Page 84 of The Fire Walker
“And you didn’t think to let me in onit?”
Her hand rubbed circles on my back. “Why do you think I came here to findher?”
“It’s strange how we know what’s best for each other and never forourselves.”
She smiled and kissed me on thecheek.
“Thankyou.”
“You’rewelcome.”
We sat in silence, waiting for news that Jessie was okay and awake, as people milled around us. There was a TV in the far corner playing CNN on mute, and magazines littered a table in the corner. Distractions for those who waited for word, good orbad.
“DylanCosgrove?”
We looked up at the sound of my name. At least, it sounded like it through a broad Brooklyn accent. A man in a sharp suit stood at the opposite end of the waiting room, and I gathered he was a cop of some sort. Extracting myself from Zoe’s grasp, I walked over, dreading what he was going to say. I hope they found the fucker and didn’t just want mystatement.
“Detective Hughes,” the man said, flashing his badge and shaking my hand. Since when did detectives devote themselves to hit and runs? “The doctors tell me you’re Miss Ware’sboyfriend?”
“Yes, that’sright.”
“How long have you been in arelationship?”
“We met in LA, about two weeks ago now. She came to meet me in Denver about five days ago.” Two weeks? It seemed like eonsago.
“Were you aware of her history with one NathanialBarnes?”
“Who?” My brow furrowed in concern. Did Jessie know who did this to her? My heart began to thud painfully against the walls of my chest. “I don’t know anyone by thatname.”
The detective nodded, glancing over my shoulder to where Zoe was sitting. “There had been signs that the perpetrator had been watching Miss Ware for some time. It’s entirely possible she didn’t knowherself.”
“What do you mean?” I asked, the blood draining from myface.
“A cab driver reported the accident with the license plate details of the car that struck your girlfriend, which led us to substantial evidence to support a stalking allegation. Phone records, security camera footage from her workplaces. So if you know anything, we would appreciate yourcooperation.”
“I don’t know anything,” I said, trying to figure it out. “She never mentioned anything to me.” There had been nothing to indicate any of this had been going on. How would I know anyway? I’d been here barely twodays.
“That’s fine. Just think about it, and let me know if you rememberanything.”
“Have you arrested him?” I asked thinly, imagining what I would do to the guy when I got my hands on him. That motherfucker had beenstalkingher.
“He’s in custody. Until we can speak with Miss Ware, he will remain so. He violated the restraining order that was out against him by Miss Ware, so he’s ineligible forbail.”
Restraining order? Shaking my head, I said, “Good.” I hoped she pressed charges. Every single one shecould.
The detective handed me a card. “If you need anything, give me a call. I’ll be back to see Miss Ware once she’s ready to see us.” My fingers circled around the piece of paper. “The sooner, the better,” he stressed before walking away down thehall.
Jessie was being stalked. Her stalker had tried to kill her. Things weren’t making sense. Thinking back over the things she’d told me, I couldn’t work it out. There had been offhanded comments about her less than perfect past but nothing to suggest she was being harassed. The more I thought about it, the more her life didn’t quite add up. Her apartment, the fact she could work as much as she had at Galaxy for nothing. The way she’d left me back in LA made me think it had something to do with this Nathanial guy. Zoe had said she wasscared.
Before I totally flew off the deep end, I had to let her explain. After all the shit we’d been through, I owed her that. There had to be a rational explanation for this. Some psycho had tried to kill her for fuck’ssake.
“Did I just hear what I think I did?” Zoe asked, her eyes wide as I slumped into the seat next toher.
I nodded, unable to formulate a coherentanswer.
“Shit.” Shehissed.
“Big fucking piles of it.” I sighed, rubbing myeyes.
