24. Chapter 24
I don’t sleep a wink.
Willow is sleeping soundly beside me, and I’m a stone’s throw away from a panic attack.
I watch through the blinds as the sun starts to rise, and I know things are about to change today. It’s something I both want no part of and know that I need to finish. Tennison needs to be stopped, and Woodcroft and I are the ones to do it. We have to be the ones to do it.
I was serious when I told Willow I couldn’t lose her. Serious when I said I needed her to be safe. Hell, I almost told her I loved her, but it wouldn’t be fair to her. What if something does happen to me? I couldn’t tell her that and then not come back to her—that’s a whole different level of cruelty.
A sharp knock at my door tells me my time with Willow is up. She starts to stir next to me as I get out of bed.
“That was the door?” she asks with a sleep-roughened voice.
“Yeah.” I sigh.
“I’ll meet you out there,” she says as she swings her legs over the side of the bed.
I nod as I throw on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. Walking to the front door, I open it, and find Woodcroft and Sheriff at my front step.
“Thought we’d make it a party,” Woodcroft says, far too happily.
“Great,” I grumble and open the door so they can come in.
As they make themselves at home in my living room, Willow comes out in a pair of leggings and one of my shirts, making it more than obvious what transpired last night.
“Morning, Willow,” Sheriff says, not trying to hide his smirk.
“Morning. Coffee?” she asks them both before looking up at me.
I nod and join the men, hoping it will shield her from the worst of this conversation.
“What do we know?” I ask, not beating around the bush.
“We know he was spotted again last night near Austin. A gas station, but he was gone before anyone could get there. He grabbed a bag of chips and filled up on gas before hitting the road again. Paid in cash. We received another tip about the same car on the eastern side of the national park,” Woodcroft says.
“So, how do we get him? How do we stop him?” I ponder, still not any closer to a solution.
“Well, I think it’s positive you know where he’s going. That helps with the end game.” Willow’s voice reaches my ears.
“Willow, go home. You don’t need to be here for this,” I say offhandedly. I just need her far away from this, but I don’t think about my actual words.
“Oh, shit,” Sheriff mumbles under his breath as Willow cocks her hip.
“Too bad,” she says simply before plopping down in the dining room chair she’s been using to write. She gives me a hard stare, daring me to tell her to leave again, but Lord knows I can’t tell her what to do in any situation.
“I like her.” Woodcroft holds out his hand. “Name’s Kellen Woodcroft. Nice to meet you.”
She takes it with a smile. A growl escapes my throat, and they both laugh.
“Willow Hutton. Lovely to meet you as well.”
“I think she’s right. This is a leg-up we’ve never had,” Woodcroft says.
“Thank you,” Willow says as she tucks her feet and takes a sip of her coffee.
“There are too many places to hide around here, though,” Sheriff says.
“True, the national park doesn’t help matters. It’s acres of woods and trails,” Willow says.
“Fuck,” I say, running my hand over my head. “It feels like we’re right back to a year ago. No progress, more danger, and more threat.”
“Why don’t you just let the team and Sheriff Arlo handle it? You aren’t on the force anymore; we don’t need you to be involved, especially if it’s going to put you in a bad head space. I’m not trying to put you back there, Oak.”
“Kellen…”
“I’m serious. I just got my best friend back. It’s not worth going through the mind games, especially if he’s targeting you.” He looks up at Willow, and she bows her head in a show that she knows all the details, so he’s able to talk freely. He arches his eyebrow at me, and I ignore him.
“Maybe we should take this down to the station,” Sheriff intervenes. “We can map everything out and get a plan together.”
“Shit, I’ve got the café to run. Brittany isn’t coming in today.”
“Well, then it’s settled. You’ll run your business, and we’ll take care of Tennison,” Woodcroft says so easily it’s starting to piss me off.
“I’ll run it.” Willow’s voice is strong and sure.
“What?” I ask.
“I’ll run Grind Time. I mean, I’ll probably suck at the coffee, but no one in Bluebell Falls will really care. I’ll hold down the fort while you guys take this asshole down.” She offers it so effortlessly, and for some reason, it hits me hard. She doesn’t bat an eye to support me, to step up when I feel like I need to finish this. The guys may not agree, but she understands. She gets me.
