Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 99494 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 497(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99494 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 497(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
It might make me a wimp, but I don’t put up a fight. I let him lead me back into his house, and I take a seat on the couch as he talks on the phone and rummages around in the kitchen. Like Gemma can feel my anxiousness, she sits with me with her head and upper body draped across my lap, holding me down.
“Cobi is pulling up outside with another detective.” Bax comes out of the kitchen and walks around the side of the couch, squatting in front of me. “I put coffee on, and it should be done in a couple of minutes.”
“Should I come out with you?”
“No, just wait in here. If you want something to do, you can call your insurance and see what you need to do in order to file a claim with them.”
I rub the space between my eyes. I didn’t even think about that. “I need to figure out how I’m going to get to work, and I need to pick up Rebecca from the airport tonight.”
“Hey.” He takes my hands in his. “One thing at a time. If we can’t get you a rental right away, you can use my truck, and I’ll ride my bike. It will be okay.” He stands but leans over me. “I’ll be right outside if you need me.”
“Okay,” I whisper, and he presses his mouth to mine, then touches his lips to my forehead before he stands and starts toward the door, telling Gemma to stay with me.
When the door closes behind him, I let out a breath, then get up and go to the kitchen to grab my phone out of my bag. It’s too early to call my parents, but it’s not too early to call my insurance company that is available twenty-four seven. Lucky for me, they don’t give me a hard time.
Within minutes, they send me over the address for a repair shop that I can take my car to. The part that sucks is that they inform me that, depending on the amount of damage, I might have to pay my three-thousand-dollar deductible out of pocket in order for them to fix my car. Seeing the damage myself, I imagine it will cost more than that, and since I don’t know who is responsible—or at least I don’t right now—I can’t hold them accountable. They also tell me that a rental will not be covered, so that will also be an out-of-pocket expense.
As I’m hanging up with them, Bax walks through the door with Cobi and another man, the two of them dressed in plain clothes with badges at their hips. Bax comes right to me and tucks me against his side, and I instantly feel my body relax as I melt against him.
“Hey, Olivia.” Cobi smiles softly, motioning to the man with him. “This is Detective Hammer. He and I are going to be investigating what happened to your car.”
“Hey.” I lift my hand in a tired wave.
“We already know from Bax that you two were asleep and didn’t hear anything last evening when your vehicle was vandalized.” I nod, and he continues, “He also told me that yesterday, you had a situation come up with a woman you work with.”
My gaze flies to Bax. “You don’t think Julie would do something like that, do you?”
“I don’t know,” he says softly, and I press my lips together. I hate to admit it, even if only to myself, that I don’t know either.
“Right now, we are just trying to gather a list of suspects who we can look into,” Detective Hammer says, then asks, “Can you think of anyone else who might have a problem with you?”
“No.” I shake my head.
“We understand it’s difficult to look at the people you know and question if they would do something to harm you,” Cobi says gently.
“I just moved back to town. I haven’t had a chance to make any enemies… or friends, for that matter. And I honestly can’t think of anyone who would do something like this.” I wave my hand in the direction of Kourtney's house.
“That’s okay. We’re hoping there were prints left on the knife used to slash your tires,” Cobi replies, then looks at Bax. “I’ll also get the footage from last night off your door camera, and if you know anyone else who has a camera, you can give me their names, and I’ll contact them.
“No one does except me. I checked with everyone on the block after the brick was thrown through the window next door.”
My muscles tense. How did I forget that happened? It’s like I blocked it out even though it’s the reason I’ve slept at Bax's house almost every night since.
“Are the two things connected?” I ask.
“They could be, but we won’t know until we find the person responsible, which is why it would be good if you could give us any names.”