My reprieve was shattered moments later when the heavy fall of footsteps sounded in the quiet space, the sound especially jarring since shoes were never worn here.
When Detective Harris rounded the corner, his gaze cold and calculating, I took a step back. There was something about the man that had put me off from our very first encounter at the hospital.
“Detective,” I greeted, my tone wary.
“Ms. Greer.” He nodded, his gaze sweeping the small space before landing squarely on me.
“What can I do for you?” I asked, returning the last of the mats I’d collected to the spot in the corner.
“Just checking in,” he answered vaguely. “I wondered if you’d thought of anything new since we last spoke.”
Travis was still looking into Roy’s claim regarding the police department. I wasn’t about to divulge any additional information, especially without Travis.
“No, but I have your card,” I reminded him, annoyed that he’d showed up unannounced at my work. At least it had been the studio and not the school. “If I have more information or think of anything, I’ll be sure to give you a call,” I replied, hoping this would be a short conversation.
He stepped closer, his jaw clenched. “You think of anything, you come to me. Got it?”
I took yet another step back, his imposing frame intimidating, which I was sure wasn’t an accident.
“What’s going on?” Theo’s deep voice rang out suddenly.
I nearly wilted in relief.
Harris’s head whipped in Theo’s direction, his gaze narrowing. “Police business, wait outside.”
Theo’s brows rose. “There’s no reason you need to talk to her in private,” he argued firmly, before his gaze swung to me. “You all right, Em?”
I crossed my arms across my chest. “Fine. I was just telling Detective Harris that I don’t have anything new for him,” I explained.
Theo looked at Harris. “Then I guess you were just leaving.” He also crossed his arms over his broad chest, his feet splayed apart in an offensive stance. Clearly, he felt the man was some form of a threat. I was glad I hadn’t conjured that feeling in my mind.
His partner, who I remembered from the hospital, appeared from outside, his gaze swinging between the three of us. “What’s going on, Harris?”
“I told you to wait in the car, Morales,” Harris gritted out in obvious frustration.
Clearly he hadn’t wanted his partner to know about our conversation, which put me even more on edge.
“I’d suggest you take your partner to go do some real police work,” Theo advised Detective Morales.
“Right,” the dark-haired man agreed. “Let’s hit it.” He nodded toward Harris.
Harris clenched his jaw in obvious frustration before turning to me. “You remember what I said,” he told me firmly before he turned on a heel and strode out of the space.
Morales offered an apologetic wave and followed suit.
“What the fuck was that?” Theo muttered, pulling out his phone and firing off a text to someone.
“I have no idea.” I shrugged, feeling slightly shaken. “It was weird.”
“Has he approached you before?”
I shook my head. “I haven’t seen him since I gave my statement at the hospital. His partner seems nice enough, but there’s something weird about Harris.”
He appeared to ponder that for a moment before nodding once. “Let’s get to Sam’s. I’ll follow you.”
I nodded. “Thanks, Theo.”
“Anytime,” he replied seriously.
