Page 59 of Beautifully Broken Pieces
“Thank you,” Taylor said in a voice that barely reached Jensen.
Taking her arm, I led Taylor up the steps, then unlocked the front door to usher her inside. “Why don’t you sit on the couch, and I’ll make you a sandwich.”
“Okay. Thanks.”
I settled her on the overstuffed sofa in the living room where I could still see her from the kitchen. “You don’t have to keep thanking me.”
“Yes, I do. You came for me.” Her eyes bore into mine, a blazing fire within them.
“I’ll always come for you.” My voice came out ragged, as though ripped from my throat.
“I’m glad,” she whispered.
I forced myself to step back, to put some distance between us. “I’ll get to work on that sandwich.” Spinning around, I headed for the kitchen.
In a matter of minutes, I had a turkey sandwich, a glass of orange juice, a bottle of water, and a couple of painkillers sitting on the coffee table in front of Taylor. She looked from the food to me and back to the plate again. Then she inhaled it all with a speed I would have thought impossible. When nothing was left but crumbs, she eased herself back against the pillows.
“Feel better?” I asked.
“Much. Now, I just need a shower.”
I stood, taking her plate to head back to the kitchen. “Do you want me to sit outside the bathroom in case you feel faint?”
Taylor’s head snapped in my direction. “Um, no I don’t want you to stand outside my bathroom while I shower. That’s just creepy.”
I chuckled, but inside, I felt something loosen. Taylor was back to her old self. “All right. I swear I’ll stay out here.” My tone grew serious. “But promise me you’ll sit down in the shower if you feel lightheaded. If you do, call, and I’ll come in. I swear I won’t look.”
Taylor snickered. “Sure, you won’t. Perv.”
I shook my head. At least she was giving me shit again.
As Taylor headed for her bedroom, my cell buzzed in my pocket. I fished it out and saw Tuck’s name flashing across the screen. “What’d you find?” I answered.
“Well, your girl was definitely shot at.”
I ignored the ripple of pleasure I felt at theyour girlcomment. “Bring me up to speed.”
“At first, I tracked Taylor’s movements, which brought me to a tree that, low and behold, had a bullet in it. Looks like a .223.”
“Same caliber as the one found in the hiker.”
“One and the same.”
Letting out a litany of curses, I began to pace. “What else?”
“I tried to follow the bullet’s trajectory and was able to find the unsub’s trail. I tracked it for a few miles before I came to what I think were ATV tracks. Unfortunately, I lost that trail in the rocky shoreline of the creek. I have no idea where the shooter went.”
A muscle in my cheek ticked. “So, we have a probable bullet match but not much else.”
“That about sums it up.”
“Okay, let’s reconvene tomorrow morning at my office. Let’s say, ten? I want to bring Frank Pardue in for questioning.”
“Sounds like a plan, but good luck finding Frank. I’ve been by his place three different times. He’s never there.”
I popped my jaw. “I’ll sit an officer at his place until he returns if I have to.”
Tuck’s voice grew serious. “We’ll get this guy, Walk, I promise you.”
