Page 36 of Break Away
“How could I not? But wow, me as a poledancer. Not in my wildest dreams have I ever had boobs thatbig.”
“I’m so sorry. Brad called the mayor to findout who administers the page and said they better take the postdown. He said he’ll file a complaint with the site.”
“Okay.” Zoey refused to be embarrassed, buther initial urge to laugh was chased away by burgeoning anger. Shepressed a couple of buttons. “I took a screenshot. This is reallyweird. Obviously, someone has anger issues. I don’t expect everyoneto like me, but there’s a lot of mean in this post. It feels likehigh school bullying. I can’t think of anyone I’ve ticked off whowould take it to this level.”
“I just got a text from Brad. Refresh yourscreen.”
Zoey did, and the image disappeared. She letout a breath she hadn’t been aware she was holding.
A loud rapping sounded from her front doorfollowed by Lucy scrambling to her feet.
“The post is gone. I have to go. There’ssomeone at the door.” She pushed herself up from the bed.
“Don’t answer it!”
“Why not?” Eva’s panicked response had Zoeyhesitating.
She’d never felt nervous in her home before,even after her porch had been vandalized, but now caution had herhanging back. She walked into her darkened living room, phone inhand, then paused, staring at the door. She was glad she’d pulledthe curtains shut, something she didn’t always remember to do.
“Zoey, you still there?”
“I’m here.”
“Don’t open the door. It could be the crazyperson who put up that post. Call Levi.”
“I don’t have his number.”
A voice called out from the other side of thedoor, one she recognized. “Zoey, open up. It’s me.”
“It’s Levi. I’m fine, Eva, but thanks forbeing there for me.”
“That’s what BFFs do. Promise me you’ll becareful.”
Zoey reached for the knob on the front door.“I’ll be careful. Gotta go.”
She pulled open the door. Levi stood on theother side, two-day beard, mussed hair, blue eyes blazing. Damn hotand sexy.
Despite the cool nighttime temperature, hewore only dark sweatpants and a white t-shirt that clung to hispecs, none of which detracted from the face of one pissed-offmale.
“Can I come in?”
She stepped back, pushing Lucy out of theway, then shut the door after Levi.
“You saw the post?” His cop face wasintimidating: sharp, focused eyes, lowered brows, and lips turneddown at the corners.
“I did. Eva texted me. It’s been takendown.”
“Anything like that ever happen before?”
Zoey shook her head. “I keep a low profile onsocial media. Whoever posted it must be from Hangman’s Loss.” Sheshrugged, feeling a little self-conscious in the tank top and shortshorts she wore to sleep. “I’ve been here nearly two years, and Ican’t think of anyone I’ve made angry enough for this.”
“It could be someone from town, but it couldalso be someone from your past who knows you’re living here now.”He speared fingers through his hair, the first break in his copdemeanor. “Look, I’m on duty at seven tomorrow morning. I have tobe at the station for morning roll call, but after that I want youto come in so I can ask you some questions formally. I’ll berecording the conversation. I’m adding this post to myinvestigation of the hit-and-run and the porch vandalism.”
She shook her head. “I have to go to work.I’ll be in the field all day.”
“What does that mean exactly?”
“I get a Forest Service truck and drive outto Virginia Lakes, and from there hike to a couple of differenttalus slopes and continue my study of the pika.”
