Wait. What? Why did she have to be careful? Based on the reaction he’d witnessed and her secretive nature, the detective in him said that her husband had abused her, but he’d died before Zoey’s birth. Jennie had never mentioned anyone else in her life except Miss Emily and her friend Tina. Which in and of itself struck him as strange.
David rose and gently held her shoulders. “Jennie, what’s going on?”
“I thought—never mind.” She swiped at the wetness on her face. “So now what happens?”
Jennie held tight to the private information she harbored, no doubt about that. He’d let her keep it for now. But sooner or later, he’d get to the bottom of whatever had panicked her.
“We’ll continue to investigate. Background checks and further communication should lead us in the right direction. Plus, we have a secret weapon. Megan, our tech guru, is incredible at her job. The team won’t stop until we figure it out.”
“Promise?” Jennie’s eyes held so much hope that the look almost brought him to his knees.
He longed to give her guarantees, but no one could. And he refused to lie to her. The world was full of evil—he should know.His fiancée had died at the hands of evil. “I promise we’ll do our best.”
She nodded. Her eyes shifted to the kitchen table and back to him.
He followed her gaze. “Is there something I should know?”
Her mouth twisted to the side, and she scrunched her forehead.
Come on, Jennie. Let me into your world. I want to help you.
She inhaled, stepped from his grasp, and retrieved her computer. “I was about to open this email when you knocked.” She lowered herself onto the couch.
David sat beside her and peered over her shoulder. His gut clenched when he read the subject line. Zoey.
Her hand shook as she clicked on the message. One by one, image after image loaded onto the page. Jennie gasped.
Five photos jumped from the screen. Two pictures zoomed in on Zoey’s face while she played at recess, and three more of Jennie and Zoey in front of the school filled the display.
“Those are from today! Why? Who?” Jennie squeaked.
David rested his hands on the cushion behind her. “It appears whoever did this isn’t solely focused on Zoey.”
Jennie stared at the photos.
Could it be possible that someone from her past had come back to scare her—or worse? It made no sense. David rubbed the back of his neck. The man they hunted wouldn’t have switched his attention to Jennie. The creep would only have eyes for a young girl. A fact that continued to churn his stomach after three years of being a member of the ICAC task force.
“Forward that email to me, please. I’d like Megan to see if she can glean anything from those photos.” He rattled off his email address.
“Of course.” Jennie fired off the email then slammed her laptop shut. “I can’t believe this.”
“We’ll get to the bottom of it.” He resisted placing his hands on her shoulders as his mind raced with possibilities.
“How can you say that? You can’t promise you’ll catch this guy.” She peered up at him, her words holding no contempt. Only sadness.
“I’ll do my best, Jennie. I won’t let some maniac hurt you or Zoey.” He shifted to her side. “I seem to have acquired a soft spot for that girl of yours.”And you.When he’d met her forty-eight hours ago, the wall he’d built around his heart after his fiancée Brenda’s death had cracked. Pieces had begun to chip away. He didn’t understand how it happened, but it had.
She looked at him with such desperation. “We have for you, too.” Her eyes widened. “I mean,shehas for you.”
His lips twitched, but he held the smile at bay. And to think he’d been concerned the attraction was one-sided. He reached to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear but dropped his hand to his side. He hadn’t earned the right to touch her yet. Besides, if he allowed his feelings to take root, he’d only fail her like he’d failed Brenda.
Friends. He could do friends. Decision made. He exhaled. “I need to get going. Are you going to be okay here by yourself?”
“I’ll be fine. I know you must be tired. Go home and get some rest.” She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes.
Tired didn’t come close. David’s twenty-hour day had him weary to the bone. “Lock up behind me.” Forgetting the words of wisdom to himself, he scooped her hand into his and squeezed her fingers. Her soft skin, a contrast to his callouses. His pulse quickened at the touch. “I don’t want you taking any chances.”
Tears filled her eyes. She nodded.
