I shot him a look.“I promised her I’d go.”
“That was before your place was broken into.”
“What?”Greta gasped, holding out our drinks.“Are you okay?What happened?”
“I’m fine,” I assured her.“And I’m not sure yet.We’re on our way to the station after this.But I’m sure whatever happened didn’t have anything to do with the puppies and kittens that need new homes.”I looked up at Hudson, batting my eyelashes theatrically.
“I’m more concerned with the human company,” he muttered.
“Well, then you can come with us, spend some of that hard-earned cash on a good cause, and watch my back all at the same time,” I suggested.
“Imagine I can do that.”He pressed a chaste kiss to my lips before turning back to Greta to settle our bill.
“See you then.And, girl, don’t think you’re getting out of cocktails with me and Katie.Seems we have a lot to catch up on,” she called as we made our way to the door.
“Wouldn’t dream of it,” I replied sincerely, holding up my drink in thanks as we headed out to Hudson’s truck.
Despite my best effort to cling to the levity of the morning, as we walked to the police station, a beautiful brick building in the center of town, my anxiety was getting the best of me.
“Baby,” Hudson murmured, gripping mine assuredly, no doubt picking up on my escalating nerves.
“Let’s just get this over with,” I replied as we crested the steps and entered the building.
“Why, Hudson Carter, to what do I owe the pleasure?”an older woman with graying hair and mischievous eyes called from behind the front desk.
“See you haven’t lost any of that spunk.”Hudson chuckled.“Judy, meet my girl, Lucy.Lucy, meet Judy.She’s been working here longer than I’ve been alive.”
“Watch your tongue,” she chided before turning warm eyes to me.“Nice to meet you.Glad someone came along and claimed this man before I had to go and pick up the mantle.”
I let out an involuntary snort of amusement before quickly masking it.“Glad to be of service.”
Griffin appeared from deeper in the building, greeting us with the serious expression I was becoming accustomed to.With a head tilt, he gestured for us to follow him.
After a small wave in parting to Judy, we headed through the station toward what I presumed to be Griffin’s office.
Griffin shut the door behind us and cocked his head toward the laptop on his desk before swiveling it in our direction.“Like I explained on the phone, all we have is the Ring cam footage.It’s a bit grainy, and I don’t recognize him but thought you might.”He turned his eyes to me.
I was coming to appreciate Griffin’s blunt demeanor.He was a man who got straight to the point, and in moments like these, where the unknown was making my heart pound uncomfortably in my chest, I appreciated it.
“Lay it on me,” I replied, taking a deep breath as Hudson and I both leaned in, and Griffin hit Play on the footage.
At first, all it showed was a grainy image of my house.The porch lights were on, just as I’d left them, assuming I’d return after dark.When the figure of a man appeared, my breath caught.The stark evidence that my place had been violated was a shock to my system.Wearing a hoodie and a ball cap pulled low over his brow, he approached my house with his back turned to the camera.I watched as he tampered with my locks and pushed his way inside.
I stared at the computer screen with bated breath as the door hung open for several moments before he appeared again, empty-handed, and quickly stalked down the street and off camera.
His face was obscured, but by his build, I could confirm one thing—it wasn’t Josh.
I didn’t know whether to be relieved or disappointed.Because whoever the man was, I’d never seen him before.
“You don’t recognize him,” Griffin surmised from my expression.
“No,” I muttered in frustration.“But I can confirm it isn’t Josh.This guy is much taller and leaner.Who would do this?”
“Probably someone who wants to get to me through you,” Hudson growled in fury beside me.“It’s too fucking coincidental.”
Both Griffin and I snapped our gazes to Hudson, who pushed away from the desk, his hands balled into fists at his sides.
“You don’t know that,” Griffin put in.
