Page 44 of Whispers of You
Lawson held up a hand. “She’s fine, but she thinks someone’s been nosing around her place.”
Everything in me tightened at his words. “Press?”
The tenth anniversary of the shooting was this year. My office had fielded so many inquiries for interviews I’d lost track. The media had a sick fascination with what had happened in Cedar Ridge, and thanks to some since-fired deputy, the fact that I had been the one to find Wren had gone public.
Everyone wanted a piece of that story—teenage love ripped apart by hate.
But they didn’t get a piece of us. Never.
Lawson’s jaw worked back and forth as he pulled his keys from his pocket. “Maybe. Kinda late for a reporter to be sniffing around. She thought she heard someone outside. Went to check it out and found a shoe print.”
“She went to check it out? Why the hell didn’t she call nine-one-one?”
“She probably thought it was an animal, and it might’ve been.”
I didn’t give a damn about might’ve beens. I cared about making sure that Wren was safe. My feet were already moving, taking me toward my SUV parked at the end of the row of vehicles.
“Where the hell do you think you’re going?” Lawson clipped.
“To make sure she’s okay.”
“I don’t think that’s such a good idea.”
But I was already behind the wheel and sliding my keys into the ignition.
Lawson cursed and jogged toward his SUV.
I didn’t waste any time tearing down the drive. My fingers tapped the wheel as I waited for the gate to open—too damn slowly.
The second they opened wide enough, I floored it. The lights on Lawson’s police SUV flashed, but I ignored him. When we reached the two-lane road that led to town, he swerved around me, forcing me to dial back my speed.
A litany of curses streamed from my lips as Lawson slowed even further on the stretch through town. The moment the buildings died away, he picked up speed again, swinging down a side road that took us toward the lake.
My gaze shifted to the clock on my dashboard. How many minutes had it been since Wren called? Lawson had promised her that he’d be there in ten. We were at eight now.
Lawson slowed as the road made a Y. The ground was rutted and needed some serious maintenance. I hated the thought of Wren driving it in the winter.
I pulled in next to my brother as he cut his lights and was out of my SUV in a flash. He cut me off on the way to the door, giving me a hard shove. “Back off. You go up there amped up and ready to take someone’s head off, and Wren is just going to get more freaked out.”
My back molars ground together. “If someone’s been creeping around her property, sheshouldbe freaked out.”
“No. She should becautious. There’s a difference. Her being scared won’t help anything.”
My gut twisted at that. I hated the idea of Wren trembling, jumping at every noise. I wanted her safe, but she shouldn’t have to be terrified to get there. Slowly, I let out the air my lungs had been holding prisoner and took a step back.
The tension eased from Lawson’s shoulders. “Thank you.” He started up the walkway. “You shouldn’t even be here, you know. Unless you became law enforcement without telling me.”
“I consult with law enforcement all the time.”
“Not the same thing.”
“So, make me a consultant.”
He shook his head and rapped on the door. “It’s me, Wren.”
A low growl came from the other side of the door.
I arched a brow. “She got a dog?”
