Page 21 of Mine to Hold
Rumor took her mug of coffee and stepped out onto the pool deck. The sun had yet to appear. It wasn’t even five in the morning yet and she had to be to work by six. The nice thing about living this close to town was she could walk to work if she wanted to and since she’d gotten up so early, that’s exactly what she planned on doing.
Right after she enjoyed a cup of Joe on the dock while watching a few of the boats cruising by as they headed out into the ocean.
God, this was the life.
One she didn’t dare get used to.
She’d slept like a fucking baby in that damn Murphy bed. It was the most comfortable mattress she’d ever slept on. The temperature of the room had been perfect. She felt like fucking Goldilocks. Everything was just right.
Safe didn’t begin to describe the sensation she’d felt when she’d closed her eyes.
She had no reason to fear Emmerson. Only his badge.
Which made this entire situation insane.
As she made her way toward the dock on a path lit up by cute little lights that were just bright enough to make it easy on her eyes, she thought about all the places she’d lived before.
The first few had been god-awful. She’d been so afraid to pull out any of those bills, but she was even more terrified to use her credit card. Those first few months she moved what seemed like every month, taking whatever nasty cleaning job she could find along the way.
Almost all the rentals she’d ever called home the first five years were in neighborhoods much like where the murder had occurred last night. She always tried to find safe places, but when you lived paycheck to paycheck and your skill set was limited, finding decent housing when you wanted to live alone became difficult.
But as she scrimped and saved and put some of her own money away, making it easier to stop dipping into the bag of cash, and actually adding to it, she found better places to live. Though sometimes that took some looking and effort on her part.
The moment her foot hit the dock, she paused, staring at a massive center console boat with twin engines. It was big and shiny and beautiful. The name of the boat wasJust the Facts.
She chuckled.
“What’s so funny?” a male voice echoed from somewhere to her right.
“Who’s there?” She squinted, glancing toward a set of chairs on the dock overlooking the waterway.
“Just Emmerson.” He waved his hand. “Good morning. Did you sleep well?”
“I did. Thank you, but you scared the shit out of me.”
“I’m sorry. I’m often down here in the morning. Sunrises are the best right here.” He patted the chair next to him. “Join me if you have time.”
As she inched closer, she realized he was in his uniform. “Heading back out to work soon?”
“I just got home about a half hour ago.” He raised a mug and sipped. “I came home for some food, a shower, and then I have to go to the station. It’s going to be a long day for me.”
She lowered herself into the Adirondack chair and stared at Emmerson’s strong profile. A five o’clock shadow had appeared on his face, making him look even more handsome, if that were possible. There was a genuine kindness about him that she couldn’t deny. “Did you catch the person who killed that girl?”
“Sadly, no. And we have very few leads.” He turned his head. “One of the things on my long list today was to come talk to you again.”
“To give my official statement?”
“Yes and no. My mother would like you to do that with one of my brothers at the station when you get off work. The sketch artist will be there too so you can give details about the man you saw.”
“I didn’t get that great of a look, so I’m not sure I’ll be of any real help there.”
He shifted. “Are you sure it was a man you saw?”
“The voice was deep and he looked like a man to me. Why do you ask?”
Emmerson let out a long breath. “We got an anonymous tip that the victim was arguing with a woman. That’s what I was going to come talk to you about. To get clarification.”
She swallowed. Hard. “I’m sorry, Emmerson, but I’m pretty sure it was a man. I suppose I could be wrong; I just don’t think I am.”
