Page 63 of Safe With You

“I think you should report it to the authorities.”

Katie rubbed the goosebumps that rippled up her arms at his suggestion. Getting the police involved made it all feel too real and dangerous. “I’m not sure what good it will do. We can’t prove it was Christopher.”

“I know, but I think it would be good to report it and the text to establish Christopher as a potential threat. It will help if he continues to harass you and you need a restraining order.”

She sighed, weariness sinking deep into her soul. “I suppose you’re right.”

“I’ll give Eric a call after breakfast. I don’t think you’ve met him yet. He works most Sundays, so he’s not at church often, but he’s a friend and a deputy. I know he’ll take the situation seriously. I think you should tell him everything, even about Grant. That way, he’ll have the whole picture.”

The goosebumps intensified. Throughout her childhood, thoughts of telling the police about Grant had tiptoed through her mind, but she had always been too terrified to go through with it. What if they hadn’t believed her? What if Grant had talked his way out of any charges? What would he have done to her then? Those fears had paralyzed her, and she knew her hesitation now stemmed from that fear still being rooted deep inside despite being an adult. But maybe Ethan was right. Maybe it was finally time for the truth to come out.

Katie’s stomach cramped at the sight of the police cruiser pulling up in front of the cottage. After breakfast, she and Ethan had brought O’Malley back home and looked around for evidence or clues that someone had been here last night. Other than the cat, they’d found nothing amiss.

Drawing a deep breath, Katie rose from one of the wicker chairs, where she and Ethan were waiting on the porch. Ethan led the way to the squad car, and a man stepped out. Katie recalled seeing him once at church. He reminded her a bit of a Puerto Rican youth pastor she’d known back in California, and that helped settle her nerves, along with his calming smile.

Ethan welcomed him first with a handshake and friendly exchange before introducing him to Katie. He greeted her with the same friendliness.

“Ethan said you’re having trouble with your brother.”

Katie dragged in another deep breath. Now that it was time to share, she hardly knew where to begin. “Yeah, I think he’s trying to intimidate me into giving up the cottage and money our grandma left me.”

She launched into an explanation, starting with the day at the attorney’s office and then here at the cottage when Christopher had tried to punch Ethan.

“My mom and stepfather have been pretty aggressive about it since then, but I hadn’t heard from Christopher again until he texted me out of the blue five days ago. He didn’t make any direct threats, but the text was awful. Then, this cat showed up last night. I have an orange tabby inside, so I thought it was him when we first drove up, which I’m sure was intentional.”

“Is there any reason why he might suddenly be escalating matters?”

Katie exchanged a look with Ethan. Chances were it was because Grant’s attempt had failed, and they were now facing the fact that they wouldn’t get what they wanted. “There’s a lot more to this than just my inheritance.” She gathered her resolve, though to speak the words took effort. “My stepfather, Grant, abused me as a child. I’m sure that’s where Christopher gets his tendencies from.”

Now that the truth was out, she relayed the confrontation with Grant and how it might have triggered Christopher to act. By the time she had finished, Eric was shaking his head.

“I know I’m here about your brother, but if you want to press charges against your stepfather, it sounds like trespassing and at least assault. Probably battery since he grabbed you and took your phone.”

Katie breathed hard against the weight of that decision. She wanted to believe everything would turn out in her favor, but pressing charges would be going to war against Grant. All things considered, she wasn’t sure it was a war she’d win in the end.

“Honestly, I just want nothing more to do with him. I want him out of my life. If I go after him, I’m afraid he’ll find a way to drag me into a legal mess. I still believe he’ll stay away now, but if he ever shows up again, then I’ll press charges. Christopher is the one I’m worried about. Grant knows he’s on thin ice, but Christopher is a loose cannon. I don’t know what he’s capable of.”

Eric nodded as if he understood the complications. “Can I see his text?”

Katie opened it and handed him her phone.

“Do you know what kind of vehicle he drives?”

“No. I barely know anything about him. The funeral was the first time I’ve seen or talked to him in ten years.”

Eric glanced over at the dead cat, seeming to think it over before focusing back on her. “Can you give me your brother’s phone number?”

“Sure.”

She opened the contact and let him put it into his phone. He also asked for her mom’s.

“Give me a few minutes. I’m going to check into some things.”

He turned and walked back to his squad car. Katie looked at Ethan, nervous energy buzzing inside her.

He gestured toward the cottage. “Why don’t we go sit down?”

She nodded and followed him to the bench nestled up against the porch. Taking a seat, she rubbed her arms. Despite the warm air, a chill covered her skin.

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