Chapter 6
David’s feet pounded in the soft dirt along the edge of the lake.
His tender ankle ached and the sweat trickling down his arm burned his stitches.
The late start to his morning had delayed his jog.
He almost threw his running shoes back into his closet, but with his thoughts cluttered from the events of the past few days, he knew exercise would clear the cobwebs.
His rhythmic breathing held cadence while his mind swirled.
Last night when he’d stared into Jennie’s deep blue eyes, his heart betrayed him.
He’d vowed to keep his distance from any relationship until he left the law enforcement profession.
That way, when he failed to keep the woman he loved safe, he wouldn’t feel like a complete failure.
Brenda’s death weighed on him. It had been his fault. No one could tell him different.
Wrong place, wrong time. You didn’t cause it. The statement his captain had told him had haunted him for the past two years.
Of course, it was his fault. If he’d only left work to help her instead of staying at the office and finishing his report… Since that moment, he’d turned into a control freak. At least according to Brandon.
He increased his speed. The pain in his ankle screamed at him, but he deserved it.
“Detective?” A young voice drifted through the air.
He slowed to a stop and put his hands on his knees, sucking air as he glanced in the direction of the summons.
An energetic ten-year-old jumped up and sprinted toward him. He looked past Zoey and there sat the gorgeous woman he’d dreamt about all night. He smiled and waved.
He peeled his gaze from Jennie seconds before Zoey barreled into him, throwing her arms around his waist.
“Detective Whitman.” She grinned up at him.
“You can call me David if it’s okay with your momma.” He slipped his arms around her and squeezed.
“Hmm. I better go with Mr. David so Momma doesn’t get upset with me.”
“Fine by me.” He released her and mussed the top of her head.
Zoey giggled.
“So, Squirt, what are you doing out here?”
Hands on her hips, she glared at him. But the small upward curve of her lips told him she liked the nickname.
“Momma and I brought a picnic lunch and a Frisbee.” She slid her tiny hand into his.
“Sounds like an awesome plan.” He herded Zoey toward the blanket where Jennie sat.
“We just finished, but there are leftovers if you want some.” Energy bubbled from the young girl.
Oh, to be ten again. “Thanks, Zoey, that’s nice of you to offer.” His stomach would appreciate the food, but he didn’t want to intrude. “Let’s go say hi to your mom.”
Sunrays filtered through the wispy clouds and bounced off Jennie’s blonde hair, giving her a halo. The angelic vision stole his breath. He halted mid-stride.
“Mr. David? You okay?” Zoey tugged his hand.
“I’m good.” A flash of light caught his attention. He held his hand to his forehead and shielded his eyes.
His heart pounded in his chest. He bolted toward the unsuspecting woman on the blanket. “Jennie!”
She stood and stared at him.
Several small boulders tumbled down the hill from the parking lot, causing a landslide of stones. Jennie and Zoey’s picnic spot directly in the path of the rocks.
God, please don’t let me too late. “Zoey, get out of here! Jennie, run!”
Jennie sprinted toward him.
He grabbed her, threw her to the ground, and covered her with his body.
Screams filled his ears.
Pieces of debris showered over David’s back and legs. Sharp pricks and hard hits cut and bruised his skin.
When the fragments of the hillside settled, he inhaled. Pain sliced through him and a moan escaped as he rolled to the side, allowing Jennie room to breathe.
“Are you hurt?” She scrambled to her knees and leaned over him. Her warm breath feathered across his face.
He closed his eyes, willing the aches to subside. “I’m okay.” He blinked and focused on Jennie.
Blood covered her lower lip, and a red mark marred her cheek.
He pushed himself to a seated position and swiped the red liquid from her mouth with the pad of his thumb. His stomach twisted. “You’re injured.”
“Don’t worry about me. You’re the one who needs medical attention.” She sat back on her heels and shifted her gaze to Zoey who stood twenty feet away. “Honey, call 911.”
