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She wrinkled her nose as if embarrassed. “Sorry. This town is just so cute. Like straight out of a storybook. I didn’t know places like this actually existed.”
Curiosity wedged in his throat. Learning about her personal life might or might not relate to his case, but he had to know for sure before diving into the deep end. He couldn’t use his position of authority to pry for his own benefit. “Have you spent any time in downtown Water’s Edge?”
Shaking her head, her smile vanished. “Bill liked Nora and me to stay in the house.”
“You’d like it. Main Street runs along the river. Lots of local shops and cafes. Seating along the water with great views. A little different than Pine Valley but just as nice.”
“Sounds lovely.”
More baby babbling sounded from the backseat. He grinned and headed away from town until the three-story Victorian house-turned-shelter appeared. He pulled his cruiser into the driveway and shut off the engine.
“Is this the shelter?” Marie asked, jaw slack.
“Yep. It was a food pantry for years. Mrs. Collins ran it and worked with Laura Metcalf, the woman I’ll be introducing you to, to transform it into a shelter.”
Marie peered through the window. “Sounds like quite the undertaking. Why did this Laura woman want to create a shelter?”
“That’s not my story to tell,” he said then pocketed his keys. “If you grab Nora, I’ll get the bags you packed.”
She blew out a shaky breath and stepped out of the car.
He couldn’t react to her nerves. Couldn’t suggest an alternate place for her to stay or even keep her with him. He had a job to do, and being around Marie and her quiet beauty would take his focus off the case.
Not to mention it could put her in harm’s way.
Heading to the trunk, he hooked the diaper bag and duffle over his shoulder then waited for Marie to detach the car seat from the base hooked in his backseat.
“Hey, y’all. Welcome.” Laura stood on the porch and waved. Her long blond hair was tied in a messy knot at the top of her head. She kept her smile in place as she walked down the steps of the wide porch and stopped in front of Marie. “You must be Marie, and who is this beautiful little princess?”
“This is Nora.”
“Two? Three months?”
“Two,” Marie said.
“Girl, we’ve got a lot to talk about. My little one is nine months old. She’s the light of my life and such a little stinker. No one understands motherhood like another mother. But let’s get you two up to your room first.”
Laura led the way into the house, waiting for them all to get inside the large foyer before speaking again. “I have a room set up for you on the second floor. Owen, you can leave the bags here. I’ll help Marie take them upstairs.”
Owen set the bags on the floor then faced Marie. She was in good hands, but the uncertainty in her eyes twisted his gut. “I’ll be in touch, okay?”
She nodded.
He rubbed the back of his neck, searching for anything else to say to postpone his departure. “Is there anything else I can do for you before I leave?”
Laura scooped up the discarded bags. “I’ve got them, Owen.”
He gave the baby snuggled in her seat one more long glance before locking eyes with Marie. The bruise circling her eye made his blood boil and reminded him he had a job to do.
He needed to find the bastard who’d hit her—and possibly murdered another woman—then Marie could really get on with her life.
Far away from him.
4
The mattress dipped under Marie’s weight as she settled on the pretty bed in her temporary room. Gratitude and fear battled against each other, setting her nerves on edge. She’d never lived in such a beautiful space before. With the four-poster bed and cream eyelet comforter. A fuzzy rug covered the wooden floors, and a tall dresser was tucked in the corner. There was even a rocking chair where she could feed Nora once she woke.
And the air conditioning.
