Page 68 of Still Afraid

“Anything?” Josh asked, probably a little too eagerly.

“Nope. Call about another case. What are those two about?”

Josh told Buck about the donation drive. “That’s great. Please let me know what you and Chloe need directly. I want what I’d give to go right to y’all.”

“Thanks, man.”

A car drove up where Buck and Martinez had been parked earlier.

Josh’s pulse spiked. But it wasn’t Chloe.

“Hey”—Buck smacked his back—“let’s go sort through debris before you drive yourself batty.”

“Fair.” He strode toward what was once Chloe’s front door. If any of her gear could be salvaged it would save them a fair amount of money. Insurance would help them recoup some from the house and car. And he couldn’t even begin to count how grateful he was that it hit after they’d moved all her books and her Owen box. If only he would have left her pack at his house too.

With work gloves on, he started moving lumber, strips of siding, and pieces of insulation in an effort to find anything of value. He was deep into it when he heard a dog bark. Poirot.

Josh dropped what was in his hands and turned. Chloe and Poirot were headed down the hill toward him.

Abandoning what he was doing, he bolted for her. He ripped his gloves off and swept her into his arms.

She laughed. “I take it you were worried about me. I was worried about me too for a little bit there.”

He held her out from him. “What do you mean?”

“When Martinez came up behind me, I thought he was up to no good. Didn’t realize it was him.”

“What took so long?”

“We stopped and helped a lady around the corner with a tree that had gotten knocked over in the storm.”

Josh tugged Chloe close again. “Maybe I’m being a little clingy, but could we just not be separated for a little bit now?”

She chuckled. “I have no problem with that, but what has you so spooked?”

His heart settled back into his stomach. He told her about the texts and the nefarious: “Deal with it or I’ll deal with her.”

A shudder coursed through her body, and Josh held her tighter. “I’ll protect you.”

She leaned her head on his shoulder and relaxed. “I know.”

Chloe sat back on her heels and wiped the sweat from her brow. The midday heat made her question her decision to wear pants. Still they protected her from the debris that once was her house.

Gabe and Aliza, along with some of her team from the FBI, had shown up to help. Jesse had promised to come too as soon as he could get away from work. No word from Aaron, but she wasn’t surprised. She’d left a message telling him briefly what happened and that she was safe.

She took a swig of water and got back to the job at hand. Josh was only a few feet away, and together they had carried large pieces to a pile in the front yard. Cleanup of the area was going to take forever it seemed. They’d been working for hours with not much to show for it.

She eyed the pile out front. It was decent, but they had yet to find the living room floor of her tiny home.

Her lungs grew tight, but she was probably breathing in all sorts of unhealthy dust. Add the oppressive heat and it felt like breathing would have to be optional.

Then her mind started to swim. Her heart raced.

No. Not a panic attack. Nothing had triggered it.

She sank to the ground, trying to calm herself. Stop freaking out. The sun is shining down on your skin. Feel it?

She couldn’t talk herself out of it. Her entire body shook, and she had zero control. Looming, menacing emotions bombarded her spirit.