Chapter 45
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
dani
My eyes burned, and I rubbed them a few times before looking back at the laptop screen.
I was in bed, buried under two blankets while scrolling through the inmate files that Kole had.
They were even more in depth than on Natalie’s computer.
I’d been at this for hours and learned about everyone I’d met.
What Harry was here for. He used to live in a small town and was surprised to learn he used to be a deputy there, until he got fired. It was ironic he got the sheriff here. Riggs had a thing for shiny, fast cars. He had four charges all related to burglary and grand theft auto.
The old man who owned the hardware store, where I’d bought the knives, was doing a life sentence for the murder of his wife.
But he didn’t get caught for decades until DNA testing became a thing.
The doctor, Nolan, was here for a long list of white-collar crimes related to health fraud.
If he ever left, there was no way he would ever be able to practice medicine again.
“Hungry?”
I glanced up to see Kole in the doorway, holding a bowl of chocolate ice cream. He hadn’t bothered me since we got home from the crime scene.
“Take a break, Dani. You’ve been at that for hours. It’s almost three in the morning.”
He didn’t wait for an answer before striding into my room and handing me the bowl. I protested when he closed the laptop and set it on my nightstand. I grudgingly picked up the spoon, only because I was starving.
“Can I stay?”
I slowly nodded. “Sure.”
He rounded the bed, and laid down on the other side, staying above the blankets. My heart pattered away as I took a bite of ice cream. According to his laptop, his story had been true. There were emails to his friend Sean. Updates to an email that I guessed was one of the people running this town.
“This is the reason you used to lock your bedroom door, isn’t it?” I nodded to the laptop. “Before I moved in, you kept it up here.”
He chuckled. “I did. It was easier than going into that room all the time. Once you came, I had to move it back.”
“Makes sense.” I focused back on the screen until he spoke up again. I was obsessing about finding my monster in the files.
“Since you’re letting me stay, I’m guessing you’re satisfied with what you’ve found on my laptop?” He put his arms behind his head and stretched out his legs.
“It all validates what you’ve told me.” I studied his relaxed demeanor. “Aren’t you worried I’ll tell someone?”
“No.”
I frowned. “Why?”
“Because I trust you.”
“Maybe you shouldn’t,” I muttered under my breath.
“Well, I do.” He turned on his side, propping his head up with his hand. “I’m glad you know. And if you decide to tell someone, then I guess I judged you wrong.”
I laughed lightly. “Guilting me doesn’t work, Kole.”
“I’m not trying to guilt you. I’m telling the truth. I might not be able to read people like you can, but I consider myself a decent judge of character.” He paused, glancing past me to the laptop as I took another bite. “Did you find what you’re looking for?”
“I already said I believe you.”
A muscle in his jaw flexed. “Did you find who you were looking for?”
“What?” Ice chilled my veins a second later when I realized what he meant. I almost forgot that I told him about the morning I thought I saw the monster who attacked me.
“I know it crossed your mind,” he murmured. “And now you know the town is full of criminals? You’re searching for the person who hurt you.”
“Yes,” I whispered, my chest growing tight.
“You don’t know his name?”
“No. Only what he looks like—or what he looked like twelve years ago.”
Kole was staring at the ceiling fan with a frown on his lips as I ate my ice cream.
The silence wasn’t uncomfortable, which surprised me.
This whole situation was far from normal.
This town. Kole’s secret job. My admittance to him that I’d killed before.
Twenty-four hours ago, was when I found his hidden room.
The dread that had smothered me in that moment was nearly gone.
With everything I learned, I was positive he wasn’t the killer.
“There’s another file you can look at,” he said, his tone reserved. “But not tonight. You need sleep before going back to the station.”
My stomach churned. “What other file?”
“You know about the factory.”
“Yes.”
“It is a box factory—at least part of it is.”
I stared at him. “And the other part?”
“A prison. With minimum security.”
I gaped at him. “What?”
“That night I followed you there, when you threw your knife at me? I know you questioned why there was security at a box factory. That’s why. I have all the files of every inmate in there.”
A chill raced down my spine. “How many?”
“Over a hundred.”
“You didn’t tell me this earlier.”
He chuckled. “Still so suspicious. If you remember, we got interrupted. You asked to see my laptop the second we walked in the door and have been holed up in your room since then.”
“Are there guards in the prison?”
“Sure. The people you see heading to the factory every day.”
My jaw dropped in shock. “There are inmates policing other inmates?”
“Yes.”
“Unbelievable,” I mumbled, shaking my head.
“When I first read about this town on Natalie’s computer, I believed this could be a start to a positive way of reform.
