11. Easton #3
The dinging of the elevator door pulls us apart, and we step into the hallway and head right toward the door at the end. I knock twice. "It's open." Wilkerson looks up from the pile of papers on his desk. "You Evans?"
"Yes, sir." Cat and I walk in, and Wilkerson stands. He isn't your cookie-cutter detective. His appearance gives me Jake vibes with the thick beard. The guy is built like a brick house, and has tattoos covering both arms. The guy looks like he could bench press a squad car.
"And the young lady?" His attention shifts to Cat, and I get a bit heated with him looking at her.
"This is my girlfriend, Cat Callaghan." I could have kept the introduction to just her name but felt the need to make it known she's mine.
"Noted," Wilkerson states. "Have a seat.
" He resumes his position behind the desk and waits for us to be seated before continuing.
"I need you to sign these." He slides a paper to me.
"It's the incident report from the break-in.
'' I skim the report before signing anything, then hand it back.
"Is there any chance you may know this person?
An ex, perhaps?" Wilkerson lens back in his chair.
"No exes."
"A former employee, crew member, anyone you can think of who may have been disgruntled or pissed off in the past?"
"I've yet to fire anyone, and I'm sure I've pissed a few people off in my life, but I hardly think they would be professing their undying devotion to me and threatening bodily harm over the fear of losing my affection," I tell him.
"All your questioning leads me to believe you're hitting dead ends on the investigation. "
"We don't have much to go on," he states.
"You hired Lev Petrov. I don't know him personally but know he's good at what he does, which is finding the small details.
" Wilkerson leans forward, placing his forearms against the surface of his desk.
"I've been at this job for a long time, and one thing I can tell you is stalkers never give up.
They feed off the fixation they have for their target.
Over time it consumes them past a point of no return.
They tend to be mentally ill and unstable individuals, so never let your guard down. "
When we’re finished, we leave Wilkerson's office and head for my apartment. Glancing in the rearview mirror, I look for Quinn, who was cut off at the light by some dickhead driving a Lamborghini.
My mood feels heavy and paranoia has me looking over my shoulder every few seconds. What if Wilkerson is correct, and things get worse before they get better? I park my truck. "It will be okay." Cat tries to be optimistic and rubs her fingertips at the base of my neck.
"I'm risking too much being here—having you here with me."
"I wanted to be here, Easton. You didn't force me."
"I should have said no. I don't want something to happen to you because of me," I admit.
"First, I don't like being told what to do. And second, I feel safe with you." I close my eyes and lean into her touch when she places her palm on my cheek.
Quinn's bike rolls up beside my truck, and he cuts the engine. "Sorry to ruin your love bird's moment, but I need to drain the dragon."
In and out. That's my plan as we enter my apartment building. The moment the three of us step into the elevator, a hand shoots in from outside, stopping the door from closing, and in steps Mallory.
"Oh, hey. You're back." Her eyes light up and travel over me like she is the predator and I'm her prey, until they fix on mine and Cat's joined hands.
She loses her happiness. If looks could cut a person, Mallory would have sliced right through Cat.
What the hell is up with her? Mallory plasters a fake smile on her face.
Mallory's eyes cut to Quinn, who leans against the wall as the elevator begins to move.
"Aren't you going to introduce me to your friends?
" She says friends like it leaves a nasty taste in her mouth.
"Mallory Vargas, meet my brother-in-law Quinn, and my woman, Cat," I introduce her to them.
Mallory rolls her eyes. "Your woman sounds so primitive and degrading."
Before I can respond, Cat grabs my face and rises on her toes.
"I find it to be a huge turn-on," she claims with a kiss.
My girl has claws. Nice
"Fuck yeah," Quinn boasts. "You fit in perfectly with our side of the family."
"Whatever floats your boat." Mallory blanches and changes the subject.
"I heard about the break-in. Can't believe something like that happened here.
I've been worried sick it may happen again.
I sure hope they catch the person responsible.
" She takes a pause, perhaps waiting for my response, but I have none.
"Any leads on who sent you the letter?" she asks.
"How do you know about the letter?" I glare at her.
"Oh, we all know about the stalker situation.
" She waves her hand, and I don't second guess what she says because the walls have ears in this business.
A couple more seconds pass in uncomfortable silence before the doors slide open.
