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She didn’t know where Sonia was, but at the thought of him near her… Loren bit down on her already tender lip.
You don’t know him,a part of her argued.He’s a police officer, and he doesn’t even know you!
None of the excuses could penetrate that stubborn inner voice insisting the opposite. He belongedthere. The only reason hewasn’twas because ofher.
The thought followed her into a dreamless sleep, where a barrage of nightmares awaited. She was running. Running, racing, falling. No matter where she went, she couldn’t find peace. Safety. Monsters lurked on every corner, and she just wasn’t fast enough...
“Loren.”
She jolted awake, heart in her throat, as the remnants of the dream washed over her like ice water. Gradually, the darkness faded, and she was shaking beneath the covers.
Safe,a part of her insisted firmly. Then a familiar scent flooded her lungs, calming her racing heartbeat.
“Get dressed.”
She whirled to find someone watching her from the doorway. McGoven, fully dressed in his navy windbreaker and black slacks. His eyes were sharp, betraying none of the exhaustion she felt after waiting up for him.
Safe,that voice insisted again. As long as he was there, nothing in the world could touch her.
“Sonia made breakfast, but I’ll—” He turned away, and the rest of his words were grumbled, barely audible. “I’ll be out in the truck. Come join me when you’re done.”
Breakfast?Sure enough, it was morning already. Bright light spilled in through the curtains shielding the window, illuminating the plain surroundings. Already she could tell it would be another rainy, overcast day.
At least now she didn’t have to face itnaked.Per Sonia’s suggestion, she had gone to bed wearing her oversized T-shirt. At least until “Bill” could find her something else.
Rather than new clothing, someone had placed her duffle at the foot of the bed. After a quick appraisal of the contents, she chose her muddy sweater and jeans and headed for the bathroom with her toothbrush in tow. The one upstairs was larger than the one below. In it, she dressed quickly, and stumbled downstairs minutes later.
“Morning,” Sonia called tiredly from the kitchen. Compared with yesterday, she looked less chirpy and more…exhausted. Had she waited for McGoven all night, too? Without saying as much, she yawned and gestured toward a steaming plate of bacon and eggs sitting on the center island.
“I made breakfast. Eat, and take your time. I’ll make sure he waits.”
Aware of McGoven’s warning, Loren snatched a piece of toast from the spread and gobbled it greedily. Then, she rushed out the front door before Sonia could call her back. Her heart pounded as she raced down the porch steps and bounded the length of the driveway.
That green pickup idled near the road leading from the farm. When she finally clambered inside, Officer McGoven inspected her, an eyebrow raised.
“You could have eaten breakfast,” he said. “I would have waited.”
Loren shook her head. “I’m okay.”
She was starving. Despite eating some of Sonia’s cookies last night and a dinner of spaghetti, she could have easily devoured that plate of eggs and then some. Part of it was just greed. She wasn’t used to having so much food on demand. Though, the thought of him waiting on her wasworsethan hunger.
Officer McGoven shrugged and drove into town without any comment. Gazing from the window, Loren tried to smother her curiosity. Soon, the anxiety turned into downright panic the closer they came to the heart of New Walsh.
This was it. He was taking her to the police station. There, she would be questioned about her father’s so-called murder, and everything would start to unravel. There was no way around it. Things didn’t add up with the whole “murder/robbery” story—who knew what the police officers thought?
She was on edge, nearly rising from the seat the moment the car came to a stop—to bolt or just run inside the station herself? She had no idea. Fearfully, she faced the window, only to discover the elegant façade of New Walsh Academy, not the station.
It was that twilight hour right before the doors opened. The calm before the storm. Loren had no idea what he could possibly expect to do here so early. She didn’t even have her backpack.
But, obviously, explaining wasn’t his strong suit.
“Come on,” Officer McGoven commanded as he exited the truck first.
Loren moved to follow him only to realize, the moment her bare foot hit the pavement, that she was completely barefoot. When she didn’t appear beside him, he turned to see why, eyes darting directly to her filthy feet.
“You forgot your damn shoes,” he began in a hiss.
Loren shook her head. “No, I…”