But learning this? I’m not sure if you’re aware, but there was an experiment in the past that proved power roles can lead to dangerous situations. ”
“They have measures in place. Cameras. Strict protocols. It’s not free like the town is. If trouble happens, those involved get kicked out of the program and locked down in maximum security.”
This was surreal. The local bartender I came to know was so much more involved than I could have imagined. I wasn’t sure how I felt about it.
“You have pictures of them?” I whispered, my heart beating faster. “The inmates in the prison?”
“I have everything,” he said softly.
I set down the bowl, reaching for the laptop. The mattress shifted under me, and a second later, Kole’s body pressed against mine when he reached over and grabbed my wrist.
“Not tonight. You need sleep before we go to the station.”
I turned to glare at him, frustration bubbling. “I’m fine.”
“My computer isn’t going anywhere, Dani. Neither are the people in the prison. It can wait one more day.” His grip stayed around my wrist as we stared at each other. “I can guarantee we won’t be sleeping tomorrow night with the message the killer left. You need at least a couple hours tonight.”
He was being logical and while I appreciated it, I wasn’t in the same state of mind. If my attacker was here, then I needed to fucking know. But if he was possibly in the prison, how would I have seen him here in town?
“You must still have questions about the town. Ask me,” he tried to convince me.
“I thought you wanted me to sleep.”
He rolled away from me, getting to his feet.
I watched him cross the room, flicking my light off.
It took a bit for my eyes to adjust to the sudden darkness as he got back into bed.
My curtains were open, but the moon was covered by clouds.
He climbed back into bed, laying down next to me, staying above the blankets again.
“Earlier when you first found the room, you told me there was no fixing this—fixing what we had.” He paused. “Is that still how you feel? Or did finding out my truth change things?”
I stared through the darkness as he waited for my answer. Clearly, it changed things since he was laying in my bed. But what could this become?
He spoke up again. “Are you worried about the secrets you’re still holding? You think I’ll see you differently?”
I forced out a small laugh. “Everyone has secrets, Kole.”
“You know all of mine.”
My stomach fluttered. “Really? Everything you’ve told me is true?”
“Every word.”
“Even the story about why you don’t do relationships?”
He sighed. “Yes. For the couple years I had my shit together once I moved, I had a girlfriend. Was it real love? I’m coming to terms that it probably wasn’t. But it was the most normalcy I ever had. I fucking craved it. Then she cheated—for months behind my back.”
An ache settled in my chest. “She hurt you. Differently than your mom, but it hit you the same. Your trust was shattered.”
“Always reading people, aren’t you?” His voice was laced with amusement. “But you’re right.”
“Apparently, I should have chosen a different career path,” I muttered, pulling the blankets over my chest. “I’m horrible at it.”
“I disagree.”
“I am in a town full of criminals, and I never picked up on it.”
“You did,” he argued. “You noticed the small things. Questioned them. No one would be able to wrap their heads around the truth because it’s not a regular part of society.”
My mind raced with all the little pestering doubts I’d had since coming here. “No one else wondered why there are no children here?”
“A couple did. But they were easily swayed. Unlike you, who went sleuthing around the factory at night.”
My stomach twisted. “There are crimes I noticed were absent when I was looking through the files.”
“Any crime with minors excludes people from the program. Along with a couple other charges.” He shifted on the mattress, getting closer to me. “You never answered my question.”
I bit my lip. “The truth fixes things. But…what are we doing here, Kole? This isn’t a normal town. I can’t stay here past my internship. I have no idea how long you have to stay here for. On top of that, we have a murderer on the loose. Nothing about this is simple.”
“I think you’re scared.”
I stared in his direction, unable to see him in the dark. “Scared of the killer? You don’t know me that well if that’s what you think.”
“I think you’re scared of me. Your feelings. You’re terrified to trust.”
This man knew me far too well. “Even if that’s true, it still doesn’t change anything.”
“How about we take it day by day?” He inched closer, his breath hitting my cheek. “Do you want me to sleep in your bed tonight?”
I squirmed under the blankets when his lips grazed my cheek. “Yes.”
“Then I will. No talk of the future. We just live for right now.”
I scoffed. “That goes against my every instinct.”
“You don’t have to be alone,” he murmured, a note of pleading entering his voice. “Not when you’re with me.”
My heart skipped when he kissed my cheek softly.
I was weak when it came to Kole. My usual anger was absent around him.
I didn’t think of my past as much. When I thought he was a possible monster, the dread had consumed me.
I wanted to be with him. And right now my want was overshadowing my instinct.
For once, I didn’t fight it.
I turned my head, letting my lips meet his. A deep groan escaped him before he deepened the kiss as he rolled on top of me. I wrapped my arms about his neck as his tongue clashed with mine.
Taking Kole’s advice, I ignored the small nagging voice. I was living for right now, even if it was just for the next few hours.