"This is my stop," Mallory chirps, and Quinn holds the door for her to step out.
"Quinn, Cat, it was nice to meet you." The door closes.
"That was awkward," Quinn grunts.
"She's had a thing for me since we hired her, but I've never been interested."
"Does she know that?" Cat asks as we exit the elevator.
"I've told her as much." I punch in the door code.
"I don't think she's gotten the memo." Cat follows me inside my apartment. I stop and grab her in my arms, lifting her feet off the ground.
"I'm pretty sure you set her straight when you kissed me."
"I didn't care for the way she was undressing you with her eyes," Cat remarks, and I do my best to hide my amusement. Instead, I kiss her forehead, then the tip of her nose, then her lips.
"You can claim me anytime you want."
Cat smiles. "Good."
We don't stay long. I grab some extra clothes and some of Gizmo's cat toys before we are again on the road, heading to Miles' place. Just like I told him this morning, we arrive at his doorstep before noon. "Come on in. You guys are welcome to stay for lunch."
"Thanks, but we need to get back home," I tell him.
"Home, huh?" He pours himself a small drink. "You plan on a change of address?"
I look at Cat, who has Gizmo in her arms. "I hope so."
"I'm happy for you, Easton," Miles says. "So, anything I should know about before you leave? Does Wilkerson have any news to pass along?"
"They have nothing that points them in any direction."
Miles sips his whiskey. "I kick myself in the ass for not reporting this shit sooner." He sits in his favorite chair in front of the TV, where he watches hours of ESPN. "If you don't plan on visiting for a bit, then I'm going to relax and watch some sports talk."
"Thanks for keeping my cat the past couple of weeks." I take Gizmo from Cat and place him in his pet carrier.
"Hell, it isn't any bother. It gets a bit lonely around here when we aren't on the road.
The fat furball keeps me company." Miles kicks his feet up, and I feel a little horrible for taking Gizmo back with me.
"If I can give you two love-struck fools one piece of advice: Always have a full house.
Make plenty of babies, and if you can't have kids, adopt.
The quietness makes the loneliness hard to handle at times.
" Miles lost his wife, Claire, two years ago to cancer, and they never had children.
"Let me know how the meeting in L.A. goes."
"You bet," Miles replies before we walk out the front door.
Quinn is sitting on the back of his bike smoking a cigarette out in the driveway, talking on the phone as we approach him. "Are we good to hit the road?"
"Yeah," I tell him, and Cat climbs in the truck while I'm loading the carrier into the back seat. "I know someone who raises dachshunds. One of her females just had a litter not long ago. Do you think Miles would be interested?"
I get in and start the truck. "Maybe."
"He's lonely."
"His wife died a couple of years ago," I tell her as we pull away from the house.
"All the more reason he should have a companion." Cat's concern for someone she hardly knows shows the kindness she has in her heart.
"I think we need to go look at some puppies tomorrow." I turn my head and glance her way to see her lips turn up in a smile.
"I'll call my friend first thing in the morning." She looks in the back seat where Gizmo is hanging out, then reaches for my hand to hold.
We arrived back at the ranch nearly three hours ago, and the time has come for my family to say goodbye to Ronan. "You're more than welcome to stay another night," Cat offers one last time. "It will be dark soon."
"Riding at night isn't always ideal, but when the sun goes down during the middle of summer, so do the temps. It's less taxing on the body," Jake tells her. "We appreciate the hospitality. If you ever find yourselves in Polson, don't be a stranger.."
I hug my sister one last time before she climbs on the back of Quinn's bike. "Love ya, Em."
"Love you, too, East. Promise me you'll call if this stalker shit gets out of control."
"You have my word," I assure her, then hold my hand out to Quinn. "Thanks for having my back today."
"We're family, brother. Anytime."
Cat stands at my side while the Kings take off down the long road.
Even when the Harleys are no longer visible, you can still hear the rumble of the motors in the distance.
There's always an empty feeling left behind when Emerson is gone.
I suppose it's the whole twin thing. I wipe the sweat from my brow.
"Want to cool off in the lake?" Cat fans herself.
I grin. "Are clothes optional?"
"The first one there gets to decide." She takes off running, and like I'm sure to be doing for the rest of my life, I chase after her.