around her again, warming her, protecting her. “That won’t be necessary.”
He nodded and stepped back. “You’ll call me after you’ve consulted with Sadie’s doctor?”
Annoyed at the reminder, she said, “Yes.”
He saluted before leaving her alone at the foot of the stairs. Slowly she climbed to her floor. As she neared her front door, chills of dread ran roughshod over her shivers.
The moon’s glow coming through the skylight splashed across the threatening words written in black on her door just below the wreath.
Stop asking questions. Or else.
Scrabbling with her panic, she fumbled for her phone again and scrolled the address book for Gabe’s cell number. It rang.
“Pick up, pick up,” she chanted, her gaze darting up and down the hall, expecting someone terrifying to come jumping out at her.
“This is Burke.”
“It’s me. Come back quick!”
“I’ll be right there.” He hung up.
Kris raced down the stairs to open the door just as Gabe came running up.
“Are you okay?”
His wild-eyed panic gave her a moment of pause. “Yes. Yes, I’m all right. Come in. You have to see this.”
She led him up the stairs and pointed to her door.
He was silent for a long moment before he flipped open his cell and called the station to report a crime of vandalism.
Kris stared at the ugly words as a violent shudder racked through her body. “Something is going on at the retirement center and someone doesn’t want me to find out what.”
Gabe slid his arms around her. “We’ll get to the bottom of this.”
She relaxed into the comforting warmth he offered. “Do you believe Sadie now?”
“I’m reserving the right not to pass judgment until we have more information.”
Kris sighed. She would just have to be satisfied with his paltry offer, no matter how frustrating, because she was confident Sadie was telling the truth. And Gabe would come around to that knowledge eventually. She only hoped neither she nor Sadie got hurt in the meantime.
“Did you see anyone when you came upstairs?” Gabe asked.
“No. But the front…” She shuddered. Someone had entered the building. Could they still be inside somewhere waiting to attack? “What if I’d been home when they came here?”
Gabe turned her to face him. “You’re all right. I’m not going to let anyone hurt you.”
She blinked back sudden tears. “You can’t promise that. What if…what if the person who wrote this somehow broke into my apartment?”
She could tell from the look in his eyes that the thought had occurred to him, as well. Drawing his weapon, he took her keys and unlocked the door. Then using a handkerchief he extracted from his coat pocket, he opened the door. “Stay put,” he said before disappearing inside.
Anxiousness danced in her tummy as she waited for Gabe to return.
A few moments later he came back out. “All clear.”
She let out a relieved breath. “What if whoever did this comes back?”
He pulled her close to his chest with one strong arm wrapped tightly around her while his free hand rested on his holstered weapon. “Don’t worry. I’ll keep you safe.”
She rested her cheek against the warm fabric of his dress shirt where his overcoat hung open. His heart beat a rhythmic cadence that eased some of her tension and made her feel secure. Cocooned within his embrace, she did feel safe.
A few minutes later two uniformed officers arrived, followed closely by crime scene technicians.
Once the CSI tech was finished dusting for prints and looking for other obvious evidence, Gabe led Kris inside. “Take a look around and see if anything has been disturbed.”
She did a quick walk-through of the apartment. As far as she could tell, everything was as it should be. Nothing was out of place or missing.
“That’s good,” Gabe said and planted her at the dinette table. “I’ll be right back.”
She watched him as he talked to the techs and then to the other officers. He listened carefully, then seemed to be giving instructions, in complete control of the situation. She liked that he wasn’t afraid to take charge, yet he wasn’t domineering with the other officers. And as he’d demonstrated earlier at the retirement center, he was comfortable letting others take the lead.
He’d changed over the years from the brash, almost cocky, young officer she’d known to this capable and confident man. A man who never loved her. And probably never would.
Restless with her thoughts and the situation, she rose to make a pot of coffee. Soon the aromatic scent of a premium French roast curled up through the steam of the coffeemaker. She poured herself a cup and set out another for Gabe. Just in case he chose to stay for a while.
Which she hoped he would, even though she knew she would only be setting herself up for more heartache if she became too attached to him again.
Finally, they were alone.
“Coffee?”
Gabe gave her a grateful smile. “Please.”
“Did they find anything?”
“No.” He took a seat at the table. “No prints on the door or surrounding walls. The ink used to write the message is from a permanent marker. They’d have to take the door to determine the type, but most likely it’s a common brand, too difficult to trace. The front entrance door was also wiped clean. Whoever did this was careful.”
“I’ll order a new door tomorrow. Then they can come back and take the door.” She cringed to think of her neighbors seeing the message.
“That would be good. And tomorrow I’ll come back to interview the other residents, see if anyone saw someone hanging around who didn’t belong.”
Kris frowned. “I’m sure if anyone were loitering, the tenants would have called in a complaint.”
“But someone could have slipped in, pretending to be a guest or a delivery person.”
“Great. Now everyone in the building will be alarmed.”
“Can’t be helped.”
“I know.” She sipped her coffee, letting the warm liquid slide down to her empty stomach. “You do realize this is another example of God’s provision, don’t you?”
He peered at her from over the rim of his mug. “Your faith is admirable.”
She’d take that. Maybe one day he’d find faith, too.
“Thank you for the coffee.” He set his empty mug aside and took her hand. “I’ve got to report in. There’s a uniformed officer parked right outside.”
“Of course.” She stood, already feeling lonely. “I’ll see you in a few hours.”
He gave her a crooked smile. “Yeah, a few hours. Try to rest, okay?”
“I will.” She walked him to the door.
He reached out to stroke his hand down her cheek, his touch achingly tend
er, yet her skin felt branded by the contact.
Then he was gone. She shut the door and turned the lock, wishing that locking up her heart came with as much ease.
But with Gabe, nothing was ever easy.
FIVE
Gabe’s cell phone rang, the noise cutting through the early morning quiet of the station house. He liked to get in before the chaos of another day began. He’d just arrived and hadn’t even taken his coat off yet. He reached into the side pocket and pulled out his phone. “Burke.”
“It’s me. Sadie just called all upset. Another resident has gone missing.”
Dread like a stone dropping through water landed in the pit of his stomach with a dull thud. Maybe Sadie had seen something last night…no, that just didn’t seem plausible. “Where are you?”
“Home. But I’m heading over there right now.”
“Kristina, stay put. I’ll go check this out.” If for no other reason than to prove to Kris nothing was going on.
“Good. That’s why I called you.” He could hear the smile in her tone. “But I’ll see you there.” She hung up.
Gabe ran a hand through his hair as frustration throbbed at his temples. The woman was too headstrong for her own good.
“Problem?”
Hanging up the phone, he answered his partner, Angie. “Maybe.”
He filled her in on the situation. “I’m not sure there is anything going on but…”
“But we’ll check it out.” She retrieved her weapon from the lockbox before shrugging into her short woolen coat.
“I can take this alone,” Gabe said, turning his car keys over in his hand.
Angie arched a dark eyebrow. “We’re partners, right? We do this together. If it turns out to be nothing, no harm, no foul.”
“Thanks,” he offered, grateful for her easy attitude.
When they arrived at Miller’s Rest in his SUV, he noted Kristina’s compact car parked near the entrance. Inside, the place hummed with activity, unlike the previous night. When Gabe and Angie entered the building, the front desk receptionist buzzed the center’s director. A few moments later the director came out of her office, her eyes widened behind her glasses.