Page 21 of Legends: Easton
So was the man she saw today connected? Was he there to find her and report back? If he was there to eliminate her, he had ample opportunity while she was out with Gran. The little contact they had was not anything he initiated. Their encounter was an accident. Wasn’t it?
Was he related to her case at all? He could be passing through or be a transplant to Fire Creek. The town was small, but people were known to relocate there. He couldn’t be trouble at all. The vibe she got from him could only be her hyper-awareness after her undercover op.
The questions and what ifs swirled around in her mind. She wanted to do her own investigation into the guy, but she was without resources. She would have to wait until Corinne could search for the man’s identity and provide additional intel.
Glancing at the man’s photo saved on her phone, she memorized his features. He wasn’t familiar to her, but she was certain she would know if they crossed paths again. And next time she would be ready.
Chapter Nine
Bailee read the text twice, the corners of her mouth turning down in a frown.
No hits in facial rec. Checked with gang unit. Not linked to BDs. Identity unknown without further intel.
She tossed her phone down on the mattress and blew out a frustrated breath. Expecting to feel relieved that the stranger at the grocery store wasn’t connected to the case against the Blood Disciples, she instead felt irritated.
She’d overreacted to a random encounter with a stranger. Just because it was unusual for people to randomly land in a town as small as Fire Creek, that didn’t mean it never happened. Her instincts were hyper aware and making her suspicious of coincidences, but it seemed that the run-in was exactly that.
She ran her hands through her hair, the strands falling forward to slap her cheeks when she released them. Her mind recalled a conversation she had with her police chief following Jimmy’s arrest. Struggling with her partner’s betrayal and grieving all her job had cost her, Bailee had done the one thing she swore she’d never do since becoming a cop — letting the men she worked with see her cry. But she’d broken down in Chief Matthew Tucker’s office, the sobs wracking her body over the loss of Shantayle, over the unfairness of how the other copstreated her, over the way Jimmy had used her, and over losing a bit of herself when she was undercover.
“I’m an old school cop, so you can probably guess that I’m not good at these situations,” Chief Tucker had said as he sat across from her, holding out a box of tissues for her. “But I think you should talk to someone who is. You’ve been dealt a shitty hand, Maxwell. It’s a lot to take on your own.”
“Are you saying I need a shrink?” Her tone had been sharp and borderline disrespectful, but the chief had given her a pass on any appearance of insubordination.
“Yeah, I am. I’ve talked to one before, and I haven’t dealt with near as much shit as you are. There’s no shame in it, regardless of what the jackasses in the bullpen say. Just think about it.”
Bailee had considered it, but she’d dismissed the idea. She didn’t think a shrink could tell her anything she didn’t already know, and an hour of therapy couldn’t do anything for her peace of mind that a visit with Gran couldn’t.
Now she was wondering if maybe Chief was right. Maybe she wasn’t dealing with everything as well as she thought, not if she was seeing suspects in every stranger’s face.
A coppery taste on her tongue pulled her from her musings. She had worried her bottom lip between her teeth until she’d pricked the tender flesh, drawing blood. Reaching for a tissue, she blotted the spot until it stopped bleeding.
She heard Gran’s voice through the closed door, and though she couldn’t decipher what Darby Anne said, she figured she was being alerted that it was dinnertime. Taking a moment tocompose herself, she headed toward the kitchen, determined not to let her paranoia taint her time with Gran.
“Everything smells great, Gr…”
Her words trailed off as she drew up short just inside the kitchen doorway. Gran was slicing a pork tenderloin while Easton set three place settings on the dining table. His dark hair was pushed back from his forehead, making his arched brows and smoldering eyes more prominent.
He glanced up with a grin as she entered, smile lines appearing on either side of his delectable mouth. His broad shoulders stretched the linen material of his shirt, but it fell loose to the waistband of his jeans.
“Bailee Anne, you’re just in time. Will you start setting the food on the table? The cornbread is there on the counter, and the green beans need to be added to that bowl by the stove.”
“Of course.” Bailee moved closer to Gran, leaning in to whisper in the older woman’s ear. “I didn’t realize we were having company.”
“I knew you wouldn’t mind. I saw Easton outside earlier, and he told me he had a rare night off. So I invited him to join us.”
“Right.” Bailee drawled the word out as she picked up the platter of cornbread, cut into manageable squares and smothered in melted butter. Her stomach rumbled a bit as the familiar aroma tantalized her nostrils.
“Good to see you, Bailee.” Easton’s tone was warm as his words washed over her, making her heart flutter in response.
“Glad you could join us.” She meant what she said even if she did wish she’d had advanced warning he’d be here. Dressed in denim shorts and a simple tank, her face scrubbed cleanof makeup, she wasn’t looking her best while he looked good enough to eat.
His eyes seem to linger a second longer than necessary. Then he went back to setting the table. She scrambled over to help Gran bring over the rest of the meal, which included a glaze for the tenderloin, slices of garden-fresh tomatoes, and roasted potatoes.
The food could have fed several families on their block, but even when it was just Bailee and Gran, Darby Anne pulled out all the stops with meals, preparing way too much. Whatever wasn’t eaten was shared with some of the widows and widowers in the neighborhood. Nothing went to waste, and Gran enjoyed cooking too much to adjust the quantities.
Gran prayed a blessing over the meal, and they filled their plates. They ate several bites in silence, and Bailee was pleasantly surprised that the quiet wasn’t awkward or unpleasant. It reminded her of meals shared with her parents and brother or with Gran and Pops when she was a kid.
“Did you have a nice visit today with Jim?” Darby Anne fixed her gaze on Easton.
