“I’ll be entering it into evidence,” the sheriff said.
“Good, but I’d like a copy, or you can share with the WSP’s Detective Hargrove and Detective Wilson at the Lansing Michigan PD Cold Case Unit.”
The sheriff narrowed his eyes for a moment. “What is this about?”
“I wish I knew,” Jo said.
An idea—a worst-case scenario—kept gnawing at the back of Cole’s mind, and he didn’t much like it.
22
Jo shivered.
The discussion went on. The questions continued. The rain picked up. And the cold got colder. Why were they standing out here on the covered porch behind the bait shop? The rain came down hard and fast, and suddenly she was back in the camper.
Bullets slamming into it.
Naomi was screaming.
And Cole had covered Jo’s body with his. The man had been a human shield. Her chin trembled, and she looked away.
“I have to get out of here.” She turned and fled the porch, hurried through the fishy bait shop and out the door.
Splashing through puddles, she jogged to the Yukon and found it unlocked. Then Jo got in, shut the door, and breathed a sigh of relief. Through the window, she saw Cole standing at the door of the shop, concern on his face. The Yukon suddenly came on. He must have unlocked the Yukon for her with the fob and turned it on too. He turned to speak to someone.
She drew in a few calming breaths.
Why is this happening,Lord? I just can’t takethis anymore.
Cole jogged over to the vehicle, then took his time walking around it. She lost sight of him in the mirror. What was he doing? Then he got in on the driver’s side. Pursing his lips, he looked at her, his concern-filled gaze roaming her face. “I know you’re not okay. That was rough back there.”
“You were a soldier. How do you recover from someone shooting at you?”
The compassion on his face was more than she could take.
“Come here.” He leaned toward her and wrapped his arms around her, bringing her as close as he could with a console in the way.
He held her, and she forced back sobs. “Can it just be over already?”
Her question was rhetorical, and the fact that he didn’t answer but just kept holding her instead told her that he understood. She just needed to talk. Cole instinctively knew what she needed. When to listen. When to give her space.
And when to hold her. His presence sent all the anxiety running. The sound of bullets in her thoughts died away.
Finally, he said softly, “I’m so sorry this is happening to you.”
He leaned his cheek against the top of her head. Jo felt safe and secure in his arms. And she felt cherished.
She didn’t want to move, but she eased away. “I’m okay. Thank you for that. I just ... I needed...”To be held.She couldn’t finish the sentence.
“I understand.”
And he did, and that’s what she loved about him. Loved? “I know.”
Crime-scene tape wrapped the area around the camper—whatwas left of it. How had they even survived? “Do we know anything about Naomi?” she asked.
“She’s in critical condition. Normally, I would suggest we go to the hospital, but I don’t think that’s safe. Not for her. Not for you.”
“I keep thinking that I could know the reason all of this is happening deep down inside and it’s just eluding me. It remains hidden from me. There must be a reason someone is after me.”
