“Addie, someone was murdered. And they left you a direct threat with the body.”
She swallowed, her gaze going to the window again. “I know, but I’ve got an alarm on my house now, and new locks.”
“It’s not enough. Look, we’ve got a new lead we’re following up on. And there’s at leastsomegood news…the coroner hasgiven us a time of death, which was early hours of the morning. That rules Noah out as a suspect.”
Thank God.
“We’re doing everything we can to get to the bottom of this,” he continued. “For now, I’m going to keep the deputy outside your house. Noah would kill me if anything happened to you.”
Was that the same Noah who hadn’t talked to her in days? “Okay.” She lifted her warm drink again. “I really appreciate everything you’re doing.”
“It’s my job. Nothing new I should be aware of?”
“No.”
“Good. Call if you need anything.”
“I will.”
She hung up and set the phone back on the counter. Then there was silence. The same silence that had surrounded her since her parents had left. She hated it. The home that had once felt warm and cozy now felt empty and lonely.
Maybe that was because she was bored. She’d done everything that could possibly be done work wise, and she was trying to minimize her time out of the house.
But shedidneed some groceries.
She nibbled her bottom lip.
Screw it. Grocery store, then straight home.
After pouring the rest of her hot chocolate down the drain, she grabbed her phone and keys and headed outside. But she didn’t go to her car. She crossed the street, and the deputy immediately rolled down his window.
She frowned when she realized she recognized the guy. “Ellis?”
He grinned at her. “Hey, Addie.”
“What are you doing in Amber Ridge?” He was a deputy from the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office in Bozeman. They’d also gone to school together.
“Your sheriff asked us to loan an officer because they’re running short. So, here I am.”
Great. She wasn’t just inconveniencing her own town; she was taking resources from Bozeman too. “I’m sorry.”
“Why? It’s the easiest job I’ve ever taken.”
“You’re not bored?”
“Bored of getting paid to eat pretzels, watch your house, and listen to true crime podcasts? Hell nah.”
She chuckled. “Okay, well, I’m just running down to the grocery store.”
He straightened. “Great. I’ll follow you.”
“When do you finish?”
“I’m assigned to watch you until six.”
Yep, she felt like a huge, mammoth inconvenience. “Okay. I’ll see you there.”
She climbed into her car and drove to the grocery store. She’d just pulled into a parking spot when her phone vibrated with a text.
