Page 5 of Katherine's Last Hope
She bit back the frustration that came with having two overprotective brothers. Even before Theo’s death, both Owen and Tommy always thought they knew what was best for her. Always hovered a little too close.
But they’d learned the hard way over and over again that bad things still happened, no matter how much was done to keep it away.
Not wanting to upset Tommy, she rested a hand on his arm. “I’ll take the escort across the parking lot but there’s no need to follow me home.”
Cody frowned, and she couldn’t help but wonder what went through his mind watching her and her siblings negotiate. He had siblings of his own, but it was no secret they preferred to use their fists over their words.
Clearing his throat, he gained all their attention. “This guy’s still out there, Katherine. We don’t know if it was a targeted attack or a case of you being in the wrong place at the wrong time. It might be safer for Tommy to make sure you get inside your home without further incident, and that no one follows you through town to your house. No need bringing more danger to your doorstep.”
“I never thought about it like that,” she said, the fear from earlier coming back in full force.
A pulse in Cody’s jaw made her think he wanted to say more—do more—but he stood quietly, his blue eyes intense and focused.
“So a full escort it is,” Tommy said, adding a false note of enthusiasm to his voice.
She appreciated the effort, especially since Tommy was usually the more jovial of the brothers, but a weird flash of disappointment had her focusing way too much on Cody.
Still silent.
She forced her attention to Tommy. “Sounds good. Thanks.”
She might not like the idea of her little brother acting as her babysitter for the moment, but it was the smartest move. Besides, she didn’t want to waste time arguing. Ollie waited for her at home, and she needed to get the hell away from Cody and whatever weird feelings he stirred in the pit of her stomach.
Because if being held captive by a dangerous stranger was scary, the idea of feeling anything beyond gratitude for Cody Hogan was downright terrifying.
A knotof tension at the back of Cody’s neck eased a fraction once Katherine was gone. He may have known her for most of his life, but that didn’t mean they were friends. If anything, she’d barely tolerated him in high school, opting to stare past him instead of commenting on his troublesome family.
Which, in a way, had been worse.
Any attention from her would have been better than none. But that was years ago. He’d learned a long time ago that a woman like Katherine Wells—now Milton—was never meant for him. Earning the respect of her father and brothers better served him as he carved out a spot for himself in the sheriff’s department.
And now one of those brothers was his boss and stood in front of him with a look of concern rippling across his forehead.
Owen stared at the closed door, as if trying to see beyond the barrier to watch his sister make it home in one piece.
Cody understood the other man’s worry but didn’t want to stand around twiddling his thumbs. “Now that I have Katherine’s statement, I’m going to take a look at the security footage. I already asked the guard to set it up. He said to come to his office when I was ready.”
“Okay.” Owen blew out a long breath and scrubbed a palm down his face. “I’ll come with you. This is an all hands-on deck situation. Katherine doesn’t need to worry about some asshat coming after her again. Especially after everything she’s been through.”
He could argue no one in Cooper County should have to worry about being attacked regardless of who they were, but he was smart enough to keep that comment to himself. Besides, he agreed. The more deputies working to track down the man who threatened Katherine, the better.
Without a word, he led the way to the well-lit hallway that wound around the nurses’ station to the security office. Even in the administrative area of the hospital, the scents of strong disinfectant and an undertone of sickness stung his nostrils.
He pushed it out of his mind as he knocked twice on the doorframe and peeked his head inside. “You ready for us, Gus?”
“Come on in.” Gus, a seventy-something man with a headful of gray hair and a wrinkled uniform that hung on his lanky frame, sat behind a trio of screens at a large desk that took up most of the room. Each screen was split into different quadrants, showing areas of the hospital. The largest screen in the center had a paused scene from the parking lot. “Figured I’d start the tape right before Katherine came outside, just in case we can see anything.”
“Good thinking.” Owen stepped behind Gus and leaned forward, gaze fixed on the screen.
Cody stood to the side. This was his case, but he wasn’t about to have a pissing match with the sheriff about who got thebetter view. Besides, the only thing that mattered was finding the culprit. He crossed his arms over his chest and kept his eyes on the monitor. “Go ahead.”
Gus guided the cursor to the start button then swiveled his chair out of the way.
A few seconds passed before Katherine appeared. Gus chose to display the camera that focused on the area closest to Katherine’s vehicle. From this angle, she was almost unrecognizable as she made her way out of the hospital.
At least to most people.
But Cody would recognize her the second she came into view, no matter how far away she was. She had a certain walk, always had. Shoulders straight and chin tilted slightly toward the sky. Her long strides matched her long legs, and she carried a confidence most people never found. Not in a snobbish way, but in a way that let everyone know she was sure of who she was and what she wanted.
