“I really didn’t. It was dark and the blood…” I gesture to my face. “I’m sorry.”
The officer sighs. Sutton fixes him with an irritated glare.
“Do you have anyone who might want to bother you? Anything that might point to this not being random?”
I swallow the lump in my throat.
I don’t know what to say. The likelihood of this being connected to that podcaster doesn’t seem possible, but if there’s even the slightest chance, I need to tell him. It’s the only thing we have to go on.
Even if the potential consequences scare the hell out of me.
While this started as a convenient nanny job to earn some money while I settled into this town, it’s become so much more. Nellie is such a bright spot in my day, and even Sutton… Sutton and I are still figuring out how to get along, but he’s warming up to my quirks. Being here has become more than just a job.
Feelings aside, at the end of the day, Sutton deserves to know if there’s a threat lurking around, and if I’m the reason it’s here.
Sutton tilts his head and softly asks, “What aren’t you telling me, Alice?”
I grip the center of the sweatshirt in my fist. “I’ve been receiving threats.”
“What kind of threats?” the officer pulls a notepad from his chest pocket.
“Continuous unlisted phone calls. A few text messages. I was stalked back in Arizona before I moved here. He sent me a box of pictures.”
“Pictures of what?”
I lick my lips. “Of myself. Outside my townhome.”
“From who?” The grit in Sutton’s voice sends my hair on end.
I startle. “His name is Jake Lanighan. He runs theTrue Crime Liespodcast.”
The officer jots down the new information. “Why is he contacting you?”
Shame swallows me whole. “He’s been trying to get me to speak about my brother’s case.”
“I’m going to need a copy of the phone numbers he’s used for the calls and text messages. When was the last time you saw him?”
“It would have been in Arizona.”
“Have you seen him since you moved?” Sutton asks sharply.
“No. I would have told you.” That’s the truth. The only reason I hadn’t yet was that the phone calls seemed more of a nuisance than an actual threat. The guy wanted me to speak on his podcast. I didn’t think he wanted me hurt. Even the damage tonight could be chalked up to an unpleasant accident.
He nods once.
“I’ll leave you two be. If you think of anything else, Alice, give me a call.”
“Okay.”
“I’ll walk you out,” Sutton says to his colleague.
I give them time to talk, but as soon as I hear the door shut, I climb the stairs.
“Let’s get your head fixed up.” Sutton moves around the kitchen, throwing his wallet and cell into his pockets. He stops in the foyer with a jacket pulled halfway over his arms.
“Are you mad at me?” I hate the way my voice comes out small. And I really hate how I wish I could go back to the way he held me in his arms.
Sutton puts his hands on his hips, seeming to struggle. With his eyes, he traces the square of gauze over my eyebrow. “I’m something, but I’m not mad. Not at you.”
