AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He hauled Olivia to her feet, but she was shaking too hard to stand. Cole swept his arm under her legs in one smooth move. He didn’t turn his back on the woods, but hurried toward the parking lot and the safety of his vehicle.
Olivia clung to him like a burr. Her trembling increased, and with a sudden jolt, Cole realized she was sobbing. He quickened his steps, his heart breaking for her. “I’ve got you. You’re safe now.”
“No.” she whispered through her tears. “I’m not.”
THREE
The Serenity Police Department was a tiny clapboard building across the street from a coffee shop. The tile flooring was chipped, and the walls were painted an industrial gray, but every surface gleamed with cleanliness. A lone officer manned the front desk. Five cubicles served as workstations for officers when they weren’t on patrol. An interview room, a kitchen, and the police chief’s office completed the first floor. The second was used for storage.
Cole nursed a surprisingly decent cup of coffee and waited for Olivia’s interview to be over. Per regulation, they’d given their statements separately. Police Chief Maxwell Sims promised a full update once he had all the information. The two patrol officers on duty were currently searching for the suspect, along with deputies from the county sheriff’s office, but there wasn’t much to go on. Neither Cole nor Olivia had gotten a good look at the culprit.
The bells over the front door jingled. Texas Ranger Elijah “Eli” Goodwin strolled in. He wore the standard uniform—a white button-down shirt and khakis—but had forgone the usual cowboy hat. His neatly cropped hair was still damp from a recent shower, and he hadn’t bothered to shave. Cole’s phone call had likely roused him from sleep. They’d been working a high-profile double homicide for the last several days. The case was over now, but it’d meant late nights and early mornings. Shut-eye had been a luxury.
“Aren’t you supposed to be on vacation?” Eli demanded in lieu of a greeting as he approached.
Cole flashed him a grin. “Not till tomorrow.” He was heading to Corpus Christi to visit his grandmother, who he hadn’t seen since before Christmas. Two weeks of home cooking, decent sleep, and a list of handyman repairs awaited him. “In twelve hours, I’ll be out of your hair.”
Eli rolled his eyes. “I doubt that.” The teasing was good-natured and common among their tight-knit group. Eli and Cole were close and often assisted with each other’s cases. Eli’s expression turned grim. “What happened?”
“Olivia was attacked by an unknown assailant.” Cole ran through the little he knew. Since Eli was the Texas Ranger for this area, he would take the lead on any investigation they were involved in. “She said something on the phone about a stalker. Do you know anything about that?”
Shock lifted Eli’s brows. “No.”
“What about Sienna? Olivia could’ve confided in her.”
Sienna Evans was Eli’s fiancée. They were getting married in two weeks, and Olivia was their wedding planner. Cole knew the women were close, and as a private investigator, Sienna would be a good person to ask for help.
Eli shook his head. “Sienna noticed Olivia was stressed, but when she asked her about it, Olivia insisted everything was fine. We figured she simply had a lot on her plate. Olivia’s assistant quit three weeks ago, and she hasn’t found a replacement, plus she’s caring for aging grandparents. That would be a lot for anyone to handle.” He huffed out a breath, worry creasing his features. It was clear Eli cared deeply about Olivia. “A stalker? Why didn’t she say anything to me?”
“Good question.”
The door to the interview room opened. Police Chief Maxwell Sims filled the doorway. Nearly sixty, he had the short, stocky build of an NFL punt returner. His black hair was nearly gray. It contrasted with his septic-colored skin and black eyes. Faint lines creased the skin on his forehead and a scar dragged the left side of his mouth down. Cole had never worked with the chief, but he’d heard good things from Eli.
The chief greeted Eli with a handshake before turning his attention to Cole. “I’m done taking Olivia’s statement. If you don’t mind, I’d like to speak to you two in private. Let’s go into my office. It’ll be more comfortable there.”
Cole nodded, his gaze immediately latching on to Olivia as she exited the interview room. Her hair was mussed, caramel-colored strands released from the twist at the back of her neck during the fight with the attacker. She’d also lost her high heels during the struggle. Someone—probably the grandmotherly receptionist manning the front desk—had provided her with a set of flats. A cut marred the creamy skin along the column of her throat and tear tracks streaked her cheeks.
His chest squeezed tight. Without thinking, he closed the distance between them. “Are you okay?”
Her chin trembled, but she straightened her shoulders and nodded. “I’m okay.” Liquid warmth filled her sky-blue eyes as she met Cole’s gaze. “Thanks to you.”
She surprised him by stepping forward and wrapping her arms around his waist for a hug. Cole stiffened for a heartbeat, unaccustomed to such easy affection from someone other than his grandmother. Then he embraced her back. The scent of her perfume—something floral and intoxicating—teased his senses. Without the high heels, Olivia only came up to his shoulder. Her frame fit perfectly against his, causing a jumble of conflicting emotions to war within him. Gratitude that she was safe joined forces with a desire to protect her. And overlaid on top were blaring alarm bells. An internal warning system to keep Olivia at arm's length for his own self-preservation.
He released her and backed away. “Can I call someone for you? A family member?”
“No.” She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “My grandparents are visiting friends in Florida until tomorrow. Chief Sims offered to give me a ride home since my vehicle…”
Was part of a crime scene. Cole didn’t like thinking about the ways tonight might’ve gone if Olivia hadn’t accidentally called him. He rocked back on his heels. “I should go speak to the chief then, so he can escort you home. Be back in a few minutes.”
“Of course.”
Cole turned and went into the glass-walled office. Chief Sims was already stationed behind his desk. Eli folded his lean frame into one of the visitor’s chairs. Cole elected to stand.
“What do we know so far?” he asked the chief.
“The suspect is still at large.” His tight body posture and furrowed brow indicated Chief Sims was very unhappy about that fact. “Unfortunately, there’s not much evidence to go on. The perpetrator wore gloves, so there weren’t any fingerprints. No witnesses, other than you and Olivia, but unfortunately, neither of you got a good look at the suspect. Whoever he is, he has a basic understanding of cars though. Olivia’s SUV was disabled. The perpetrator removed the spark plugs.”
Cole whistled. A simple and effective way to ensure Olivia wouldn’t be able to escape even if she reached her car. “This was planned.”
