Chapter 24
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
kole
“You didn’t have to walk with me,” Dani muttered. It was so cold I could see her breath when she continued speaking. “You’re never up this early.”
“I need to prep the bar before it opens,” I lied.
After I’d heard her sneak out of my bed this morning, I couldn’t fall back asleep.
So here I was, trudging through six inches of fresh snow to the police station.
She hadn’t spoken a word about last night, acting like I didn’t spend half the night with my head between her legs.
All I could think about was doing it again.
“Are we going to act like nothing happened last night?” I questioned unable to hold back, catching her eye.
Her cheeks were already pink from the cold, but I didn’t miss how they flushed deeper. “I wasn’t aware what we did warranted a conversation.”
I chuckled. “It doesn’t. Your hoarse voice from screaming all night is all the reminder I need.”
She shoved her hands in her jacket pockets. “I’m surprised you’re not going back home.”
Her sudden change of subject wasn’t a surprise. “Why?”
“You didn’t clean up the kitchen,” she said quietly, sneaking a glance at me.
I nearly stumbled over my next step. “What?”
“You made us eggs and didn’t wash the pan…or the plates.”
I frowned, thinking of what I did before leaving the house. Unease crept through me and squeezed. “I’ll do it later,” I grumbled, ignoring the knots in my stomach.
“I bet you’ll go straight home after this. You won’t last all day knowing the kitchen isn’t cleaned.”
I halted in my tracks to stare at her. “Psychoanalyzing me, Dani?”
“It’s hard not to when we live together.” She lifted a shoulder in a half shrug. “You’ve already figured things out about me without me saying a word.”
The resignation in her voice had me chuckling. Her job was to figure people out, but she clearly hated when it was done to her.
In two large steps, I eliminated the space between us. She leaned against the brick wall of the café as she tilted her face up to meet my eyes. Her hands remained buried in her pockets, a small sign that my closeness wasn’t bothering her.
“Profile me,” I murmured, smiling in amusement when surprise crossed her features. “It’s only fair. You revealed your past to me.”
“Not all of it,” she mumbled in nearly a whisper.
“Profile me, Dani,” I repeated, my curiosity growing. “Tell me what you know.”
The frigid wind blew her hair as she stared at me in silence for a few moments before speaking.
“You hate mess, or any kind of disorder, but it only seems to really bother you in your home. I don’t see the same reaction when you’re at the bar.
I think you grew up with a parent—or parents—who didn’t clean.
” She lowered her voice. “And not just a messy house, but a filthy one. The kind of home you never invited your friends to. Where you went to school and hated coming home because of how bad it was.”
My chest tightened, my heart pumping furiously as the past clouded my thoughts.
I bit my tongue as memories flooded me. The stacked piles of trash in the living room.
Moldy dishes overflowing in the sink. My bedroom that reeked of cigarette smoke no matter how much I kept the door shut and the window open.
The nonstop noise of the people my mother always invited over.
“At first I thought it was a hoarding situation,” she continued, her voice soft. “But I was wrong. You like whiskey, but I’ve never seen you have more than two glasses. You don’t get drunk—because you grew up with an addict.”
Silence fell over us when she finished, the only noises were the whistling wind and the birds. I nearly regretted telling her to profile me. She was right about it all. But that was a long time ago, and I refused to let my shitty childhood play a part in my current life.
I forced a small grin. “Is that it?”
“You have a younger sibling.” She paused, studying me. “A sister, I think.”
“How in the hell did you guess that?” I asked, shock coursing through me. I hadn’t revealed anything for her to know about my sister.
“You’re a natural leader. Most eldest children are.
People go to you when they need help, and no matter how much you act like a grumpy asshole, you still do whatever you can.
That’s why Harry comes to you for everything.
You respect women, meaning you most likely have one in your life who you love.
” She glanced at the sky when snow began to fall.
“I think you’re a good man, Kole. Someone with morals.
You grew up in a life that could have walked you down a dark road. You chose not to.”
“Another thing we have in common. I don’t know exactly what you went through, but I know enough. You’re strong, Dani.”
My words had her eyes flashing with an emotion I couldn’t decipher before it was gone, and she let out a small laugh. Her hand left her pocket to rub the back of her neck.