David shook his head. “I don’t need an ambulance, but we do need the police.”
“What? Why?” She stared at him.
He captured her fingers. “Those rocks didn’t fall down the embankment by themselves. Someone caused the initial slide.”
“How do you know?” She brushed a loose strand of hair from her forehead with a shaky hand.
“I saw a figure at the edge of the parking lot just as the small boulder started to roll.”
“Doesn’t mean they were pushed.”
“Maybe not, but the person ran away.”
Jennie huffed and stood. She held her arms open and Zoey dove into her embrace.
“Are you okay, Momma?”
“I’m fine, sweetie. I have a first-aid kit in my bag. Go get it for me.”
Zoey rushed over, grabbed the bag, and returned.
“Thanks, Zoe.” Jennie circled behind him. “Let’s take a look at the damage.”
“You don’t—”
“Don’t have to? Yeah, I know, but I’m a nurse and you’re hurt. It’s what I do. Besides, you protected me.” Kneeling behind him, she helped him off with his shirt and sucked in a sharp breath.
“That doesn’t sound good?” He glanced over his shoulder.
“You look as if you met up with Freddy Krueger.” Her fingers feathered his ripped skin.
He hissed. “I figured the cuts would be a nice addition to my sliced arm.”
“Not funny.” Jennie tore open a package and dabbed his wounds.
“No, it’s not. Someone’s out to hurt you.”
She continued to treat his back. “Are you sure it wasn’t just an accident?”
Had it been a mishap? The odds were against it, but still… “It’s possible, I suppose.”
“We’ll tell the officers what happened and see if they find any evidence proving your theory.” Jennie handed him his shirt. “All done. Be sure to get those cuts nice and clean when you get home. I don’t want to see you at the hospital with an infection.” She stood and held out her hand.
Zoey joined her mom with the offer to help him stand.
He placed his hands in theirs and forced himself to his feet. “Thanks, ladies.”
Zoey threw her arms around his waist. “Thank you for saving my mom.”
David rubbed the girls back.
A blue and white police cruiser parked at the top of the hill.
He squinted in the direction of the officer making his way down the steps on the far side and smiled. “Let’s go say hi to Officers Hanes.”
Jennie and Zoey walked alongside him toward his brother in blue. “Hey, Randy.”
“How’s it going, man?”
“Been better.” David wanted to talk with the officer out of earshot of Zoey, but the young girl was too perceptive and seemed wise beyond her years. He’d wondered about her maturity when he’d first met her, but he hadn’t figured out why yet. “I’d like to introduce you to Jennie and Miss Zoey.”
Hanes tipped a pretend hat. “Ladies. Want to tell me what happened?” The officer pulled a pen and pad of paper from his pocket and motioned toward a metal picnic table several yards away.
The small group trudged over and plopped down. The adrenaline had faded, and fatigue settled in.
David ran his hand through his hair and proceeded to give Officer Hanes his account of the near tragedy. Jennie and Zoey added their statement to his while Hanes took notes and appeared concerned with the information.
“I’ll take a look up top and see if the stranger left behind any evidence of foul play.” Hanes stood and shook David’s hand. “I’ll get back to you with my findings.”
“I appreciate it.” David glanced at Jennie. “Are you ready to go home or do you plan to stay?”
“I think we’ve had enough for today. We’ll head back to the house and find something to do to keep our minds off what happened.”
He hesitated. “Would you mind if I rode with you, then ran home from your house. It would make me feel better knowing you made it home.”
Jennie bit her lower lip then nodded.
He placed his hand over hers. “Thank you.” He’d tuck her safely into her cottage before he ran home, took a shower, and called his partner.
Things had hit weird status. His mind spun with the events of the last hours.
Was Jennie the target of something sinister? Or had he seen things that weren’t there and the rocks had fallen by themselves?
His gut told him to keep an eye on the pretty blonde sitting across from him. He refused to fail her and add to his guilt.