Caroline rifled through her computer bag, pulled out an ID card, and showed Greystone. It was an FBI ID with her photo and her alias, Rebecca Slater.
“Got it,” he said.
As Greystone eyed Stan, he forced down the need to hurt him, to punish him for what he would have done. Greystone didn’t believe for a second that Stan had broken in to “talk” toher. He was going to rape her, possibly murder her. Caroline was a fighter. Greystone knew she could be intense. She would have fought back, but was she strong enough to overpower him?
Another wave of rage swept through him, the thought of losing her sent a growl roaring out of him. “You’re lucky I don’t shoot you,” Greystone muttered.
Two police officers arrived, a man and a woman.
Caroline identified herself as Rebecca Slater, showed them her badge, and explained the situation.
“Is that what happened?” the female cop asked Stan.
“I just wanted to talk to her,” Stan whined. “We used to be together. I love her.”
Though Caroline’s expression was stone-faced, Greystone could tell she was seething.
“Ms. Slater, is that true?”
“We hooked up twice at Lost Souls,” Caroline said matter-of-factly. “I regretted it, told him I wasn’t interested in him.”
“I gave you a ride home,” Stan said. “I thought we were friends. You were in that fender bender, and I made sure you got home okay.”
“Do you want to press charges?” the male cop asked as the female officer took their IDs and stepped away to make a call.
“Of course she doesn’t,” Stan blurted. “This is a total misunderstanding.”
“I do,” Caroline said, “and I need a restraining order, so there’s no confusion going forward.”
“Fuck,” Stan grumbled.
The female officer stepped back over, handed them their IDs. “Mr. Bowers, you’re got a history of stalking women. There’re three restraining orders out against you. You’ve been arrested twice before. But this B&E is new.”
She cuffed him, read him his rights.
Minutes later, they were gone, the scumbag an ugly memory.
Greystone pulled her into his arms. “I got you. You okay?”
“At first, I was terrified, then so enraged I would have shot him dead.” After a few seconds, she broke away. “I haven’t hooked up with anyone since college. I hook up with one guy and he’s a predator. I’m so disappointed in myself.”
With her keys in hand, she stormed over to the front door. After opening it, she slid her key into the lock. It appeared to work okay, so she stepped into the hallway, locked and unlocked the door.
She re-entered her condo, bolted it from the inside. “The lock is working. I’m too fired up to sleep. I’m going to see if we missed anything at the apartment complex.”
As she strode past him, he said, “I have a surprise for you.”
That stopped her. She pivoted toward him.
“I’m flying today and I got you on the approved list.”
She took a step closer, then another. “Approved for what?”
“Flying with me.”
Her eyes lit up, a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. “In a jet?”
“An F-18. I gotta take her up and run through some drills. I get warmed up, then circle back for you.”
