Page 104 of Bennett

“I can walk, sweetheart,” Annie said, but her voice wobbled just enough to make Laurel press a little firmer.

“I know, but humor me. Office couch, ten minutes off your feet.” She forced another smile. “I’ll even make you that weird peppermint tea you pretend to like.”

That got a faint huff of amusement, and Annie let herself be guided through the back door and into the diner. The bustle inside had calmed, and the afternoon lull gave them a bit of privacy as Laurel steered her toward the small office tucked near the back hallway.

By the time Annie sank onto the cushioned couch and kicked off her shoes with a mutter about “ridiculous doctor’s orders,” Laurel had already poured water into the electric kettle.

She kept busy while the kettle hummed, anything to work the adrenaline out of her limbs. But the edge in her chest didn’t ease, not until she heard the back doorbell jingle, and heavy boots cross the tile.

Bennett.

Followed by Sheriff Gabe Bryson, his expression serious as always, though his eyes softened when he spotted Annie.

“We heard what happened,” Gabe said, stepping inside the office as Laurel handed her aunt the steaming mug then sat next to her.

Annie raised her cup in mock toast. “Guess I’m more popular than I thought.”

“Or someone doesn’t like your renovation plans,” Bennett said, standing just inside the door, his arms crossed but focused entirely on Laurel.

Laurel looked between them. “Sinjin got the guy, so what’s next?”

“He’s on his way to the station in the back of my deputy’s cruiser,” Gabe said. “Name’s Rick Nolan. Does some contracting work, off and on. Might’ve passed through Brandi’s crews, but I need to confirm that.”

“I thought I recognized him,” Laurel said, brow furrowed. “He’s not one of Brandi’s regulars, but I’ve seen him around the site.”

“Which makes this more calculated than it looks,” Bennett added, his voice low. “Not just some random creep.”

Gabe nodded. “We’ll dig deeper.”

Laurel hesitated, then said, “There was another guy. He stepped in before Sinjin. Tall. Moved like he knew what he was doing. He stopped this Rick guy.”

She’d like to thank him.

Gabe and Bennett exchanged a glance. It wasn’t long, but it was weighted.

“Sinjin said someone stepped in before he arrived,” Bennett said finally. “Tall guy. Didn’t say much. Intervened then disappeared.” Bennett’s jaw ticked slightly.

“We’re going to need to talk to him,” Gabe stated. “Sinjin didn’t get a look at his face. Just that the guy knew exactly what he was doing. Military, he suspected.”

Bennett’s eyes locked on hers. “Do either of you know him?”

“He’s eaten here a few times,” Annie replied

“I don’t know his name,” she said slowly. “But I’ve seen him before. The night someone left that note in the break room. He was in the diner. Didn’t say anything then, either.”

Gabe straightened a little. “And you’re just now telling us this?”

Laurel shrugged tightly. “I wasn’t sure what I saw at first. But today, he stepped in. Got the guy to back off, then vanished.”

Bennett’s voice was calm but tight. “Did you see anything else?”

She nodded. “He has a burn-type scar. On his right hand. By the thumb and index finger. That’s how I recognized him.”

Bennett went still.

Too still.

Not the alert kind of stillness she’d seen when he was scanning a room or tracking a threat. This was different. It was quiet and internal, like something had slammed into him from behind, and he was trying not to show it.

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