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Mentally cursing himself for not taking her straight inside before getting the mail, Cole closed the distance between them on long strides. “Here’s the mail.” He handed the stack to her before taking her elbow again and guiding her up the walkway. His gaze shifted right and left. Nothing stirred. Cole wondered if he was simply imagining things. “Is that an apartment over your grandparents’ garage?”
Olivia nodded, removing her keys from her jacket pocket. “They built it years ago, and rent it out for extra money.”
“Anyone living in it now?”
“No. David was the last person to live there. He moved back to Houston a few weeks ago.”
Cole glanced over his shoulder at the darkened windows. He’d do a perimeter check. It was possible someone had broken into the apartment while Olivia’s grandparents were away.
Beside him, Olivia inhaled sharply. Cole’s attention immediately went to her and then the door. “What is it?”
“The door was unlocked.” She trembled. “And my alarm isn’t beeping like it should.”
Cole’s hand flew to his weapon. He was tempted to go inside and search the house, but his primary objective was keeping Olivia safe. Without a word, he gestured for her to move behind him. Together, as one unit, they backed away from the house toward his truck.
He needed to get her out of here.
Before the stalker made his next move.
SIX
The next morning, Olivia added a generous amount of hazelnut creamer to her coffee. She’d barely slept a wink last night. After escaping in Cole’s truck, Chief Sims responded to check Olivia’s home. Someone had broken in, but nothing was touched. Her safety compromised, she’d stayed at her grandparents' house in the guest bedroom last night.
Exhaustion and stress threatened to pull her back to bed, but hiding under the covers wasn’t an option. Instead, she’d use coffee and sugar to get through the day. She stood on her tiptoes to reach the extra plates at the top of her grandmother’s cabinet. Warmth at her back alerted her to Cole’s presence one second before a set of powerful hands took the plates away from her. “Let me help with those.”
She met his dark-eyed gaze and her heart skipped a beat. Cole hadn’t left her side since the attack in the park. Last night, he’d stayed in the apartment over the garage and kept watch on the property. Something Olivia was grateful for. The break-in at her house had left her shaken and feeling vulnerable. Knowing he was nearby kept the worst of her fears at bay.
Today, he was dressed in a freshly pressed light-blue shirt and khakis. His firm jaw was clean-shaven. According to Cole, rangers were often called out to crime scenes unexpectedly. He kept an emergency bag with clothes and other toiletries in his vehicle.
Cole carried the plates to the table. Olivia picked up her mug again and took a long sip of coffee, willing the caffeine into her system.
“Based on my experience, the intruder used a wireless jammer to disarm Olivia’s security system.” Eli scowled, his dark brows drawing down over his eyes. “Unfortunately, they’re surprisingly easy to purchase online.”
Sienna Evans was nestled in the breakfast nook next to her fiancé. Her hair was a tangle of curls, and she was dressed comfortably in jeans and a soft sweater that highlighted the pink color in her cheeks. Concern and sympathy warmed her expression as Olivia claimed a seat at the table. The private investigator was no stranger to having her life threatened. Last year, she’d nearly been killed.
Olivia selected a bear claw from the box of pastries in the center of the table. “It doesn’t make sense. Why break in to my house at all? He didn’t steal anything. Didn’t leave a note.”
Cole and Eli shared a look.
Olivia wiped icing off her fingers, her stomach sinking. “What?”
Sienna was the one who answered, her tone gentle. “He was probably lying in wait for you, Liv.”
Her words were like an icy bucket of sludge. Olivia gripped the paper napkin hard enough to turn her knuckles white. She didn’t want to believe her friend, but it was a logical conclusion. If sleep hadn’t robbed her of brain cells, she might’ve figured it out on her own. Her gaze swung to Cole. “He was there when we arrived?”
“That’s my suspicion.” Cole had selected a blueberry muffin from the box, but it sat untouched on his plate. “He must’ve booked it after we left, because when Chief Sims arrived to sweep the house, it was empty.”
“There’s another possibility.” Eli gestured for the orange juice, and Sienna passed it to him. “The stalker may have simply broken into the house to scare Olivia. To demonstrate that her security system was ineffective. I’m sure when Cole arrived in the park and Olivia escaped, he was angry. Breaking into the house reasserts his control.”
Olivia didn’t know which option was worse. Did it even matter? Whoever was after her had invaded her privacy and threatened her life. Fear tangled with anger. “I need to get a better security system. One that can’t be bypassed with a wireless jammer.”
“I know a company that can help with that.” Sienna broke off a piece of her scone. “We can install one in your grandparents' home too. In the meantime, we need to ensure your safety.”
“How?”
“You could go away for a while,” Cole suggested. “Your grandparents are in Florida on vacation. Join them.”
She’d tossed and turned all night, considering her options. None of them were good, but leaving was too costly. “I can’t do that. I have commitments. A business to run.”
