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Another terrifying notion that hadn’t occurred to her. Then again, she hadn’t expected anyone to shoot at her in her home. With her side business, she sometimes encountered people who wanted to do her harm. It was usually up close and personal. But she could handle herself in a physical altercation. This attempt to hurt her by taking cowardly potshots was something else.
“Did you happen to see the make or the model or color of the vehicle?”
Another shake of the head from Brian and her.
“Any idea who might want to kill you?” the deputy asked. “Or why?”
Brian fixed her with a stare. One that pleaded with her to do what he thought was the right thing. She tensed under the intensity of his gaze, but she wasn’t changing her mind.
She needed his cooperation. Not his judgment. “I’ve made a few enemies in town, but I can’t say with certainty who might’ve done this or why.” She glanced at Brian.
Could she count on him to keep his mouth shut?
Or would he disappoint her as so many others in her life had?
Folding his arms, he stayed silent, laser-focused on her, with disapproval he couldn’t quite hide beneath his careful lack of expression.
To her amazement, there was no breach of trust.
The deputy walked through her living room, looking around. He put on gloves, pulled out an evidence bag and tweezers. “The good news is,” he said, pulling out a shell casing embedded in the wall, “I didn’t spot anyone watching the house like they planned to try again tonight.” He dropped it in the evidence bag and plucked another from a different hole. “Still, it would best to keep your guard up.”
She nodded in full agreement. “I plan to.”
“You shouldn’t stay the night here,” Brian said.
The deputy clucked his tongue. “I have to agree. Best to sleep somewhere safer until we can figure out what’s going on. Who’s targeting you and why.”
“First of all, there’s no way I’m letting anyone run me out of my house. Besides, I’ve got nowhere else to go.” She was ashamed to admit it, but it was the truth.
“Crash at Rocco’s,” Brian said. “He won’t be back for a couple of days, and I’ve got a spare key to his place if you don’t.”
She was his cousin and didn’t have a key. But his buddy did. How embarrassing. Not that she had given Rocco one to her house.
Still, it irked her.
“Or you could stay with me,” Brian added. “I’ve got a comfy guest room.”
The offer was generous. Even sweet. Suspiciously so, considering he assumed she had a hobby of being mean. Nobody was that nice to someone who was acting downright awful. The man was too good to be true. There was something wrong with him. Other than the fact that he was a cop. She just couldn’t put her finger on it yet, but whateveritwas would come back to bite her if she wasn’t careful.
“I’ll be fine here.” She glanced over the hot mess of her living room. “Once I put some boards up on the window and clean up.”
“I can help you with that,” Brian said.
“No need. I’ll take care of it.”
Brian turned to the deputy. “Can you have forensics come out to take prints of the tire tracks out in the yard?”
“Sure, no problem.” Holden nodded. “Won’t do you much good until you have a suspect.”
Brian slid her a knowing glance. “Yeah. Hopefully, we’ll get one.”
“Well, I’ll leave you to it.” The deputy headed for the door.
“One more thing,” Brian said. “Is Sawyer Powell, the new fire marshal, any relation to you?”
“He’s my brother. Why?”
“I heard there was a fire and subsequent explosion over at the Olsen ranch and that he’s the one investigating. I plan to speak with him tomorrow.”
