Page 57 of Echoes of You

Her eyes narrowed. “Who are you, and what have you done with my pushy, overbearing best friend?”

I huffed. “I’m not overbearing.”

“Suuuuuure.”

“I’m very chill.”

“Unless someone tries to steal your donuts.”

I pinned Maddie with my gaze. “Did Wren text you?”

She pressed her lips together to keep from laughing, but it didn’t work. “You threatened to put ex-lax in people’s coffee if they stole one?”

“Yeah, and Wren’s my first victim. She took mylastdonut.”

Maddie shook her head and closed the distance between us, wrapping her arms around my waist. “Thanks for not pushing.”

I rested my chin on the top of her head. “It’s not easy for me. I want to do everything I can to keep you safe.”

“I get that. But I know Adam better than you do. This is the best way.”

“Okay. But I’d like to take your phone into the station and at least get these text messages on record. I can get a new number set up for you if you give me your account password. I’ll pull your cloud history, too.” I didn’t want the douchebag having any way to contact her.

“Sure.” Maddie tipped her head back so she could look at me. “Did we just compromise?”

I grinned at her. “I guess miracles do happen.”

* * *

I knockedon the open door to Lawson’s office. He motioned me in with one hand while holding the phone receiver to his ear with the other. “Sounds good. I’ll be in touch.”

I closed the door as Lawson hung up. He eyed the door behind me. “I take it this isn’t a social visit.”

I dropped Maddie’s phone onto his desk and lowered myself into one of the chairs. “Maddie’s been getting a bunch of anonymous text messages. Sounds like her ex.”

Lawson’s jaw tightened. “She know you have her phone?”

I glared at my brother. “Yes. She gave me permission to file the messages into evidence and change her number.”

Lawson leaned back in his chair as he picked up the cell. “Look at you, making healthy emotional progress and not trying to steamroll her.”

“Shut up and read the messages.”

Lawson scanned the screen. With each moment that passed, his knuckles got whiter. “This doesn’t look good.”

“No, it doesn’t.” I’d read every message twice this morning. Each one made my blood boil.

“He’s a manipulator, a narcissist, and it looks like he’s got a healthy dose of obsession going on.”

“It’s also escalating. I went back through Maddie’s call and message logs. He started out with just a few in the days after she left, but the longer she went without responding, the more he sent.”

Lawson nodded. “You think he’ll show up here?”

“I honestly don’t know. Maddie says he’s pretty wrapped up in his job, but I can also tell she’s genuinely scared of him.”

Lawson set the phone back on his desk. “He could stay put and bluster, or he could escalate further.”

My gut twisted, but I did my best to fight off the panic. “She still doesn’t want to file an order of protection. She did sign the one against her father, though.”

---