Chapter Six
“CHEERS.” JACOB LIFTED his glass and saluted M?rten. “It’s been great having you here, bro,” he added. M?rten clinked his wine against Nikki and Jacob’s and took a sip.
“It’s been great to be here,” M?rten replied sincerely.
“I’m starting to understand a little of the attraction of his place,” he conceded.
America was a country of immense natural beauty, and the people weren’t half as bad as he’d first imagined.
He was almost sorry he would go home in a few days.
“And you’re right; this fish is amazing.
” He set his glass down and lifted his fork, ready to take another bite of the freshly caught lingcod they’d bought at the market this afternoon.
A fish native to these northern waters, Nikki had created a crispy skin lingcod dish fried in butter and parsley, and complemented by some boiled baby potatoes and a fresh salad.
It was a simple but delicious meal. The flaky flesh had melted in his mouth, and he was eager to taste more.
It almost matched the quality of the wild salmon he often snagged in his northern Swedish rivers.
Which reminded him. “Nikki still needs to try our Swedish delicacy, surstromming.” M?rten lifted an eyebrow in her direction. “You have not tasted fish until you have tasted that. It’s delicious, isn’t it, Jacob?”
Both men smirked at each other.
“I’m sorry, but I’m not eating that disgusting fermented stuff, not for anyone.
You couldn’t pay me enough,” Nikki declared, wrinkling her pretty nose.
“Jacob let me smell it when I was over visiting his family, and it almost made me throw up in my mouth.” Jacob roared with laughter at the look of revulsion on her face.
Most Swedish natives learned to love the fish, but it was definitely an acquired taste.
M?rten took a further mouthful and savored the flavor, letting the butter and herb sauce wash over his tongue.
He was just lifting another forkful of potatoes to his mouth when a loud knock on the front door startled them all, and three pairs of eyes turned to stare out to the hallway.
Who could it be at this time of the evening?
He didn’t think they were expecting anyone.
“I’ll go, M?rten offered; he was seated closest to the door.
He gave his fish one rueful glance before he got up from the table, but was almost shocked into speechlessness when he opened the door.
“Summer? What’s going on?” She was the last person he expected to see, but he was immediately on edge.
Summer was breathing hard, her dark hair fluttering loose around her shoulders.
But it was the look of barely controlled fear in her eyes that had him on high alert.
He tugged her inside without waiting for an answer, shutting and locking the door behind her.
After he’d bid Summer farewell this morning, a strange melancholy had settled over him as he’d walked the two blocks back to Nikki’s house.
He knew it was the last time he’d ever see her, but he wasn’t sure why that bothered him so much.
M?rten had feigned interest in their tour around the city not wanting to offend his friends, but a part his mind had refused to leave Summer’s apartment, and he’d found himself wondering how her clean up was going, and hoping her companions would stay, so she wouldn’t have to be on her own.
Even throughout cooking dinner and his banter with Jacob over who was the better chef, it felt like a piece of him was being dragged down, and he had to remind himself to put a smile on his face.
He was on holiday, enjoying a day with his friends, so he should relish every second.
But now, here she was, standing in front of him.
And he couldn’t control the way his chest expanded, as if something had loosened at the sight of her.
In the hallway, she bent over, hands on knees, as she fought to regain her breath.
Fixing his gaze on the top of her head, he waited until she recovered enough to speak, a thrum of agitation setting his blood to thumping through his veins.
“He came back,” Summer puffed finally. “The guy from last night—he was waiting for me on the landing when I got home.” M?rten didn’t bother to ask if she was sure it was the same person.
If she said it was him, he believed her.
Jacob strode into the hallway, his face full of concern, Nikki close behind him.
M?rten already had his cell out of his pocket. “Did you call the police?” he asked Summer.
“No, I ran straight here.”
“I’ll do it,” Jacob said. “You make sure she’s okay.” Jacob returned to the kitchen, his phone held to his ear, Nikki on his heels.
M?rten grabbed Summer’s shoulders, holding her face close to his so he could scrutinize her for the truth. “Are you hurt?”
