Kidnapping. Gruesome murder. Etcetera.
“Franny,” he said again, more sharply this time, like he understood her panic was driving the brain bus. “The important thing is, even if this was a threat, nothing happened. They didn’t break in, if that’s what they were after. You called me, just like you should have, and now we’ve got evidence and another step to take. But most importantly, Franny, you’re safe.”
She swallowed at the lump in her throat. It didn’t go away. The fear didn’t go away. But it steadied. Because if he could look her in the eye and tell her she was safe, she could almost believe it.
THE FIRST THINGRoyal did was scrounge up something to keep Franny warm. The AC in the building ran high in these hot days of summer even when the nights cooled off. She had to be freezing in her shorts and T-shirt. He hadn’t been issued a jacket yet since it was summer, but Vicki at the front desk hadan extra sweater and let him borrow it. He brought it to Franny and she thanked him, still looking lost and afraid.
But she didn’t cry. She didn’t demand to leave. She didn’t break down. She just sat there, waiting.
It made him…uncomfortable in ways he didn’t understand. Pretty much everyone he’d known before the age of twenty-one had been through ten times worse than a little kidnap witnessing and subsequent break-in attempt, so why should he feel sorry for her?
But he did.
Still, he focused on what had to be done. He called Copeland, got cussed out for the courtesy. Still, the detective was on his way. So was the sheriff. He got the card logged into evidence.
Royal didn’t let himself worry about Franny. She was holding up. He knew looks could be deceiving, but she just seemed…soft. Not jaded or traumatized by life. And still, she was holding up.
He didn’t know why he feltproudabout that. Had nothing to do with him.
Once he’d done everything that needed to be done before anyone else arrived, he went back to the break room to find her. He assumed they’d move to the sheriff’s office to discuss what had happened, but not until the sheriff got here.
She sat at one of the tables, chin resting on her hand. She was doing something on her phone, but every few seconds her eyes would droop, close, then she would blink them open and straighten.
She didn’t look up. So he found himself just standing there…studying her. The harsh lights made her hair look lighter, almost red, and her skin paler. Or maybe that was the exhaustion. She just seemed…delicate. Notfragile. She was dealing with some stuff and she didn’t break, but there was just something…somethingabout her he couldn’t articulate to himself.
And probably shouldn’t.
“Campbell.”
Royal looked behind him to where his name had been called. Detective Beckett was striding up the hall. Behind him was a pretty woman that Royal knew was the detective’s fiancée. Franny’s cousin. Audra.
Royal straightened, glanced back at Franny. She must have heard his name too, because she was staring at him now. Did he know he’d been watching her?
He shook his head. Didn’t matter. He pointed into the room. “She’s in here,” he told Beckett.
Franny stood as Copeland and Audra entered the room. Her expression fell.
“Oh, Copeland. I wish you wouldn’t have brought her.”
“I know,” the detective replied.
“I’m taking you back to the ranch,” Audra said, crossing to Franny, putting an arm around her shoulders like she was going to march her right out of there. “Right now.”
“I’m afraid that’s going to need to wait,” Royal interrupted. “We’ve got a lot to figure out before Ms. Perkins can leave.”
Audra scowled at him, but thankfully the sheriff arrived. “Beckett. Campbell. My office.” He moved on without saying anything else.
Beckett moved over to his fiancée, put his hand on her back, the touch intimate. “Take her into the detectives’ office. It’s more private.”
Weird, weird, weird to see people who only existed in the context of work just be…real people. But Audra nodded and pulled Franny up from her chair and before they could exit the room, Royal stepped out.
Beckett led the way to the sheriff’s office. Royal knew he should just follow, but he couldn’t resist a glimpse back at Franny and Audra heading the opposite direction. Their gazesmet for about one second before Audra dragged Franny around the corner.
When Royal forced himself to move forward, Beckett was looking at him, but Royal ignored the study.
The sheriff was already sitting behind his desk when they entered his office. It was the middle of the night, so Royal didn’t hesitate. He laid it all out for the sheriff.
The potential break-in. The catalogue card now in evidence.Andhow he considered it a purposeful threat against the eyewitness to the kidnapping.
