And for the first time in nearly a decade, I feel like I’m truly home.
six
. . .
Logan
I wakebefore the sun rises, and it’s already the longest day I’ve ever lived. The last thing I want to do is take Sophie to work, but she won’t be alone there. I need to protect her, but I also have a town to keep safe. The weight of that responsibility sits heavy in my chest as I get dressed.
Later, I sit at the booth in the back corner. Best sightline to the door and to Sophie behind the counter. The vinyl is sticky in the spring damp. I haven’t sat in a booth since the day Gideon brought me Sarah’s compass last month. I haven’t wanted to, plus the counter is closer to where Sophie works and I’ve grown used to watching her from there.
Sophie clocks me the second she comes out of the kitchen. Her gaze meets mine before she looks away, but her shoulders rise.
Roz brings me a coffee I didn’t order. “You’re not at the counter.”
“Nope.” I take a sip. Scalding. I reach for the glass of water.
“Eli’s been in here four times since you sat down.”
“Three,” I correct.
“Four.” She sets a plate of eggs in front of me. “On the house. Don’t argue with me about it.”
I don’t argue and dig in. I need to be rested and not hungry if I’m going to stay sharp.
Mrs. Callahan stares at me from the next booth. She’s seventy-one, and her face switches between worry and approval. Then she returns to her cinnamon roll without saying a word. The whole town seems to be watching us today.
The rental car passes by the front window heading west. I grip my fork so hard my knuckles turn white.
Sophie doesn’t flinch. Her hand stays steady on the coffee pot. But her shoulders rise another inch, maybe two. I hate that she has to hide her fear like this.
Eli comes in for another refill. He doesn’t look at me. He sits at the counter for ninety seconds. Then he returns to his store and drinks the rest of the coffee standing in his doorway where he can see Roz’s front door. The Wilde men are circling, and I don’t blame them one bit.
Two county units provide drive-bys. I force myself to work my regular morning patrol, even though it’s killing me to leave Sophie. But I can’t tip off Volkov. Patience is the only play right now.
Reeves calls to let me know the judge has a case so can’t sign the warrant until this afternoon. I nearly hurt my hand pounding on my steering wheel at the delay. But I need to be patient and not react. One wrong move could push Volkov to do something desperate.
I pass the rental car parked on Aspen at ten-thirty and Birch at noon. It’s gone by two.
Volkov hasn’t moved on Sophie. He wouldn’t do that at a public diner full of people. My guess is he’ll wait for darkness. Maybe even a stretch of road when not many are out, whichis usually the case in Lush Hollow. But I won’t give him that opportunity.
I sit outside the diner at three. Sophie comes out of the back door with her apron still on. She climbs into the cruiser without a word, takes off the apron, and folds it on her lap.
“I made you something,” she says. “Roz will bring it over later.”
“What is it?”
She looks at me sideways. “If I tell you, it’ll ruin the surprise. I promise you won’t die waiting.”
Sophie blinks once as if she realized what she said.
“No one will die of anything.” I don’t want her to stress. “Reeves will have the warrant this afternoon. The stop will be done by tomorrow morning. Then we eat breakfast like normal people.”
“I’ve never eaten breakfast like a normal person.”
“Then it’s time.”
She smiles. Almost.
