Page 97 of Whispers of You
It was. But it was also killing my nerves.
Clint strode over. “Can I talk to you for a sec, Wren?”
Abel motioned me to go, muttering something about us being worse than his telenovelas.
I pushed to my feet and followed Clint a few steps away. “I didn’t report her.”
“I know, but you could’ve convinced Lawson not to bench her.”
“I tried, but he’s at his wits’ end with her.”
A muscle in Clint’s cheek fluttered. “She’s been through a lot. And this is a hard time of year for everyone.”
A hard time of year because we were coming up on the date of the shooting. Everything in me pitched as if I were a sailor trying to stay upright on a stormy sea. “Trust me. I know it’s a hard time of year.”
Clint blanched. “I wasn’t trying to suggest that it wasn’t—”
I held up a hand. “I know she’s your partner. I’m doing what I can to keep the peace. I try to avoid her and be nice when we do see each other.”
“It’ll be easy to avoid her now. Law suspended her for two weeks. Black mark on her record.”
I winced. That wasn’t good. But Clint’s tone basically insinuated that this whole thing was my fault. I met his stare, not looking away. “I’m not the one who makes Amber’s decisions.”
“You could’ve had her back the other day. Supported her.”
I gaped at him. “She’s going on a witch hunt. We don’t know that Joe has anything to do with this.”
“We don’t know he doesn’t.”
My back teeth ground together as I shook my head. “I thought better of you.”
Turning on my heel, I strode back to dispatch. “Can I take five?”
“Have at it,” Abel said. “Might want to take a few swings at the punching bag. You can pretend it’s Clint’s face.” He said the words loud enough for Clint to hear.
I wanted to laugh, could almost get there, but no sound escaped my lips. I didn’t need to hit something. I needed to breathe.
Pushing the back door open, I stepped outside. The night air still had a bite to it, and I sucked it in. The slight hint of pain helped ease the anger a bit, and the clean pine scent helped me reach for peace.
Guilt pricked at me as I took in Amber’s empty parking space. She needed a friend—someone who could talk her around to sane decisions. Grae had always been that for me, but not everyone was so lucky.
I pulled out my phone and tapped out a text.
Me:Lucky as hell to have you, G. Love your guts.
There was no response, but I didn’t expect one. Grae had to lead a hike tomorrow, and she needed her rest more than the average person.
I shoved my phone back into my pocket.
Gravel crunched against the asphalt, and I turned. The blow caught me before I could get there, knuckles cracking against my temple in a vicious hit. Lights danced in front of my eyes.
It was all I registered before falling.
I hit the ground with an ugly thud. The pavement tore at my skin, and I let out a moan.
A shoe came flying at my face, but I rolled, my shoulder taking the hit instead. My fingers locked around the keys in my pocket, and I tugged them free.
A hard kick landed on my back, right above my kidneys.
