29. Walker
Chapter twenty-nine
Walker
“When you feel like your breath is steady, go ahead and take me off speaker phone, Vivian.” I don’t phrase it as a question, but I try to soften my commanding tone. If talking to me is helping her breathe easier, I won’t hang up until I’m pulling into her sister’s driveway. She takes a deep breath before picking up the phone, and I like that she sounds closer to me now.
“I didn’t know what to do, Walker. I called you right away, I just got the mail from outside. Who is doing this? Are they watching me right now? How would that even be possible? This one just somehow feels different from the other poems. I’m extremely creeped out right now.” Vivian’s vulnerability bleeds through the phone and I want to absorb every single drop.
Even if she is freaking out, I can’t help but preen a little knowing that I was her first call. She had other options, but she chose me. Not her brothers or her father, not the Chicago detectives, not local authorities—me. I really like the feeling of knowing she came to me first, even if I’m not sure what that means.
“I am so glad you called me right away, Viv. That’s the right thing to do, honey, and we’re going to find whoever is responsible for all of this. I’ll do everything I can to keep you safe, okay?” She hums in agreement. “I’ll take care of letting Chicago PD and local authorities know about this new poem. They may need to follow up with you directly, but I’ll handle as much of it as I can. It’s going to be okay; I’ve got you, Sugar. ”
This conversation may be flirting with the lines of professionalism, but there is something inherently unique and precious about Vivian that compels me to do whatever necessary to keep her happy and safe. I've always been a natural protector, but Vivian Stone calls out to me in a way that I can't quite put into words. Her beautiful, vivid green eyes and her sweet, soft voice have consumed my thoughts since I met her, but it’s more than just a physical attraction. I don’t know what it is about her, but I want to wrap her in my arms and shield her from any threat. Throughout my career, I have never had to worry about crossing professional boundaries during an investigation, and I need to keep that in mind while she is involved in an active case. However, my gut is never wrong and something tells me Vivian is going to be in my life for a very a long time, well after this case is solved.
I am confident that we will catch the sniper and anyone else involved in these murders, it’s just a matter of time. If the poems are connected to the cases, then this person has been involved with killing and threatening people in Vivian’s life, and there is no other option. None of the other cases our task force is investigating have included any type of communication from the shooter, and it’s incredibly frustrating to not know why Vivian is different from the other people related to these cases. There is always the possibility the poems and threats are unrelated to the murders, and someone is merely capitalizing on Vivian’s fear right now with their own agenda. None of this is adding up but I know my team and I will unravel this mess, doing whatever it takes to stop whomever is behind these threats.
God help anyone that stands in my way of keeping Vivian safe. Failure is not an option, and I am fully committed to keeping both her and her daughter safe. After everything Vivian has told me about Eloise during our phone calls, and finally meeting her at the park, I am just as protective of her little girl. Vivian describes it as her mama bear instinct, but I didn’t even know I had a papa bear instinct until Vivian introduced me to Eloise. True to my roots, everything is bigger in and from Texas, so this papa bear would be a colossal beast that only a fool would provoke.
I keep Vivian on the phone, the conversation shifting when I ask how Eloise likes school, and how she’s adjusting to Forrest Hills Academy. Talking about Eloise’s school seems to be a good distraction for Vivian, and I just keep asking questions to keep her talking. I wanted to keep her on the phone the entire time, but five minutes out from her sister’s house, Special Agent Isabelle Chavez beeps in, forcing me to tell Vivian I will see her soon. The call from Chavez wasn’t urgent, but when a supervisory special agent calls you directly, the only option is to take the call.
I make impressive time driving to Forrest Falls and pull into Savannah’s driveway just as I hang up with Special Agent Chavez. Looking up and down the street, I don’t notice any vehicles or people that look out of place. If someone is watching Vivian, they’re being stealth and cautious about it. I make a note to go through her sister’s security cam footage but with the poem being mailed, there’s a chance the perpetrator has never been to her sister’s house in person.
Savannah promptly opens the door after I briefly knock.
“Thanks for coming so quickly Agent Bennett, our girl is really spooked and to be honest, I’m more pissed off than a hornet whose nest has been kicked. My sister has been through enough.” Savannah gestures for me to come in and leads me through the expansive foyer and down the hall to a family room. Vivian is sitting on the couch, staring out the window at nothing in particular, but she has fear written all over her face. I don’t like seeing her like this, I don’t like it at all. I clear my throat as we walk in the room. Vivian turns and sits up straighter as she notices us. In two strides, and without thought, I crouch down in front of where she sits.