| |
––––––––
I barely kept it together yesterday. With Liv standing so close that I could smell her delicious scent of lavender and peaches, I almost lost control. I wanted to kiss her so badly, but I pulled back just in time. Making out in my office with colleagues around is hardly professional, and then there’s... well... me.
If Liv knew about my past, about what I’ve done... She wouldn’t want to kiss me, that’s for sure. I swore I’d protect her, and I will, but any more than that seems impossible.
“Up early again?”
My brother’s voice pulls me out of my thoughts. He pulls up a chair and joins me at the table. He’s been crashing on my couch since he found out his girlfriend was stringing him along.
I get up and pour him a cup of coffee. “Couldn’t sleep.”
“Nightmares again?” Nate gives me a worried look.
“Work stuff.”
It’s a vague answer, but I don’t want to discuss what’s on my mind right now. I have to figure things out for myself first. “What about you?”
“Woke up with inspiration for a couple of new tattoo designs. Want one?”
I laugh. “Depends if I can find a good spot for it.”
Nate works as a tattoo artist at the local tattoo shop. I’ve been his willing guinea pig to test out his new designs more than once. To say he’s talented is an understatement.
“Don’t wait too long to make up your mind. You know I never ink my designs more than once.”
I put my mug in the sink. “I’ll take a look later today. I’m heading back to the station. There’s this guy I want to run a background check on.”
Nate arches his brow. “Anyone I might know?”
“Could be. He lives next door to Jules from the bookstore?”
He taps his finger on his chin. “Rafe’s wife, right? Yeah, I know the guy. He came in for a tattoo once but didn’t want to pay half upfront, even though it’s clearly stipulated for new clients before I get out the ink. Got into a pretty big argument with him.”
I grumble. “That’s exactly what I would expect from him. Anyway, I’m out the door. Enjoy your day, brother.”
“You too,” he calls out after me.
I hop into my car and set course for the station. I’ve got two hours to spare before I meet Liv for coffee. I want to go through every record I can find about this guy.
“Morning, Sheriff,” Linda greets.
“Morning,” I answer, hanging my hat on the coat rack. “Could you pull up all the files we have on Toby Stone? He got off with a warning yesterday, but I have a feeling there’s more to this case than we know.”
“No problem. Is everything okay? You look worried.”
I nod. “Everything’s fine.”
Linda smiles. “Good. I’ll get those files to you asap.”
I head to my office and turn on my computer. Then, I grab the file report from last night and go over the details again.
My phone buzzes with an incoming text. When I see who it’s from, my stomach twists but in a good way.
Liv: I can’t wait to see you today. I’m heading to the gym first for an early morning workout session.
I instantly reply.
Me: Can’t wait either. See you in a few hours!
I grin like a lovesick teenage boy when I read how she longs to see me. Time can’t fly fast enough this morning. There’s no denying Liv and I shared an instant connection the moment we met.
My email pings with a new message. Attached are all the files and records Linda found for me. That was fast.
As I open them, a feeling of doom forms in the pit of my stomach. I expected to find out maybe one or two minor things about the guy, but it turns out he’s a full-blown felon. He’s already served seven years in prison, was sentenced to fifty hours of community service for another crime, and got caught for more misdemeanors than I can count. He’s clearly got anger issues and is an absolute danger to his environment. Why he’s now living in Trout Creek of all places is beyond me. You’d think someone like him would want to lay low and disappear in a big city.
I go through all the case details I’ve got on him again. The more I discover, the more my rage burns inside me. Before I realize it, hours have passed. Shit. I better get a move on if I want to make it in time to meet Liv for coffee.
I grab my hat and walk over to Sweet as Cake, where Hazel greets me with one of her heartwarming smiles.
“Hi Derek, what can I get you? The usual?”
“Make it two.”
Her face lights up. “Oh? Got a date?”
“Not really. I’m um... meeting a citizen in need of help.”
She winks at me. “You got it. Two slices of raspberry cake and two cups of coffee coming right up.”
“Thanks, Hazel. You’re the best.”
Liv should be here any second, so her coffee will be hot and ready when she walks through the door.
Every time the little bell attached to the door of Sweet as Cake chimes, I look up expectantly, but none of the customers walking in are Liv. Maybe she’s not the punctual type? I don’t know her that well after all. She could be one of those people who always run late.
When Liv still hasn’t arrived half an hour later, I start to worry. Maybe she’s still at the gym and lost track of time?
I get up and head over to Trout Creek’s gym, making a beeline for Jason, the personal trainer. He knows everyone who comes here, so he should be able to help.
“Hi, Sheriff. What can I do for you?” he asks.
“I’m looking for a woman called Liv. Have you seen her here?”
He nods. “Yeah, she came to my self-defense class yesterday and was here this morning for a workout.”
“Was? So she left already?”
“She did.”
“Do you know when this was?”
He glances at the clock on the wall. “I’d say about an hour ago, give or take. Why? Is something wrong?”
“I hope not, but I have a feeling something’s off. Thanks for your help, Jason.”
“Any time, Sheriff.”
I try Liv’s cell phone, but she doesn’t answer. I have a bad feeling about this. I might not know her well, but she sent me a message this morning about how she couldn’t wait to meet me. She didn’t flake out, which means something has happened. Possibly something bad. I think back to the files I read about her neighbor and how he hasn’t steered clear of aggression before. What if he decided to get revenge on Liv for calling the cops on him the other night?
I run back to the station and hop into a squad car, my heart racing. If my gut feeling is right and something did happen, I better make it to Liv’s place in time.