Page 31 of Katherine's Last Hope
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Katherine tip-toed out of the guest bedroom and heaved a large sigh when the giant dog didn’t bark and wake Ollie. After a day of running and playing in the fresh air, he’d gone down fast and hard. A miracle in her book. She just hoped he’d stay asleep for the entire night.
Cody glanced up from where he sat on the couch. His laptop rested on his lap. “He asleep?”
“Out like a light. What are you doing?” She nodded toward the computer. “Catching up on work?”
“Looking at some notes your brother sent over.”
Intrigue pulled her to his side. “Is it okay if I look, or is that overstepping?”
“Not overstepping at all.” He slid over on the couch, making sure there was more than enough space for her.
She settled beside him and tucked her feet beneath her. She stared at the bright screen. “Anything new I should know about?”
He rubbed a hand over the scruff of his jaw. “Not really. Since your attacker showed so much distaste for law enforcement, Owen pulled a few cases where the family of the criminalarrested wasn’t happy with the outcome. Nothing stands out, but they made some calls and got nowhere. He asked the local police department to do the same. Someone might be targeting you even if the crime wasn’t handled by the sheriff’s department.”
“Lucky me,” she said with a small snort. “None of this makes sense, though.” She flicked her wrist toward the screen.
“What do you mean?” He closed the lid and set the computer on the stand beside the sofa.
“Why go after me? Sure, I’ve got a lot of connections to law enforcement, but I’ve never worked for my dad. Never been the one who’s made an arrest or even the decision to go after anyone.” Anger rose as she spoke. She’d had enough shit tossed at her feet. One more thing was enough to push her over the edge.
Cody rested a hand on her knee, grazing his thumb over the soft fabric of her yoga pants. “I get it, and I’m sorry you’ve been put in this situation. But most of the time logic isn’t the criminal’s strong suit. That’s why we catch them.”
Weighing his words, she tilted her head back and forth. “Okay, that makes sense. But it’s still bullshit.”
“Agreed. When you spoke with your boss, did he offer any insight?”
She recalled the conversation she’d had with Dr. Dempsy before she’d left her home earlier. She hadn’t wasted any time letting him know what was going on so he could fill her shifts for the next few days. “He was very supportive, but nothing came to mind for him either. He promised to look into it, though, as well as speak with some co-workers. He said he’d call if they came up with anything.”
“And you still haven’t thought of anything you were involved with that could piss someone off? Nothing to put a target on your back?”
“Like what?” she asked, raising her hands in the air before letting them fall again. She dropped one palm onto the top of his knuckles, craving the contact—still befuddled at how natural and easy it was to sit on his couch and hold hands. “I mean, I took Lulu’s parking spot by accident at the grocery store and she wasn’t very happy, but I stopped by the diner later with cupcakes to smooth things over. I don’t think she’d hire a hitman to come after me.”
He huffed out a quick laugh and turned his palm over to lace their fingers “Glad to hear it. What about years ago? I’m pulling records of recently released prisoners in the county. I can filter the search by years the prisoners entered the system. Is there a timeframe that stands out where you found yourself in trouble?”
Frustration rippled over her skin, and she pinched the bridge of her nose before letting her head fall back on the sofa. She sunk into the soft cushion, the feel of Cody’s hand steady in hers. “Not really. I mean, sure, after my mom died when I was in high school, I had a rebellious couple of months or so but nothing crazy. I drank, went to parties, things typical high school students did but I always steered clear of.”
“No run-ins with the law?” A wicked grin played on his lips when he asked.
“God, could you imagine? My dad showing up with a pair of handcuffs and throwing me in a cell? He would have killed me.” She chuckled at the thought. “Nah, the few parties I attended left a bad taste in my mouth. I had a friend who was thrilled when I wanted a taste of excitement. She took me to a college party. Some house where her boyfriend lived. I knew right away it wasn’t my scene and got the hell out of there.”
“Doesn’t surprise me,” he said, his thumb now grazing the back of her hand instead of her knee.
She pretended to be offended. “Excuse me? What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Means you always gave off good girl energy. I can’t see you falling in with the wrong crowd. At least not until now.”
She grinned. “And you’re the wrong crowd?”
He shrugged, amusement leaking from the lines in his face. “Most people in this town always thought so.”
Leaning forward, she caught his chin in between her thumb and index finger and forced his eyes to meet hers. “They were wrong, and you’ve proven that time and time again. Don’t let anyone ever make you feel like you aren’t an amazing man. And if they do, let me know and I’ll kick their ass for you.”
His grin matched hers. “Oh yeah? You’d get your hands dirty for me?”
“I’d do just about anything for you.”
