Chapter 24 Deep Feelings
DEEP FEELINGS
“Idon’t like this,” Ford said. “That’s three threats in less than a week.”
“More if you count all the people telling us to leave,” Rory said drily.
“That’s people talking,” Ford said. “Nothing major there around here. Or nothing more than the norm for busybodies other than your conversation with Austin. I’m still looking into things there.”
“I’m not sure what the big deal was destroying my notes.
I’ve got it all on my computer and that was locked in my car.
Nothing else seemed to be touched that I can see.
Then again, it’s not as if I was thinking someone would go through the little I brought.
Maybe I should have set more traps in the house rather than the front door. ”
“Now you’ll know,” Ford said. “Better to be cautious and I hate to even say that.”
“If they could have gotten your laptop, they might have,” Gale said. “Let’s think about this. That was twice now it happened on a weekend or at night, so this person has to work during the day.”
“Or they are watching to make sure I’m gone or sleeping,” he said. “I’m not ruling anything out.”
“Good point.” She scratched her head, not sure why she didn’t think of that.
Because this wasn’t just a case that she might be working on.
This was something happening to a person she was developing deep feelings for.
Feelings that she didn’t want Rory or her brother to know existed.
“Nothing else was taken?” Ford asked.
“Not that I can tell. I haven’t touched anything but this not being my house I’m not positive what is here or not.”
“Do you want this on record?” Ford asked him.
She looked at Rory to see his response.
“I’m trying to decide that. If nothing was taken, it doesn’t seem as if there is much to report other than a break-in.
I could call the landlords and see if they came in or let someone in.
If I didn’t see the scratches on the lock or my trap moved, I wouldn’t have realized it right away.
Someone else might just have thought those were key marks left behind. ”
“Smart to be aware.”
“I’m going to assume this is the same person who left the other notes though you didn’t get any prints off of them.”
Clay got the results back three days ago. She didn’t think there would be anything to trace back, but who the hell knew?
“Seems it,” Rory said, moving closer and looking at the note on the table. “Same writing that I can tell. But this time I’m betting they used my pen.”
“Red Sharpie for the last one,” Ford said. “That’s what Clay said. We’ll get this bagged and sent with the others to compare. No way we can send all this mess off with it to look for prints. But you might be right with the pen. As if whoever this was wasn’t prepared.”
“I don’t want to make assumptions,” he said. “They aren’t going to be that stupid. You can check the door handle, but my guess is you’ll only find mine or Gale’s on it.”
“To do that, I’ve got to put this on record or call Clay. Decide,” Ford said.
There was part of her that didn’t want anyone to know, but the other part said to do it and let it get out. “If you report it and don’t leave, it’s going to start more rumors.”
“I know,” he said. “I’m thinking. Do we plant something and see if that makes the rounds? It will just go back to someone in your department talking.”
“I haven’t seen any leaks yet,” Ford said. “I’ve tried that. What are you thinking you want to say?”
“Well, take pictures of the mess. It’s odd they didn’t want to destroy the house. If they really wanted me gone, do that and get me kicked out. Or try to scare me enough I couldn’t stay here.”
“You still shouldn’t,” Gale said. “They got in once and they could again.”
“I’m with Gale on this,” Ford said.
“And if I stay, it says they can’t scare me,” he said. “Maybe staying is taunting them, but if I want to know who it is, then I’ve got to make them come for me.”
“Hell no,” she said, crossing her arms. “Don’t pull a Clay on me.”
“Gale,” Ford said.
“You know I’m right, Ford.”
Her brother sighed. “You’re not wrong. And trust me, I don’t want anyone to get hurt.”
“But you’re thinking the same as me. If I run and hide, the truth might never come out. Right?”
“I’d ask no one to put themselves at risk,” Ford said.
“You’re not asking.”
“I’m asking you to not do it,” Gale said. “Come stay with me.”
“No,” both men said at once.
“Come on. No one is going to get in and out of my building without being caught.”
“They put a letter under your door,” Ford said. “Everyone is a suspect. Residents in the building and property owners. People who could have access to camera footage. No. I don’t like this. You should both be on the farm.”
“No, no, no. Not happening.” She turned to Rory. “What do you want to do? This is your call. It’s your life and mission.”
“It’s not just mine,” he said. “But I’m staying. And report it. Let it get out there that it happened and it’s not fazing me in the least. All this shit is doing is making me want to work harder to find who this bastard is.”
“Do we put something false in the report?” Ford asked.
Her brother wouldn’t put anything major, just enough to see if it was coming from his department.
“Sure, but I don’t know it will make a difference other than tell you where it’s coming from, but the way words are flowing in this town, we’ll never know where it actually started or how much got twisted.”
