Page 80 of Abandoned

Logan came up beside him. “What’s with her?”

“I have no idea.”

“I’ll talk to her.” Logan walked ahead.

A moment later, Will got his legs to work and moved to the briefing room.

Zara wasn’t sitting in her normal spot, and there wasn’t an open seat next to her, but he sat as close as he could.

Logan leaned on the table in front of her. The intensity of her gaze said she was mad at Logan too.

Will strained to listen to what they were saying.

Logan said, “I’m sorry I reacted so strongly to your comment last night. There’s more to it.”

Zara raised her hand. “So I’ve heard. But I’m not talking about it right now.”

“Zara.”

“No, Logan. It’s time to work.”

Logan straightened.

“I can’t believe you guys just abandoned me like that.”

Will’s gut compressed like he’d been punched. That’s what this was about. Why hadn’t he run back in and said they were leaving? He’d thought she understood he might not come back. But with her history, he should have known better.

At the end of her shift, Zara turned her squad car down another road heading back to the police station. The day had gone well, nothing outrageous, just run-of-the-mill traffic stops and a few assists on medical emergencies. But it had been busy enough to keep her mind off Will for the most part. And whenever her mind did venture to him, she’d changed the radio station and redirected her thoughts.

But now she’d have to face those thoughts and possibly Will himself. She hoped to avoid him. Not that she didn’t want to see him, but she didn’t want to blow up at him either. She probably should talk it through with someone else first, but AJ was still on duty. Then again, she didn’t want to talk to AJ either because then she might have to explain what sent the guys off in the first place. But who could she talk to? Maybe she should just talk to Will and let it be. Perhaps she’d processed enough to have a reasonable conversation.

She pulled into her parking spot, and her phone rang. Her heart raced. Was it Will?

Grabbing her phone, she was surprised that Miley was calling her.

“Hello.”

“Zara, is that you?”

“Yes, I’m losing my voice.”

“Oh okay. It’s Miley. Could you come over?” Miley’s voice was tight.

“Everything okay?”

“Yeah, sure. I just would like someone to talk to.”

“All right. But I’m finishing up my shift. Can I come over in about twenty minutes?”

There was a pause and then Miley said, “Yeah, that’s fine.”

“I’ll see you then.” Zara hung up, relieved that she had a mission after work and wouldn’t have to confront the issue with Will yet.

She went inside the station.

Logan spotted her and came over.

She sighed. She didn’t want to talk to Logan either.