AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Not surprising. He was wearing gloves.”
He nodded. “None of your neighbors saw anything. Some of them have cameras pointed toward the street, but there wasn’t anything suspicious on them, which leads us to believe the perpetrator snuck in through the woods adjacent to your backyard. From what we can tell, he used an illegal jammer to mess with your security system. They’re shockingly easy to buy on the dark web.”
“So we’re likely dealing with someone who’s broken into houses before. This isn’t an amateur or a newbie.” Worry creased her brow. “That’s frightening.”
It was. “Claire is comparing the attacker’s note to the other death threats you’ve received in the last few months.”
“Good. I don’t want to assume Thomas is behind this when it could be someone else. The case has been in the news for months. Nothing the intruder said in the letter shows an intimate knowledge of Julie’s murder. We could be dealing with some kind of copycat looking to get my attention.”
Ryker understood where Hannah was coming from, but he wasn’t buying it. Thomas had the most to gain from last night’s attack and was already using the note to his advantage. He had to be behind this. Still, as a member of law enforcement, Ryker vowed to follow the evidence. They needed to track down every lead.
“What about the DNA?” Hannah asked.
“The lab is rushing it, but they’ll need a few days.” He met her gaze. “We’re going to find this guy, Hannah. I promise you. Until then, you and I will stick together 24/7 until the perpetrator is caught.”
Her brows arched. “24/7? Is that necessary? I know you have a life. Claire can set up extra patrols—”
“No.” Ryker’s tone brooked no argument. “Nothing is more important than keeping you and Charlotte safe.”
Her eyes widened with the force of his words and Ryker sucked in a breath to temper his tone. He didn’t want to think or acknowledge how much emotion had been buried in that statement. He’d kept his feelings for Hannah under lock and key for a long time. It needed to stay that way.
He scraped the last of the baby food from the jar. “Of course, the level of protection is entirely up to you. If you don’t want me involved, then that’s your choice. But I hope you decide otherwise.”
She studied him with that intense gaze of hers. Searching his expression as if trying to make sense of him. Ryker forced himself to maintain a casual posture while feeding the last bite to Charlotte. Maybe he was overreacting, and the threat was over. He prayed that was the case. But deep down, Ryker didn’t believe it.
He feared things were just beginning.
FIVE
It took coordination and several deputies, along with Ryker, to sneak Hannah and Charlotte into the Fulton County Courthouse. She breathed a sigh of relief as the elevator doors opened on the second floor. Cubicles for support staff made up the center of the room while offices lined the outer wall.
Pam was waiting for them. Hannah’s paralegal was loyal, whip-smart, and talented. Her tightly curled gray hair and crystal glasses gave her a grandmotherly appearance that was deceptively soft. Pam could be your best friend, but if you crossed her or someone she cared about, there was serious trouble.
She hustled them into Hannah’s office and shut the door. “The hearing is set for ten this morning. I’ve filed the response with the clerk, so everything is ready to go.” Pam extended her hands for Charlotte. “Come to me, sweetie. We’re gonna spend a little time together while your auntie fights the bad guys.”
Charlotte went willingly to Pam. She smiled and reached for the dangly earring hanging from the older woman’s earlobes. Pam deftly removed the jewelry before tucking it into her pocket. “Silly me. I should’ve taken those off before you arrived.” She tickled the little girl. Charlotte released a peel of laughter, which brought a smile to Hannah’s face.
Ryker set the diaper bag down on a visitor’s chair. “That thing weighs a ton. How much can one baby need?”
Hannah chuckled. “You’d be surprised.” She turned back to Pam. “You’ve got diapers and formula and toys. She’s teething, so I put a couple of frozen rings in the cooler along with a few ready-made bottles.”
Pam waved a hand dismissively. “We’ll be fine.”
A knock came on the office door. Hannah spotted her boss, Bruce, through the glass cutout in the wood. She waved for him to enter.
Bruce swung the door wide. His suit was designer and tailored to fit his lean frame. Thinning gray hair was brushed away from his face and glasses gave him a distinctive air. He was smart, politically malleable, and expedient.
Behind him was Kristin Carmichael. A fellow assistant district attorney, she’d quickly climbed the ranks by proving herself valuable, but she lacked the courtroom experience and dedication to details that would turn her from a good lawyer into a great one. Hannah had been mentoring her for a while. With little success. Kristin often insisted on doing things her own way.
Bruce shut the door behind him and his gaze swept the room. Hannah introduced Ryker. Her boss acknowledged him with a polite nod, but Kristin flashed him a man-eating smile before extending her hand for him to shake. To Ryker’s credit, he kept their interaction professional and brief.
“May I have a word with you, ADA Lawson?” Bruce tilted his head toward the far side of the room.
Hannah nodded and led the way. The angle provided some privacy from the rest of the people in the office, and by keeping their voices low, the conversation would remain private.
“Sorry to interrupt before the hearing,” Bruce said. “But I got your email regarding the latest developments in the case. I’m troubled by the allegation that Thomas is behind this. In order to keep things on track, I’m assigning Kristin as second chair. She can assist with witness prep and take over questioning in court if need be.”
Shock vibrated through Hannah. Bruce had never assigned another lawyer to one of her cases before without asking first. “If you’re worried about my abilities, sir, I can assure you last night’s attack—”