“I can just close up shop,” I suggest.
“Nope, it’s already decided. I’m going to get cleaned up, and I’ll head down and take care of it.” She’s already standing up, taking the last sip of her coffee before heading to my bedroom.
“She’s fucking perfect for you,” Woodcroft says quietly with a chuckle.
“Because she’s running Grind Time?” I ask.
“Because she’s pushing you to finish what you started, even if I think it’s a terrible idea. I know you, and I know you wouldn’t listen to me anyway, but she just stepped up and she’s feisty. Like I said, perfect for you.”
Sheriff is just watching us with a smirk on his face. I get the feeling he doesn’t really talk to anyone that much unless it’s for a good reason. But his facial expressions give him away if you pay attention.
“Alright, I’m heading down. Call me if you guys need some coffee, and I’ll run some over. I assume you’ll be at the office for a while?” Willow turns to ask Sheriff as she comes out of my bedroom. She’s tied my T-shirt into a knot at her hip and thrown her hair up on top of her head. She looks fucking beautiful.
“We will be. I’ll let you know. Thanks, Will,” Sheriff says.
She nods as she walks to me, leans down, and kisses me. “Be safe,” she whispers, and I can see the fear in her eyes.
“I will.”
“Well, great to meet you, Kellen. Arlo, be nice.” She bounds down the stairs like this is just part of her everyday routine.
My eyes track her until she shuts the door behind her. I don’t want to leave her, I don’t want to leave our safe space, but she’s right. Her actions tell me more than her words ever could. I need to go after Tennison. I need to close the door on that time in my life so I can put my full effort into being the man that Willow needs and deserves.
The three of us walk into the small sheriff’s office. It looks like there’s just him and a part-time front-desk person, who isn’t currently here. No wonder he’s been bugging me to take a job.
We make our way to his equally tiny office and grab chairs, getting settled in for the long haul.
“Okay, so what do we know?” Sheriff pulls out a map of the area, laying it out flat before sitting back.
“We know he’s heading north from Austin. He was last spotted there, about” — Woodcroft checks his watch — “fourteen hours ago. And a few hours ago, we got the call about the same car on the outskirts of the park.”
“Shit.” I scrub my hand over my face.
“I don’t know the entirety of the case, just what I could find in the news and other reports, but if he’s coming for you, Oakley, then is it not safe to assume he’s either setting a trap or watching your movements?”
“Yes. He’s stealthy, so I can’t imagine he would change up his routine entirely. I would assume he’s done a little of both, honestly. I’m sure if he was able to get here last night, he would have been watching Oak to some degree. And that probably will lead to him setting a trap of some kind.”
“If he was watching me, he knows about Willow.”
Terror. Sheer panic is all I feel even speaking those words.
“I’ve called in some reinforcements,” Sheriff Arlo causally says.
“Who?”
“All the busybodies who have nothing better to do. They’ll keep an eye on her and the area. They’ve been told to look out for any trouble, not whom specifically.”
“Smart.” Woodcroft nods.
“No use in worrying the whole town if we’re able to get him without their interference.”
“I’ll be honest, as much as I want to get Tennison, I can’t let anything happen to Willow.”
“Heard.” Woodcroft turns back to the map. “It would make the most sense that he’s hiding in the national park. Do you have anyone well-versed in that area?” he asks Sheriff.
“Lennox Hutton is the park ranger. Knows the park better than anyone.”
“No,” I say immediately, heart clenching. Not only is he now a good friend but he’s Willow’s brother, and I won’t bring him into this.
“Oak… If this is our only chance, we need to try,” Woodcroft says.
“It would be up to Lennox anyway. We can bring him in, but if he wants nothing to do with this—and I understand if he doesn’t—then I’m not forcing him.”
Woodcroft and I nod at Sheriff’s assessment. It’s not our decision to make, it’s Lennox’s.
“I’ll send him a message. I’m not sure if he’s working today or not. If I don’t hear from him within the hour, I’ll call him, maybe run by his house.” The sheriff pulls out his phone, sending a message before tossing it on the table.
“Okay, so here are some obvious spots…”
The three of us look at the map and attempt a plan of attack.