She gripped his shirt, her hands balling the material in her fists. “I…I’m trying.” Her words were so quiet, they barely reached him.
She turned her head toward his. Their breaths mingled. Their gazes locked.
“You’ve got this,” he whispered. “In and out.”
For a few long beats, her gaze held his like she was a prisoner. Like they were tethered and there was no pulling away. Then she closed her eyes and touched her forehead to his.
He cupped her cheeks, trying to warm her cool skin. Gently, he stroked his thumb over her cheek. Soothing. Calming.
“That’s it,” he whispered, his words just for her. “It’s just you and me.”
Her breathing started to even out. It was still faster than it should have been, but it wasn’t coming out in short puffs anymore.
When he straightened, she leaned into his chest, pressing her cheek over his heart. He kept stroking her cheek, willing her to breathe, and with his other arm he held her close.
A loud banging suddenly sounded on the front door. Joel’s focus shifted back to the other room.
“Oh no!” Jonah gasped. “I think he’s here.”
Who was there?
“It’s okay,” a voice over the phone said. “I’ll meet you at the station.”
Another bang on the door, then a voice.
“Jonah. Open up! It’s Ward.”
There could only be one reason Ward was at Jonah’s house, and it wasn’t good.
He wasn’t sure if Polly was listening or just focusing on keeping air moving through her lungs. Either way, there was no change in her breathing.
The creak of the front door opening sounded, then Ward’s distant voice.
“Jonah Goodwill, you’re under arrest for the murder of Jenna Hampstead.”
And there it was—the gun was the weapon used to kill Jenna. Jonah had definitely held the gun in his hand…but had he used it? Had he murdered her?
Ward read Jonah his rights, then the door clicked closed and there was silence.
Joel didn’t step out of the closet right away. He needed to be sure they were alone and no one was coming back.
A few long minutes passed. The silence stretched. Polly kept her cheek against him and he continued to stroke her back.
Finally, Joel pushed the door open and guided Polly out.
She sucked in big gulps of air. “Thank God!”
“Are you okay?” He studied her eyes. Eyes that were still too wide and unfocussed.
“I’m okay.” She hugged him and leaned her head into his chest again. “I’m fine. Thank you.”
For a moment, he just held her. He didn’t care that they stood in someone else’s house. That they shouldn’t be here. He just cared about her and making sure she really was okay.
When she finally stepped back, she frowned up at him. “Ward arrested Jonah.”
“Yeah.” He slipped an arm around her waist. “Come on. Let’s get out of here. I am officially banning you from breaking into any more homes from this point forward.”
23
