“I need you to think back to when you were helping the customer, did you see anything,” she may not realize it, but in the moments before the crash there may be something she is missing. She is already shaking her head.
“No, Mrs. Salter was talking to me and I wasn’t paying attention,” she explains. My ears perk up.
“Did Mrs. Salter take her food to go,” I ask her. If she left, she more than likely saw someone at least enter the parking lot.
“Yes, she did, she always does. I hope she is okay. I bet she barely made it to her car before this happened,” Piper murmurs.
“We will check on her,” I assure Piper. There is no need to have her worrying about another thing. Not to mention, I am hopeful that the woman saw something. I put my hand on her legging covered thigh and gently squeeze it. She jumps slightly and looks at my hand. She doesn’t push it away, so I take that as a win. I keep it in place and don’t move.
“Did you hear anything before or after the crash,” I ask her. I need her to really think this through. She takes a deep breath and holds it in. Her eyes flutter closed.
“The only sounds I remember hearing is the crash of the door window and squealing tires. The sounds happened almost at the same time,” she says. She brings her hands up to rub her closed eyes.
“Thats good, Piper,” I say. I bring my hand up to the back of her neck and start to lightly massage there. She is so tense. She freezes up for a second and then her shoulders drop and she sighs. I pull her head to my shoulder and wrap my arm around her. I take a deep breath. This woman is going to fucking kill me. I continue to rub her back.
After a few minutes I sense that she has fallen asleep. I take a few minutes to enjoy the feel of her soft body pressed up against mine. Her hair tickling my neck. I breathe her in. Once I feel like she won’t wake up, I shift out from under her and guide her to lay down on the loveseat. I grab the throw blanket that is on the back of the couch and lay it over her.
She murmurs some nonsensical sounds and then quiets down again. After another moment, I quietly turn and walk out the door. I pull the door closed behind me, and head out to see what Carter and Sterling may have heard from the customers.
When I get to the front of the cafe, I see that most of the customers have cleared out. Sterling is on the phone and Carter is on his laptop. I reach Carter’s table and he starts to speak immediately.
“Most of the customers were of no help, one said he thought he saw a dark colored, older model sedan head out of the parking lot, but he couldn’t be sure.”
By the time Carter finishes, Sterling comes up.
“I’m asking the Sheriff if he can get a hold of the video footage in the area. Maybe one of these businesses has an old school camera that we can review,” he explains. Carter is nodding.
“That’s good, I’ll see what I can do on my end,” he cracks his neck and goes back to typing furiously.
“What the hell did they use to shatter the window,” I mutter. I look around but I don’t get far before I see it. Bending down to inspect it closer, I see a half a brick laying amidst the shards of glass.
“Wonder who the hell could be mad at Piper,” Sterling comments. He is standing to my left looking down at the brick with me.
“I’m going to fucking find out,” I promise, quietly. Whoever the asshole is, they will find out what happens when you mess with what is mine.
Chapter 15
Piper
My eyes flutter open. It takes me a minute to remember where I am. It all comes flashing back to me and I sit up so fast that I almost sprain my neck. Wincing and lifting my arms over my head, I stretch. My back muscles are always so tight. Meg tells me I should go get a massage, but honestly the thought of having a stranger touch my naked back doesn’t make me feel relaxed.
The door to my office is closed, but I can hear someone with a drill out in the cafe. I rub my face and take a quick look in the mirror that is hanging next to the door.
“Well, it could be worse,” I mutter as I run my fingers through my hair and rub my face with my hands. I step out into the little hallway and walk towards the cafe. I pause at the edge of the room and take stock of what is happening.
I see Carter in the same spot he was in before my nap, scowling at the computer. Sterling is talking to one of my customers in the corner and Holt is manning the drill I heard. The glass has been cleaned up, and he somehow got his hands on a sheet of plywood. He finishes closing up the hole where the window once was. He turns around and sees me. Immediately he sets down the drill and walks over to me.
“You okay,” he asks lowly when he reaches me. His hand reaches up to cup my cheek. His calloused thumb rubbing across my cheek makes me shiver. I can’t keep eye contact with him for long before I look away. I feel my cheeks get warm.
“I’m good,” I answer, because really, what else can I say. Honestly, I’m confused and tired. I have no idea what is going on, it has been a long week, and I’m starting to wonder if I really am in some kind of danger. As soon as the thought crosses my mind, I immediately push it aside.
I hardly live a high risk lifestyle. I haven’t dated anyone in forever so no crazy ex-boyfriends. I am having a difficult time even entertaining the idea. Holt’s hand moves up to brush my too long bangs behind my ear. I have to remind myself not to lean into his touch like some starved for affection kitten in a back alley.
“None of your customers really saw anything. Someone thought they may have seen a car but they couldn’t really give us a make or a model,” Holt explains. I am trying to focus on his words and not the fact that he keeps finding excuses to touch me. Maybe I’m imagining it.
“We figured out what they used to smash your window,” Holt shares. His jaw clenches and I wonder if he has ever cracked a tooth. I look up at him, in a silent question.
“Whoever they were, they tossed a brick through it,” he looks so angry. I can’t stop my mouth from speaking.
