Chapter 23 #2
“It’s my job. Nothing new I should be aware of?”
“No.”
“Good. Call if you need anything.”
“I will.”
She hung up and set the phone back on the counter. Then there was silence. The same silence that had surrounded her since her parents had left. She hated it. The home that had once felt warm and cozy now felt empty and lonely.
Maybe that was because she was bored. She’d done everything that could possibly be done work wise, and she was trying to minimize her time out of the house.
But she did need some groceries.
She nibbled her bottom lip.
Screw it. Grocery store, then straight home.
After pouring the rest of her hot chocolate down the drain, she grabbed her phone and keys and headed outside. But she didn’t go to her car. She crossed the street, and the deputy immediately rolled down his window.
She frowned when she realized she recognized the guy. “Ellis?”
He grinned at her. “Hey, Addie.”
“What are you doing in Amber Ridge?” He was a deputy from the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office in Bozeman. They’d also gone to school together.
“Your sheriff asked us to loan an officer because they’re running short. So, here I am.”
Great. She wasn’t just inconveniencing her own town; she was taking resources from Bozeman too. “I’m sorry.”
“Why? It’s the easiest job I’ve ever taken.”
“You’re not bored?”
“Bored of getting paid to eat pretzels, watch your house, and listen to true crime podcasts? Hell nah.”
She chuckled. “Okay, well, I’m just running down to the grocery store.”
He straightened. “Great. I’ll follow you.”
“When do you finish?”
“I’m assigned to watch you until six.”
Yep, she felt like a huge, mammoth inconvenience. “Okay. I’ll see you there.”
She climbed into her car and drove to the grocery store. She’d just pulled into a parking spot when her phone vibrated with a text.
Noah: Hey, Addison. How are you?
She stared at the text for a full thirty seconds.
It was so formal. A stranger could have written it.
Addie: I’m fine. Running into the grocery store.
As she walked toward the entrance, she noticed that Ellis wasn’t far behind. Her phone buzzed with another text.
Noah: Are you alone?
He should already know the answer to that because both he and Jesse had decided.
Addie: There’s a deputy with me.
Noah: Good.
She grabbed a basket and was about to push her cell into her pocket when the next text came through.
Noah: Have you been spending much time with Jules?
Her brows drew together. Where had that question come from?
She stopped in the bread aisle.
Addie: She brought over some food this morning, and we had a chat yesterday. Why?
Jules was probably the closest thing she had to a friend in this town. If she called Indie, the other woman would probably hang out with her. But she was Noah’s sister, so it felt strange right now.
Noah’s name popped onto the screen as the phone rang.
Her heart did a little skip. She hadn’t heard his voice in days. And she missed it. God, she missed it so much. She missed all of him.
She put the cell to her ear. “Noah?”
“Hey, Addison.”
She closed her eyes, letting the deep rumble of his familiar voice roll over her skin. “Is everything okay?”
“I need you to do something for me.”
“What?”
“Stay away from Jules. At least for the moment.”
She frowned. “Why?”
“I just need you to take my word for it.”
Frustration tangled with the anger that was already sitting in her chest. “No. Unless you tell me why, I’m not doing it. She’s my friend. She’s been looking after me. So you need to give me a good reason if you want me to give her up.”
“Addie—”
“Unless you have something new to tell me, I’m hanging up.” She started pulling the cell from her ear when Noah spoke quickly.
“She wears a wig.”
Addie froze. “What?”
“I saw it move. It could be nothing, but I just…I have a bad feeling. She works at the park, so she’s had access to things like your key and Rhett. She’s had ample means to get close to you. She arrived in town at the same time all of this started. Please.”
Jules wore a wig? Addie never would have guessed.
She didn’t want to agree to not seeing Jules. But what if she was involved? Then the question became—why? “Okay. I don’t think she has anything to do with this, but to err on the side of caution, I’ll stay away from her for now.”
“Thank you.”
She nibbled her bottom lip. “How have you been?”
“Good. I actually saw your dad’s therapist this morning.”
“You did?”
“Yeah.” There was a small pause. “He thinks I made a mistake pausing things with you.”
Tears Addie hadn’t expected gathered in her eyes, but she blinked them away. She was about to ask him what he thought—then Jules stepped into the aisle.
Crap. “Noah, I need to call you back.”
“Is everything okay?”
“Yes. Everything’s fine.” She hung up before he could get another word in.
Jules smiled when she saw Addie and closed the distance between them before pulling her into a hug.
“Addie, hi, honey.” When she pulled back, she frowned. “Is everything okay? You feel tense.”
She was probably stiff as a board. “I’m fine.” She cleared her throat. “Doing some shopping?”
“Restocking some things for the van in the hope that the park opens in the next week or so.” She tilted her head. “Should you be out by yourself?”
She opened her mouth to tell Jules she had a tail but stopped herself. If Jules was a suspect, she should say as little as possible. “It’s just a quick trip.”
“Okay, as long as you’re keeping safe. How about a coffee tomorrow?”
Oh, man. She wanted to say yes. She enjoyed her catch-ups with Jules. It was strange, actually. She felt a connection to the other woman that she hadn’t really experienced with anyone else, friends or strangers.
But she’d made a promise to Noah. “The guys have actually given me a bit to do on the park’s website. Rain check?”
“Oh. Sure. I’m also happy to come over with my laptop and keep you company too. I have admin to do, and it must be lonely at your house. I—” She stopped and winced, grabbing her head.
Addie touched her shoulder. “Hey. You still have a headache?” It seemed to be constant. Every time they met lately, Jules looked to be in some sort of pain.
She smiled but it looked forced. “I’m okay. I’ll text, okay? Let me know if you need anything before then.”
Addie nodded and watched the older woman walk away.
No. Jules couldn’t possibly have anything to do with this…could she? She seemed so kind and genuine and always wanted to help. There didn’t appear to be a bad bone in her body.
Or if there was…she hid it well.