His lack of technology use has been a point of contention for Holt and Carter in the past and I almost chuckle. Not much happens in High Ridge, and it is a good thing. There is a time and place for old school methods, but sometimes technology gives you an edge, and it is something that our small local law enforcement is sorely lacking.
“So, tell me what happened Piper,” he asks gently. I go back to the events that transpired this morning and re-tell them. He makes notes in his notepad and asks a few questions in between.
“Piper, have you had any strange interactions with anyone lately or even any strange occurrences,” he asks me.
“Honestly, I can’t really think of any. I have been thinking all morning about this. Everything has been pretty standard,” I respond and then amend my answer when Meg clears her throat.
“Well, except for that whole thing with Meg a few weeks ago,” the Sheriff nods knowingly.
“I think you should take the evening to go home and relax. Sometimes things pop into our brains when we aren’t trying to think of them,” he offers kindly. Holt has been standing next to me this whole time. His hand goes to my shoulder and squeezes gently.
“Sheriff, I’ll be staying with her for a while to make sure she is safe. I would like to request a patrol car drive by the house and the cafe every now and then,” I can’t stop my mouth from dropping open.He is going to stay with ME? Why?
“Until we figure this out, it is probably best that she isn’t alone. I can have someone ride by a few times a day. You know I don’t have the man power for more than that,” he tells Holt. Holt nods.
“Piper, if you think of anything that may be useful let Holt know. He will get the word to us down at the station,” Sheriff Williamson stands as he says this. Apparently that is all he needs from me.
“You all be smart,” he says as he shows himself out. Meg is standing getting her bag and pulling her jacket on. Sterling is already by her side with his keys. Carter is packing up his laptop. It is like they all have somewhere to be.
I spin around and look at Holt who has started shutting off the coffee pots. I decide not to argue.
“Sterling and I are going to head out, Piper. Let us know if you need anything,” she says impishly as if she knows something I don’t.
“Holt, call me if you need anything. Let’s meet up tomorrow to see if we can come up with something,” Sterling says before they are out the door.
Carter is pulling a black hoodie over his head. As he slings his backpack over his shoulder he starts speaking.
“I’m going to do some digging on current and new customers tonight, if I find anything I’ll give you a call,” Carter says on his way by.
In the span of 5 minutes the room has cleared and Holt has shut down my business operation. Not sure what to say, I turn around and Holt is right there. Gasping, I take a step back. He is holding my sweater and bag in his outstretched hands.
“Ready to go,” he asks me. Though it sounds more like a statement, than asking for my permission to leave. I nod and put my sweater on. Slinging my crossbody over my shoulder. I follow him out the back where everything has been turned off. I shrug, I can always come by tomorrow to check on some things if I need to.
Chapter 18
Holt
While Piper was speaking with the Sheriff, Sterling was closing up the cafe. She hardly noticed she was so engrossed in the conversation. By the time Williamson was done we were all ready to go, much to her surprise. It was already almost 3 in the afternoon, and I wanted to get to Piper’s house before it got dark to install some cameras on the house.
I used the situation to my advantage and told her that I would be staying with her. Some people might have called me a coward for doing it that way, but I knew Piper would wait until we didn’t have an audience to voice herconcernsabout the situation.
I love to go toe to toe with her verbally. It is the best form of foreplay. Her eyes sparkle, her soft cheeks get rosy, her tits start to heave. I imagine it is a pale version of what she will look like underneath me.
I open the door and let her walk through it first so that I can lock it. I see her looking around the parking lot curiously.
“I left my bike at work and grabbed the SUV,” I explain to her. She sighs and it looks like she is almost disappointed. She doesn’t have to worry, she will be on the back of my bike again soon enough.
I open the passenger door for her, to her surprise. To keep her off kilter and for my own sanity, I decide to buckle her in myself. I pull the seatbelt and lean over her. She leans back in the seat and holds her breath. I take my time and make sure to lean in a bit closer to her than necessary. She smells like vanilla and cranberries.
Pulling back slowly, I grin and shut her door. Chuckling, I make my way around the back of the vehicle and hop in the drivers side. Piper is quiet. I start the vehicle and pull out of the parking lot. Out of the corner of my eye, she starts to fidget and I know she is going to start speaking soon. I school my features to keep a straight face.
“Look, Holt—I—I appreciate everything that you are doing. I don’t want you to think that I am not grateful, but you don’t need to stay with me,” she rambles.
“I mean, you have a business to run, and we don’t even know if the brick was meant for my store or not. Even if it was, I highly doubt they would come to my house,” she states.
When she seems to run out of steam I take a deep breath. I need to handle this situation delicately, for now.
“Piper, until we get some answers we need to take every precaution possible. I need to know you are safe,” I say simply. Hoping that she won’t know how to respond to that last bit. I don’t give her a chance and ask her a question.
