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Or was the break-in related to something else entirely?
* * *
Paige frowned when Miles executed a sharp U-turn, heading back the way they’d come. “Do you think it’s smart to go there? What if there’s a gunman waiting for you, too?”
“There are officers on the scene, and I’ll protect you. Besides, we won’t stay long.”
She didn’t like being dependent on Miles, but what other choice did she have? Being left at a motel room with Abby and no vehicle to get away if needed didn’t sound like a good option, either.
It didn’t take Miles long to pull into the driveway of a small red-brick house with black shutters and white trim. Abby curled against her, still clinging to her neck as if she’d never let go.
“Sit tight. I’ll be right back.” Miles pushed open the driver’s door as a short, stocky uniformed officer came out to meet him.
The car seemed empty without his reassuring presence. She listened as the two of them spoke.
“Fair amount of damage,” the cop said. “Everything’s a mess. It’s obvious they were looking for something.”
“Check for fingerprints, maybe we’ll get a hit,” Miles told him. “I want to take a look. Will you stay out here and keep an eye on my passengers?”
The uniformed officer nodded. “Sure. No problem.”
“Hey, Abby,” Paige said in an effort to reassure her daughter. “There’s another policeman here, do you see him?” She wanted the little girl to know they were safe, but Abby didn’t lift her head to look around.
The sick feeling crept over her again, warning her that something was seriously wrong. Paige continued talking to Abby in soft, gentle tones, telling her that the policemen would put the bad men with guns away and keep them safe.
When that didn’t work, she offered a quick prayer.
“Dear Lord, please keep us safe and help Abby feel better, Amen.”
Normally her daughter would join in to say Amen, but not this time. Paige knew she couldn’t push, that Abby would speak when she was ready.
But the continued silence bothered her. A lot.
Miles returned a few minutes later, his expression grim. He carried a small duffel bag that he tossed into the trunk.
“Call me if you get a hit from any fingerprints,” he said to the officer.
“Will do.”
He slid behind the wheel and backed out of the driveway. He didn’t speak until they were back on the highway headed to the motel.
“Do you think the officer is right? That someone was looking for something inside your home?”
“Yeah, that’s the only thing that makes sense,” he said in a clipped tone.
“Something related to your case?”
“That’s exactly what I need to figure out.” He used his hands-free function to make another phone call. “Captain?” he said when a gruff voice answered. “This is Callahan.”
“I can’t believe you left the scene of the crime!” Captain O’Dell’s tone was hoarse, as if he’d been yelling all day long and was losing his voice.
“I need 24/7 protection for Paige Olson and her daughter. Will you free up a couple of uniforms?”
“With our budget cuts? No way. We’re already short-handed as it is. Find a safe place to stash her, then report in, understand?”
“Yeah. Got it.”
Paige swallowed hard and tried not to let her fear show. “Thanks for trying. I’m sure we’ll be fine at the motel. I’d just—feel better if I had a car, or a way to get to safety in case something happens.” She didn’t love Travis anymore, but he was still her daughter’s father and she was worried about him, as well.
Miles let out a heavy sigh. “Don’t worry, I’m not leaving you at the motel alone.”
He wasn’t? “But your boss, your captain said...”
“I know what he said, but I’m not abandoning you. I’ll check in with him tomorrow.”
The wave of relief caught her off guard. Since when did she trust a man? Never in the years since her divorce.
Logically, she knew this was different. Miles wasn’t interested in her on a personal level. He was just being kind. And protective.
She told herself she was glad there was only a professional courtesy between them. Sure, he was handsome with his dark brown hair, chiseled features and big, muscular physique. And yes, maybe he smelled good, too. But after spending the last three years piecing her life back together, taking on an accounting job at a firm that allowed her to work at home so she could remain independent yet support her daughter, she finally felt as if she had her life back on track.
No way was she willing to risk changing anything now.
* * *
“Number twelve is our room.” Miles wasn’t happy that there hadn’t been connecting rooms available, but at least this one had two double beds.
Paige pursed her lips, but didn’t argue. “Okay.”
He parked the car in front of their Ravenswood Motel room and shut off the engine. “Do you need help with Abby?”
“No, I have her.” He came around to open her passenger-side door, grimacing at the bullet hole he found in the back fender. Any closer and the gunman might have taken out a tire, making escape impossible.
She took his outstretched hand, and a jolt of awareness tingled up his arm. He scowled, not liking his inadvertent response to her. Paige was the type of woman who had serious relationship written all over her.
Besides, he was responsible for her safety.
“Thanks,” she whispered, releasing his hand once she was out of the car and steady on her feet. Abby was still draped over her mother, but her limbs were lax as she slept.
He was glad the child was able to get some rest, and hoped she’d feel better in the morning.
After unlocking the door, he held it open so Paige could go through first. He turned on one lamp, casting a warm glow over the interior of the room.
Choosing the bed closest to the bathroom, Paige bent down and awkwardly pulled the polyester bedspread and blanket out of the way with one hand, so she could set Abby down on the mattress. The child squirmed a bit, before relaxing against the pillows.
Paige stared down at her daughter for a long moment before turning toward him. “I’ll СКАЧАТЬ