“Let’s do this,” Ford said. “Send this letter with the writing to Clay’s guy, just report the place was broken into, not the note. The neighbors are going to get riled up some. There will be more talk and nerves will escalate again.”
“I can’t let that shit get to me,” he said, shaking his head. “I’m not controlling this as much as I wish.”
“That’s right,” she said. “Someone else started this mess and it’s time we put an end to it.”
“Not you,” Ford said, hitting her with the same glare he’d done since they were kids. “You’ve done enough. You need to step back now. I mean it.”
“I’m not letting Rory do this on his own,” she argued and cocked her hip, telling everyone she was staying put.
“I don’t want to get in the middle of a family fight, but I’m on Ford’s side.”
She wanted to light Rory’s ass on fire for trying to protect her. She didn’t need anyone to do that.
But if she did argue with Rory, her brother would know there was more going on.
It didn’t seem as if he couldn’t tell already anyway with the looks going on between the two of them.
“I don’t give a shit whose side you’re on, I’m not walking away. We are all in this too deep. This person is escalating and you know it.”
“Which is why you need to stand down,” Ford said firmly.
“Nope. I’m going about my life just as I always do. I’m not letting this person win, just like you guys aren’t either.”
Ford sighed. “I’m going outside to look around and call Clay. Rory, talk sense into her.”
Her brother walked out of the cabin, leaving her with the man she was growing way too fond of.
“Don’t do it,” she said. “Don’t start a fight with me to get me to leave. That’s way too basic and we both know it. And don’t say something you’ll regret later.”
He moved closer and pulled her into his arms. “Gale. I care about you. I’m scared that something is going to happen and I can’t have that on my shoulders. I mean it.”
“Great. You’re going the guilt route. Should have figured. Again, way too basic. I expected better of you.”
“I’m speaking from the heart,” he said softly. That was worse. “I don’t want you hurt.”
If he could speak from the heart then so could she. “Pushing me away is hurting me. Did you think of that?”
He blew out a huge breath. “We have to figure this out and until I can, it’s not wise to have us be together.”
“If we are together then we can protect each other,” she said, putting her arms around his neck and giving him a light kiss.
“You’re trying to appeal to my logical, protective side.”
“Is it working?” she asked, angling her head.
They turned when there was a throat clearing. There was Ford standing in the doorway watching them.
Since her brothers knew she was spending time with the guy, it wasn’t that big of a deal.
“Clay is on the way,” Ford said. “There are footprints off to the side going into the woods. I’m taking pictures.”
“I’m coming out with you,” Rory said, and moved out of her arms.
“Give me a minute with my sister. Just don’t get too close to the footprints. I want to eliminate yours.”
“I’ve only been in the driveway,” he said, but walked outside.
“I know a lecture is going to fall on deaf ears,” Ford said.
“It will. You wouldn’t have walked away from Reenie any more than Clay would have Meredith.”
“You aren’t us. You can’t handle what we can.”
There was no reason to argue what was the truth. She wasn’t trained as they were, wasn’t equipped or even as hard.
But she had one thing in common with her brothers—she was just as stubborn.
“I’m not going to argue with that. But Ford, if we back down or change anything, you might lose your chance to get answers I know damn well you want just as much as Rory.”
“There is no way I’m putting you or anyone else at risk for them.”
“Whoever is doing this knows something. It is either them, or a secret they want hidden. I’m not sure and won’t guess, but they win if we back down. That’s putting everyone at risk.”
“Gale, I know that. But you’re asking me to choose.”
“Nope. I’m not. You said what you wanted and I’m intelligent enough to understand.
No one is going to come after me. I’m too much out in the open and you know it.
Not only that, they’d have to deal with my brothers, and let’s be honest, this person isn’t that stupid if they are a local.
There would be no place for them to hide in the world if Clay was after them. And Rory can take care of himself.”
She saw the change in her brother’s eyes. She was getting to him. “I hope you’re right because when Clay gets here, who the hell knows what will come out of his mouth.”
She pulled her phone out of her purse. “I’ll take care of it.” She hit Clay’s name and waited while it rang. Her brother answered. “Don’t come here and lecture. I mean it. I’m not walking away and neither is Rory. Help us get answers or drive your ass back home.”
“Hello to you too,” Clay said, his grouchy tone loud enough for her to pull the phone back.
“Don’t be cute.”
There was silence for a few seconds. “Don’t make me have to get revenge for you,” Clay snapped, then disconnected the call.
She turned to Ford. “See how easy that was?”
“You tell yourself that,” Ford said. “While Clay and I are up worrying.”
And that was how you put guilt on someone’s shoulders.