Colby's chest tightened."He hurt you."
She nodded once, a small, jerky motion.
"Recently?"
"No.A few years ago."She pressed her lips together, the color draining from them."But he...he threatened me when I left.Said I'd regret it.Said he'd find a way to make me pay."
"Do you have a restraining order?"
"I did.It expired last year."Her gaze dropped to her hands, still tangled in the blanket."I thought it was behind me."
Colby kept his expression steady, but anger simmered beneath it—hot and sharp and aimed squarely at a man he'd never met.Not at her.Never at her.At the man who had put that fear in her, who had stolen her sense of safety and made her doubt herself.
"Did you see him in town?"
"Yes."Her voice wavered."Two days ago.He was across the street from the bakery, just...watching me.He didn't say anything, didn't wave, didn't approach.But it felt like a warning."
"Did you tell anyone?"
"No."She shook her head, and he could hear the self-recrimination in her voice."I convinced myself it was nothing.That I was being paranoid.Copper Moon is supposed to be peaceful.Safe."
"It is."He held her gaze."But that doesn't mean bad people don't slip through."
Her breath trembled.She finally looked up at him fully, meeting his eyes, and he saw the truth she'd been fighting—the fear she'd been carrying alone, the suspicion she hadn't wanted to voice because saying it out loud would make it real.
"I think he did it."Her whisper was barely audible over the hum of the monitors."I think he set the fire."
Colby didn't react outwardly.Inside, his resolve hardened into something solid and unyielding."It's okay to say that."
"But I don't have proof."
"We'll get it."He nodded toward the hallway."Sergeant Diaz will be here soon.She's good at her job—thorough, relentless when she needs to be.Do you want her to know what you told me?"
Sabrina hesitated, her teeth catching her lower lip."I don't want to cause trouble."
"You already have trouble."He said it gently, not unkindly."Telling Diaz gives her something to chase instead of guessing."
She drew a shaky breath, then nodded."Okay."
Colby straightened in the chair but didn't stand, didn't move away."Before she comes in here, hear me on this."
Her eyes lifted to his.
"You're not alone in this.I don't care if your ex is involved or not.I'm not going anywhere."
Confusion flickered across her face, followed by something softer—hope, maybe, or the desperate wish that she could believe him."Why would you help me?You don't even know me."
"Because someone should have helped you a long time ago."His voice gentled."And because Copper Moon takes care of its own."
Her eyes filled, and she blinked rapidly, fighting the tears.When she spoke, her voice was thick."Thank you."
He gave her a small, reassuring nod."You'd do the same."
"One last thing?"
"Yeah?"
She looked into his eyes, searching."Did you tell me the truth?Did everyone get out of the house?"
