I used to think that he would eventually grow bored. Once every couple of months, I would dedicate my research time to looking through Garrett’s social media, local DC papers and news reports, anything I could think of.
He was always looking. Every few months, there was a new plea for information. A higher reward offered. I would study his face on the screen and fight a shiver. Garrett was always the picture of grief, a prominent man devastated by the loss of his fiancée.
I didn’t kid myself. He didn’t long for my presence. He was livid at hispropertybeing stolen. And now I knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that if he found me, he would kill me.
I blinked against the dryness in my eyes from staring off into space. My gaze refocused on the postcard. I had made it out. Made it to Sutter Lake. I was building a life. So, it wasn’t as full or carefree as I would have liked just yet. It would be one day. One day, I would be totally free.
I gently placed the postcard back in the notebook that protected it. I carefully put the sketchbook back into my bag, checking to make sure my cash, taser, and other essentials were still in place. Not having access to a car had put me on edge. I didn’t want to think about what would happen if I had to make a quick getaway in the next few days. But I just couldn’t afford to take the advance Jensen had offered me. I needed the money I earned at this job to buy myself information.
I’d poured over the articles I’d printed out at the library, but there was nothing in them that I could use. What I needed was an investigator. Someone who could get police files. Someone who could interview people who had known Bethany and Garrett at the time. I nibbled on my bottom lip.But how will I know if I can trust them?
I knew Garrett had to have bought people off in the past. What if he found out that someone was looking into him? What if he paid the investigator more than I ever could to find out where I was? My stomach roiled. Garrett couldn’t find me. The thought of having to leave Sutter Lake had my chest constricting.
I pushed up from the edge of my bed, slinging my bag over my shoulder. I wouldn’t have to run. Everything was fine. I was safe. I would just keep hunting myself, as much as I could. Save my money. Maybe, eventually, I could find someone I trusted to help me take the next steps, whatever those might be. Grabbing my keys, I pulled open the door to my apartment, making sure to slip my small piece of paper into the jamb.
Heading downstairs, I hung my bag on the coat rack in the kitchen and turned on all the lights. I never listened to music before Jensen arrived and the Kettle opened for the day. I wanted to be able to hear every little sound—just in case.
I moved around the room in comfortably familiar patterns, prepping ingredients for my first recipes of the day. The work was almost a meditation, a way to calm my body and slow my mind. But this morning, my mind kept drifting to a certain hazel-eyed someone. His kindness to Noah. To me. The way his voice had hit me right in the chest when he sang.
I shook my head.Stupid, stupid, stupid.If there was one person on this Earth who I couldn’t get involved with, it was Liam Fairchild. His face was recognized everywhere he went. People asked for autographs, snapped pictures. All it would take was one photo in the wrong place.
My hands grew damp at the thought. Garrett would absolutely lose his mind. I couldn’t imagine anything that would make him more furious than me getting involved with someone who might have more influence than he did.
I shook my head. I was being ridiculous. Liam had no interest in me. He was just a nice guy. That was all. A nice guy, helping out his friend’s friend. That was it. I was blowing this all out of proportion.
A key sounded in the lock at the back door. I stilled until I heard Jensen’s familiar tone. “I’m here, and I’m in desperate need of caffeine.”
I let out a light laugh. “One green tea coming up.” I set to work heating some water and readying the tea leaves.
Jensen kissed my cheek as she walked through the kitchen. “You are a goddess.”
I snorted. “You’re certainly easy to please this morning.”
She stowed her bag under the register in the front and then headed back in my direction. “Noah was in a mood this morning. Cranky about everything. I didn’t have the right cereal. I packed his lunch in the wrong lunch box. It was never-ending.”
“Sorry, J.” I studied her face. The circles under her eyes were darker. I bit my tongue against the urge to ask her if she was sleeping. I’d promised not to press. “Is there anything I can do to help? I can watch him for you if you need a night off.”
Jensen shook her head. “You sound like Tuck.”
My eyebrows rose. “Tuck offered to babysit?”
She let out an aggravated noise from the back of her throat. “He basically told me that I looked like shit and that I should let him watch Noah so I could get a good night’s sleep.”
I made a humming sound as I poured her tea. Tuck’s delivery may have been lacking in finesse, but I didn’t disagree with him. “Here you go.” I handed her the mug.
“Thanks.” Jensen took a sip. “So, how are you doing? Feeling any better?”
I could feel the familiar blush creeping up my cheeks, my overreaction at my car trouble still fresh in my mind. “I’m sorry I was such an emo mess last night. It had just been a long day.” More like a long couple of years. I pretty much always felt like I was one thing away from a meltdown of epic proportions.
Jensen set her mug down on the counter. “You never have to apologize for something like that. We all have bad days, and car trouble is the freaking worst.”
I pressed my lips together. “Well, thank you again for giving me a ride. And for switching around my schedule at the ranch.”
“You’d do the same for me.”
I nodded. I would do anything for Jensen. She had taken a chance on me when I had nothing to give her but a promise that I could bake.
She cleared her throat. “So…” She let the word dangle. “Liam seemed pretty keen on helping you out.” A mischievous grin spread across her face.
