He cursed and pulled her away.
They’d just reached the kitchen when Polly threw up in the sink over what she’d seen.
Two bodies. Both women. Piled on top of each other like someone had simply dropped them down there.
10
Polly was shaking. She couldn’t stop. Something inside her had known what she was about to find in that basement. But seeing it… God, seeing the bodies of the two women was like a gut punch. Worse, it was like every nightmare she’d ever had rolled together but in real life.
She scrunched her eyes closed, but the bodies appeared behind her lids. Not just the bodies, their eyes. Dull and lifeless as they stared up at her.
She deepened her breathing, focusing on the air moving in and out of her lungs. She didn’t want to be sick again. There were too many people here now.
Ward. His deputies. Joel’s entire team and people with gurneys for the bodies. Everyone moved around her, while she just sat on the bottom step in front of the house, watching without really seeing.
Joel had been with her while she’d spoken to Ward and Deputy Cox. He’d been by her side while she’d tried to breathe through the nausea and panic. And nowhewas talking to Ward.
It was strange, but she wanted him back with her.
She’d never really wanted a guy to save her, or even for comfort, but right now she wanted his warmth to radiate into her like a heater. She felt cold and shaky, and every few minutes bile tried to crawl up her throat and break free.
When Joel left Ward and started toward her, oxygen flowed through her lungs with a bit more ease.
He knelt in front of her, concern creasing small lines beside his eyes. “How are you doing?”
“Not good.” The most honest words she’d ever spoken.
“Do you want me to call Maggie or your mom?”
She shook her head. Maggie had just gone through a lot. She didn’t need to look after Polly right now. And her mom had never been much of a comfort.
He slipped a piece of hair behind her ear. “Do you want me to take you home?”
Again, she shook her head. Her house would feel big and empty, and memories of what she’d seen in that basement would toy with her all night.
His eyes shifted between hers for a few moments.
“Okay.” That was all he said. Then he took her hand and tugged her to her feet before leading her toward his truck.
“Can I have your car keys?” His words were soft and gentle and slipped over her skin like silk.
She didn’t ask what he wanted with them. She just handed them to him, trusting him in whatever he was about to do. He disappeared for a moment before returning to his truck.
She didn’t question where he was taking her. She didn’t care. As long as it wasn’t home and she wasn’t by herself, he could take her wherever he wanted.
She didn’t want to look too deeply into why she trusted him so much. That would be tomorrow’s problem.
Five minutes later, he pulled up in front of a rustic mountain-style home. There was lots of wood and stone, with largewindows. The area had neighbors, but the lots were big enough that the houses didn’t feel on top of each other.
Joel parked in the driveway and was at her door before she’d finished releasing her seat belt.
The second they stepped inside the house, a cat appeared, moving straight over to Joel and rubbing against his leg, purring.
She frowned. “You have a cat?”
“I told you I have a cat.” He lifted the animal and scratched its head. “You named her Saint for me, remember?”
“I thought she was something you made up to calm me down from my panic attack.”