“No.” She shook her head, and another tight knot released in his chest.
“Did he follow you? Does he know you’re here?”
“I don’t know. I don’t think so.” Summer shook her head again, her breath still coming in ragged pants, eyes wide as she stared up at him. “He fell and hurt himself as he was chasing me down the stairs. That was the only reason I got away. I doubt he could’ve run very far.”
“Jesus Christ,” M?rten swore loudly. He should’ve trusted his feeling that told him the guy would be back.
Instead, he’d just left her there to fend for herself.
Alone. He ought to have demanded she stay another night at Nikki’s house.
He couldn’t help himself; he pulled her into a tight embrace.
“Thank God you’re okay. If he’d hurt you…
” he trailed off, leaving the words unsaid, resting his chin on the top of her head for two glorious seconds before he released her again.
“I’m fine,” she replied suddenly subdued. “This is not your fault, you know,” she added, as a strange mix of confusion, stubbornness, and something else—was it desire—flashed through her eyes. But she was wrong on that count; this was his fault. He was a cop; he should’ve known better.
“Wait.” M?rten’s mind swirled with scenarios as he stared at her.
“So this man could still be in the area?” If he were, then M?rten was going to find him.
Without waiting for a reply, he hunkered down to put on his shoes; it was Swedish tradition to always remove your footwear whenever you entered a house.
“I’m not waiting for the cops. I’m going to see if I can locate him. ”
“No!” Summer shouted, pulling him back by his sweater. The barely controlled fear he’d seen in her eyes earlier flared again, becoming full-blown terror. “You don’t understand. He’s dangerous. He wasn’t scared of me this time. He threatened me. I think he was planning to hurt me.”
All the more reason to get him, M?rten thought.
“It might be our only chance,” he declared, before gently levering her hands from his sweater and then sprinting out the front door just as Jacob returned to the hallway. He heard Jacob yell something unintelligible after him, but he was already barreling down the driveway.
M?rten was a fast runner when he put his mind to it.
And he wanted to catch this guy. Otherwise, Summer might never be safe.
How could he go back to Sweden not knowing when, or if, this guy would strike again?
But when he made it to the front door of Summer’s building in less than five minutes, the street was deserted.
Dusk was now settling over the city, dulling the sharp edges of the buildings and turning the sky a soft dove-gray.
M?rten swore softly. Only a rookie would’ve believed the crook would still be in the vicinity.
Nevertheless, he set out to make a thorough search of the area.
Jacob caught up to him five minutes later, as he was jogging back toward Summer’s apartment, but he needn’t have bothered.
The felon was nowhere to be found; M?rten had checked all the alleyways and side streets.
Perhaps the criminal had a car, and he’d escaped that way.
Or perhaps he lived in this neighborhood and had just disappeared off the street through this front door to become invisible. Either way, he was long gone.
A police siren sounded, heralding their imminent arrival. M?rten made a mental note to ask them to check if there were any local CCTV cameras on the street. If the bastard lived nearby, he was determined to find him.
Jacob called Nikki and told her it was okay to bring Summer around.
Then the four of them spent the next half an hour talking the police through what’d happened.
It was a different unit from the two cops who’d attended last night, which was a shame, as they had to go through the entire story again.
They wanted to see Summer’s apartment, and they wanted a second statement from her.
After the officers left, M?rten didn’t even need to say the words; with one look from Nikki, Summer silently went and packed a bag.
M?rten was grateful there would be no arguing this time.
They all understood this wasn’t over. Then they escorted Summer the two blocks back to their house.
Nikki and Summer leading the way, with the men forming a vanguard behind them.
“It’s unlike you to be so… reckless,” Jacob said quietly as they walked, both of them keeping their gazes trained on the surrounding street, watching for trouble.
M?rten swung his gaze to the two women striding out ahead, but they were deep in conversation and wouldn’t have heard Jacob.
“That’s usually my job,” Jacob added with a smile.
“This girl has you a little wound up, perhaps?”