“Don’t give me too much credit,” she mumbled, pushing off the bricks. “But we do agree on something. Neither of us enjoy talking about our past.” She began to trek through the snow again. “I’m going to be late for work.”
She dropped the conversation just like I expected when I brought up her past. When she opened up to me last night, I had a feeling it was the only time I would get a glimpse into her life. Even if she did share my bed again, that was all it would be.
“Kole.”
The voice came from behind me, and I glanced over my shoulder to see Adella exiting the café. She slipped a beanie over her curls before giving us a small wave as she walked closer.
“What are you doing awake?” she asked me. “I thought I was opening the bar today.”
I pursed my lips, feeling Dani’s stare on me. “I must have mixed up the schedule.”
Adella’s knowing smirk called me out on my bullshit, but she didn’t say a word. She sipped her coffee, her gaze darting to Dani.
“Going to work already?” she questioned. “I bet Harry hasn’t even rolled out of bed yet.”
“Natalie wanted me to come in early. She’s working at the clinic today, so it’ll be me and Harry carrying out the interviews.”
“Oh, that means it’ll just be you working.” Adella laughed. “Harry was at the bar long after you two went home last night.”
“I’ll see you two later,” Dani muttered, rushing away before I could get a word out.
I ran a hand through my hair, knocking off the snow. “Is there a reason you came out here to talk to me?”
Adella’s eyes flashed with mischief. “I can’t believe it.”
“Believe what?”
“You broke your own rule.” She playfully tsked. “Fucking an intern? And then walking her to work? Not only did you have sex with her, but you like her.”
“Adella,” I hissed, looking around to make sure no one was near us. “You have no idea what you’re fucking talking about.”
“No?” She cocked her head. “Don’t lie to me, Kole. We’ve been friends and coworkers far too long for that.”
I eyed the coffee in her hand. “What are you doing up anyway? The bar doesn’t open for another five hours.”
“Stop avoiding the subject.”
“There’s nothing to talk about,” I said gruffly. “Mind your own damn business.”
My harsh words would have made anyone else in this town back down. But Adella had worked at my bar for three years and knew me better than most. Nothing I said would ever bother her.
I rubbed my temples. “I can open today since you closed last night for me. Take the day off.”
“The day off to do what?” She laughed, brushing snow off her coffee cup. “I’ll be there for the after-work rush.”
I turned to head back home, giving her a look when she fell into step with me. “Need something?”
“Any updates on the murder?”
“You didn’t ask Harry last night?”
“Of course, I did. He was too drunk to have a conversation.”
I sighed. “I don’t know anything you haven’t already heard. No witnesses, no suspects.”
“This could be bad,” she whispered, her voice growing serious. “If—”
Both of us stopped in our tracks when someone came stumbling out from between the buildings, and onto the sidewalk in front of us. I frowned, realizing who it was. Riggs met my eyes first before glancing at Adella. I crossed my arms, a scowl forming on my lips.
I didn’t like him before, but after seeing how he looked at Dani in my bar, I wanted to punch him in the damn face. Which was a problem in itself. I didn’t date, and Dani made it perfectly clear she wanted absolutely no strings.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” Adella asked, her gaze trailing down his coat.
I sucked in a deep breath, clearing my head. Riggs pulled a pack of cigarettes out of his pockets, his hands shaking slightly. His long hair, which was usually pulled back, was hanging down and a mess.
“Is Harry at the station?” He lit his cigarette.
“I’d try his house,” I replied, eyeing something stained on his jacket. “What are you doing in the woods at eight in the morning, Riggs?”
“Something—I saw something,” he muttered, his voice tight.
“Show us,” Adella demanded.
“Not our business,” I reminded her. “Let him find Harry—”
“Harry didn’t leave the bar until two.” She cut me off, giving me a hard look. “He’s probably still drunk. He’ll just send Dani.”
Riggs straightened up. “Then I’ll go get Dani.”
My palm slammed into his chest when he moved to go around me. “Show me.”
He grinned, inhaling a large drag before slowly blowing out a cloud of smoke. “You like the intern, Kole? I saw you talking with her at the bar.”
“I talk to everyone at my bar,” I snapped. “There’s no reason for you to take a woman into the woods—especially when you have fresh blood on your jacket.”
