Page 3 of Charged With Forever

"Guess who just won a huge settlement," Tina boasts as she strolls into my office.

"I knew you could do it," I tell her as I stand to embrace her.

"The client was so happy she wants to give us some of it."

"That's fantastic,” I say, hoping to use it to hire more attorneys, help spread out the load we’re all carrying. As Tina excuses herself, needing to get to another case, my mom calls. I answer instantly, greeting her.

"Sawyer, what's this about you and Cole missing Sunday brunch again?" Uh oh. She sounds pissed.

"We’re slammed, mom. You know how it is." Unfortunately, she’s not having it because I’ve used the excuse too many times before.

"Bullshit. What's going on with you two? Are you having problems? Is that why you haven’t been coming?" She isn’t far off, though. Something has shifted between us and I hate it. It’s not like we are actually fighting, but we rant the couple we use to be.

"We’re good,” I reassure her. “It’s been crazy here and with Cole making detective, he’s got a lot going on at the station."

She huffs in frustration. "Fine. At least let Naomi and I plan an anniversary party for you guys." Again with this? I concede, unable to deny her a second time. Or is it third?

"No take-backs," she says quickly before hanging up. Great. It's not that I don't want to celebrate. I just wish it was for more than dating all these years. I’ve been thinking a lot about marriage lately, but I don’t know if Cole is, it’s making me insecure. About him, us, life in general. It’s probably why I’ve become so engrossed in my career.

"Sawyer, don't forget your lunch meeting," my assistant reminds me. Shit. I did. I quickly gather my belongings and rush to my car. When I reach it, I notice a folded yellow piece of paper under one of my wipers. I assume it’s an advertisement until I open it, then my stomach sinks, making me nauseous.

"I love watching you." I fight the urge to look around, see if he’s watching me. I know it's the stalker from Cole’s current case. This is what he does, this is all he does. Nothing more, nothing less. From what I've been told, he's just that, a stalker. I crumple it up and throw it on the ground, for once not caring about littering and get in my car. I’m just going to pretend nothing happened. This guy gets off on sending creepy notes, so if he is observing me, I won’t give him the satisfaction of knowing he rattled me. And if I tell Cole, it’ll drive him crazy with worry, he does not need while trying to catch this asshole.

By the time I arrive, I've shaken off the eerie vibe from the note, and enter the restaurant where I'm meeting that wants to donate his time. He’s tall, and what some women would consider handsome, wearing a suit that probably cost more than my vehicle. Pasting on a smile, I extend my hand in greeting. “Kevin?”

He confirms by accepting it. "Sawyer, it's so nice to meet you in person. And dare I say your beautiful voice matches your appearance." He’s quite the charmer, but he does nothing for me. I gesture for us to sit.

"Thank you. You never said what law firm you worked for." He visibly hesitates before answering, and it isn’t with one I was expecting.

"Hanes and Associates." My grandparents’ firm. I’ve only met them a handful of times since they never had the best relationship with my dad or mom. They use money to show they care, which means this could be another way to do that.

"Are you honestly willing to help or is this a power move?"

"Mr. Hanes wants to support your cause."

"I find that hard to believe considering they pitched a fit when my dad left."

"He's grown more sentimental with age," Kevin explains. The offer seems legitimate and, if it is, I can’t turn it down. He and I spend the next couple hours coming up with a plan.

When I leave, there’s another note. Fucking great. I don't even bother reading this one, but merely toss it as I did the first. However, the text from Cole I receive once I’m behind the wheel, I do. He's working late. I didn’t even see him this morning as he was gone when I woke up, more than likely having gone to the gym. Determined not to make it an issue as he’s clearly buys, I inform him I am, too. But that's not what I want to say. I should’ve responded that I miss him. But once again, my insecurities stop me. I can tell him next time I see him.

Whenever that may be.

Chapter 4

Cole

Ithrow down my pen and rub my eyes. Now that my report is done, another case is almost officially closed. With my dad being the chief of police, I've always pushed myself, needing to show that I earned my job instead of having it handed to me. And now that I’m a detective, that hasn’t changed, despite the fact it’s kept me from going home for a few days. Sawyer is swamped, too, but it doesn’t lessen my guilt any. Just thinking about her makes my heartache. I miss what we were. Lately, it’s as if we’re more like roommates as opposed to a couple, two ships passing in the night. That needs to change, and a glance at my watch tells me I can start making that happen now. It’s only seven in the morning, which means I can probably catch her before she leaves for work. Shoving my files to the side until I return, I walk to my ride, stopping at the sight of a yellow folded piece of paper under my wiper. What the fuck? My gaze scans the area, but I don’t see anyone suspicious. I carefully open the note, gripping it by the corners, rage about consuming me at the words written upon it.

"Her hair smells like roses." Sawyer’s does, but how does this asshole know that?

Destination forgotten, I hurry back inside, this time going to forensics. I bark at a tech to check it for fingerprints and any other test they can think of. With a promise to rush the results, I then log into the security video to view the time frame between my arrival days prior and my exit just moments before. I find the footage I desire, except it’s not enough. My ride is parked at the edge of the camera frame. A hand encased in a glove placing it where I discovered it. Fucker.

Totally engrossed in visualizing the pain I’m going to inflict on this bastard when he’s caught, Sawyer’s voice startles me.

“Hey hun.”

I visible jump and I flip my phone over, hiding the screen from her. There’s no sense worrying her about this, especially as we still have no leads. What I will do is have uniforms do frequent routes past our house and her office. And perhaps have one shadow her to and from. Of course, she notices my action and hurt crosses her face at it.

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