Chapter 6
CHAPTER SIX
Vanessa
No!
No no no no no.
This couldn't be happening. The last thing I needed at a time like this was to be the feature article of B. Feather. I was supposed to be finding out who was writing the articles not being written about.
I could only imagine how this was going to make matters worse for me.
"Why do you look like someone hit you with a bus?" Nolen startled me with his question. I had forgotten for a second that he had chosen to spend the night on my couch.
I slid my phone across the counter and waited for him to pick it up and read the town blog.
"What's wrong with this?" He held the phone up. "I thought you would be happy to know they're looking for information on who assaulted you."
Of course he didn't understand, because I hadn't told him the truth for him to understand the repercussions nor did I have any intention of telling him. Then what Nolen said clicked in my head, and I looked at him funny.
"Wait, what do you mean you thought I would be happy? Did you do this?"
There was no way Nolen could be B. Feather. The articles had started long before him and his team had arrived in town. But something about what he said had me wondering if maybe I could be wrong.
"Would it be bad if I did?"
I stepped back like he had slapped me. "You know who B. Feather is?"
Nolen's face went suspiciously blank. "I didn't say that."
"Then how did you get in touch with the person?"
I still didn't know if B. Feather was a male or female, but my guess was female and someone who lived in Willow Creek long enough that they knew everyone and how to get the information they constantly reported on, but that was all I had so far.
Unfortunately the town was full of people who lived here their entire lives.
"They have an anonymous tip line on their website."
I wasn't sure if I believed him or not. Something about the way Nolen shut down told me he knew more than he was admitting, but I got the feeling that pushing the subject now wouldn't get me anywhere.
"Here, take a look." Nolen handed me his phone and sure enough on the newspaper website was a spot to provide anonymous articles that a person would like B. Feather to write about.
"Why would you do that?"
I know I sounded like a complete idiot because who wouldn't want to know who their attacker was, but that was the issue. I already knew who it was.
Well, maybe not the exact person but I knew who was behind it.
"Because maybe someone saw something or knows something. Don't you want to find out what happened to you?"
Damn him for asking that question.
"Of course I want to know."
Not a complete lie. I did want to know who was behind everything. It killed me that I was indebted to a person I didn't know.
"Then what's the problem?" Nolen looked at me like I had six heads, and maybe he was right.
"I don't know," I admitted honestly. "I just prefer people don't know my business."
I was no longer talking about the attack but my life in general. If they found out why I was being attacked in the first place, it would ruin the image I had carefully presented to these people.
"I understand that, but this isn't about people wanting to get into your business. It's about them wanting to help you because you are one of their own."
I scoffed at the idea. "First of all, this town is notorious for its gossip. Everyone is up in everyone else's business, so don't even give me that, and second of all, they will use this as an excuse to find out more about me."
And that thought alone freaked me out.
"What is it that you're hiding?"
A lot but there was no way I was going to tell him that, so instead I changed the subject.
"Don't you have to go to work today?"
Nolen's intense gaze said he knew exactly what I was doing, and I waited for him to call me out on it. I was pleasantly surprised when his response wasn't to call my bullshit.
"Actually, no. You're stuck with me for the foreseeable future until we can figure out who is after you."
The thought that he would be around all the time had hives breaking out on my neck. I could feel them.
"You can't spend all your time with me." I was practically hyperventilating at the thought of trying to sneak out to meet with my ransomer.
"And why not?"
"Because…” I stumbled with my words. "You have a…job. One that's important and people need…you."
Okay, now I just sounded like an idiot. People needed him? Of course they did. He worked for a security company, and his whole job was to help people. It was evident by all that they've done since coming to Willow Creek.
"Are you okay?" I had to look away from Nolen's intense stare before he saw too much.
"Of course I am. Why wouldn't I be?"
My ribs were sore from where I had been kicked, and I was having a mental freak-out about him staying with me, but sure, I was completely fine. What could possibly go wrong?