His humor faded, his eyes darkening. “Fuck off. Don’t look at me like that.”
“Like what?” I arched an eyebrow. “Feeling guilty for something, Riggs?”
Adella squeezed between us when he squared up to me. “It’s too fucking early for this. Both of you need to calm down.”
I chuckled. “I’m calm. He’s the one about to swing after I mentioned the blood on his jacket.”
“I’m not the murderer,” he spat out, backing up. “I came to tell Harry what I found.”
I jerked a nod toward the woods. “Prove it. Lead the way.”
After shooting me a scathing glare, he spun around. Adella and I followed as we walked between the buildings before stepping onto the trail, leading into the forest. The snow covered the path, but I’d lived here long enough to know where to step by memory.
“Jealousy?” Adella breathed out, her eyes sparkling with amusement. “You have it bad for the intern.”
I clenched my jaw. “I’m not jealous. I’m doing what any decent man would.”
“Sure.” Sarcasm was thick in her voice, but she didn’t say anything more. We moved deeper into the forest, shadows casting over us. The pine trees were covered in thick snow, making everything sparkle when streams of sunlight cut through.
Riggs didn’t look back at us once as he stomped through the snow. After ten more minutes, his steps slowed. He blew out a long breath, coming to a halt. Knots coiled in my stomach as I stopped beside him.
“I fucking slipped in it,” he grumbled. “That’s how it got on my jacket.”
The snow was stained red from the massive puddle of blood. I swallowed thickly, searching the surrounding area. Adella grabbed my arm, her nails digging into my skin.
“That’s too much blood,” she hissed, a note of fear in her voice. “If it’s not animal blood—”
“Then we have another death in this town,” I finished. “Fuck.”
Riggs rubbed the back of his neck before pulling out another cigarette. I bit my tongue to keep from snagging one. I’d quit smoking years ago, but after the last few weeks, the cravings had returned.
“I thought a hunter just left a mess,” Riggs muttered. “But it doesn’t make any sense. If an animal was gutted here, there’d be a lot more than just blood.”
He was right. There was no evidence this was from an animal. My eyes darted to the closest tree, noticing smeared blood on the bark. I crept closer to the blood, circling it. Adella stood there with her arms crossed, her eyes not leaving the red mess.
I looked at Riggs. “Go get Harry. He needs to see this.”
“I thought he was passed out. I’ll just go to the station—”
“No,” I cut in sharply. “He’s the fucking sheriff. He gets to deal with it.”
Riggs snickered. “Is there a reason you don’t want me talking to the intern?”
A rush of heated anger shot down my spine. “She’s not law enforcement. Go get Harry.”
My eyes stayed on his until he blew out a harsh laugh, spinning around and stomping away. Adella stepped where I’d already walked to avoid getting her shoes any wetter as she got closer.
She pointed to the right. “There’s a trail of it.”
“I know. Let’s see where it leads.”
She stayed behind me as I followed the small droplets of blood.
My pulse thudded when I noticed a set of shoe prints.
It looked close to my size boot. I guessed whoever was walking out here was a man.
Some blood was smeared with the shoe prints, and at first, I followed it deeper into the forest before circling back.
The back of my neck prickled as we got closer to town.
“No body,” Adella mumbled from behind me. “So much blood. Where did it come from?”
“Who did it come from?” I gritted out. “I’d bet money it’s not from an animal.”
“If this doesn’t end, then others will get involved,” she muttered. “Harry can’t take care of this himself. The FBI will come to investigate if there are more murders.”
“I know.”
“The town won’t be the same.”
I sighed. “No, it won’t. Let’s hope the asshole is caught before it comes to that.”
We got to the edge of the woods, and I stopped, scanning the row of townhomes in front of me.
Most of the backyards weren’t fenced, revealing the back patios where a few had grills and small fire pits.
The tracks seemed to end right here. I stepped into the last visible set of shoe prints to figure out what this person was looking at.
“Umm…isn’t that your house?” Adella asked hesitantly.
“Yes.”
I raised my eyes to the second story window, ice chilling my veins. It was the perfect vantage point to watch while still hidden by bushes.
“You have a stalker, Kole?” she asked as she appeared beside me. “That’s your bedroom.”
My gaze didn’t leave the window. “No. It’s Dani’s.”