Grim Reaper. Keep up!
I need to go back to bed.Jon gave his head a shake and tucked his phone away. The weirdness didn’t matter in the long-run. Not as long as Colin Carr was gone and permanently out of Jenna’s life.
He stepped up to the exterior of the shattered window, as if seeing it from the outside would change the reality. Because he didn’t quite know how they were going to explain this to her elderly landlady.
The sound of an approaching vehicle sharpened Jon’s attention, so he turned and strode around to the front in time to see one of his least expected, least desired sights. A Leeland County Sheriff’s SUV had rolled to a stop at the curb just beyond Jon’s truck.Shit.
Worried about Jenna’s state of mind, Jon spun on his heel and jogged for the front door. “Jen,” he called as soon as he stepped in. He hurried down the hall, but she met him at the edge of the kitchen as she ran into his arms. He folded his arms around her, holding her tight and kissing her hair. “It’s okay, baby. It’s over. He can’t hurt you anymore.”
She sucked in hard breaths, obviously emotional. “I heard— Did you— Are you—”
He kissed her temple. “I’m sorry I even let him speak, baby. Yes, I did. And no, I’m not. It’s all done.” And he wished he could give her more than ten seconds to process that.Goddamn Parker.He eased back and wiped his thumbs over her tear-stained cheeks, keeping his voice low. “The sheriff’s department just pulled up, so someone must have been in the area when that asshole started shouting.”
Jenna paled, her eyes going wide with visible fear.
“Breathe, baby,” he said quickly. “Weird shit happened. The body’s gone. All I need you to do is play along, okay? The rockcame through the window, scared you out of your mind, you’re still shaken up. Can you do that?”
“It’s gone…?”
A knock sounded from the front door Jon had purposely left ajar and Jon tugged her in for one quick, hopefully reassuring, kiss.
“Sheriff’s department!” a male voice called from the doorway. A male voice that did not sound like Drew Parker. Though, Parker probably wouldn’t have knocked, either.
Jon met Jenna’s eyes one more time before tucking her up beneath his chin, still tight in his arms and hers around him, and projected his voice. “Kitchen!”
Calm steps squeaked on the vinyl as their visitor made his way to them, then came to a stop. “Is … everything okay here?”
What the fuck do you think?But Jon didn’t want to assume the reason for the visit, either, so he visibly eased his hold, paused to drop a kiss on Jenna’s head, and turned the both of them around enough to face the stranger in her apartment. And as they moved, Jon wondered if the deputy had noticed the gun tucked into his waistband or if he’d been too distracted.
The uniformed man standing across from them was definitely not Parker, or the beta-coded partner Parker had shown up with when they’d arrived at Jenna’s bakery. This man held himself properly, actually looked fit, and didn’t look back at them with a predisposition of disdain in his green eyes. He was tall, almost as tall as Jon, and kept his black hair at least trimmed enough that it couldn’t fall into his eyes.
Under normal circumstances, Jon would have given the man the respect of his station by default merely from the way he presented.
Jenna sniffled before Jon could find an answer and stood up a little straighter, her fingers clenching in his shirt. “I’m not sure what you’re doing here, deputy, but I’ll be frank. Not twenty-four hours ago Drew Parker told me to cease contact with the sheriff’s department or he’d have me arrested for harassment and whatever other nonsense he could think of. So, if you’ve come here to further Drew’s ‘ruin Jenna’s life’ agenda, kindly get out of my home.”
The deputy’s eyes widened and he hooked his thumbs into his belt. “Forgive me, Ms. Hodge, but that’s the first I’m hearing about any problems.” His gaze flicked to Jon, then past them both, toward the shattered window. “Though it does seem like you might have had cause to make a call. I notice you haven’t answered my question.”
“Why would I lean on a department that’s already holding my livelihood in lockup and refusing to so much as answer questions about anestimationon a timeline of when I might get it back?” Jenna snapped. “My boyfriend was here when that freaking football-sized rock came through the window a few minutes ago and about took my head off. He went out and looked around while I tried not to have a panic attack. Didn’t see the point in calling 9-1-1.”
Jon had to bite back his smile. He hated the necessity, but she was doing a damn good job. Of course, it undoubtedly helped that her anger was real.
The deputy again looked to him. “That could have been dangerous.”
Jon held the stare. “For the asshole responsible. I did seventeen years with the Marine Corps, and this dipshit was throwing rocks through windows for kicks.” There were always bored kids in rural areas like these—he knew, because he’d been one once. That was why the lie would sell.
The deputy rocked back on his heels and let out a short whistle. “Seventeen? That’s impressive. Thank you for your service, mister…?”
It was a struggle to keep the suspicion from becoming a glare. “Johnson. And it’s Officer. Warrant Officer Johnson.”
The deputy smiled. “Apologies.” His smile faded. “Did you find the culprit?”
“Couple of punk kids,” Jon replied smoothly. “Caught one with another rock in his hand. I chased ‘em off, told them I’d beat their asses if I heard they got up to this kinda shit again.” He rubbed his hand up and down Jenna’s side just enough to catch their guest’s eye. “They’re lucky I don’t hit kids.”
The deputy let out a sigh and shook his head. “Shame I didn’t get here a few minutes sooner, I could’ve written them up properly. Maybe taught them something.”
Right.
“That’s not why you’re here,” Jenna said. “And it better not be to arrest me, because I left when Drew kicked me out and I have no intention of ever calling again. Not without a lawyer.”
