Page 54 of Wait For You

“She texted me, so I’m assuming she’s physically okay.”

Jerri Patson, who I knew in passing and knew she worked here, was walking down the hallway. “Adam! There you are. Follow me.”

A moment later, we were in a conference room. Colin Blackthorn was there, and two police officers along with Tessa. She was twisting a napkin in her hands.

As soon as she saw me, she leaped up. I rounded the table and pulled her into my arms. She was trembling and freezing cold. She buried her face against the curve of my neck, and I smoothed my hand over her curls. “It’s okay,” I whispered into her hair.

She kept trembling, and I could feel her trying not to cry, trying not to fall apart.

When she finally lifted her head, I still held her but loosened my arms slightly. “I don’t know what happened, but it will be okay. I’ll make it okay.”

She blinked her tears away and sniffled. I lifted my hand, sliding my thumb across her cheekbone. She opened her mouth to say something but closed her eyes again and took a shuddering breath.

Tessa stepped back a little, and I reached for her hands to discover they were icy cold.

I glanced around, my eyes landing on Jerri, who had returned to the room. “Do you have something hot Tessa can drink, tea maybe?”

“Tessa, what happened?” I asked when Jerri turned to get something for Tessa to drink.

“I don’t know what to do. The police said—” When she started speaking, it was as if the words alone were too much effort for her. She finally gestured over toward Colin where he was seated at the table, conferring with one of the police officers and Kenan.

Jerri reappeared with a cup of tea. “You need to sit down,” she said to Tessa.

With Jerri guiding her on one side and me on the other, we got Tessa situated in a chair by the table. I sat on the other side. I glanced at Colin and the police officer. “Tell me what happened.”

“This station received a message here on their main voicemail for Tessa. He has their son and is threatening to keep him if she doesn’t come to him.”

Tessa had her hands curled around the steaming mug of tea. I slid my gaze to her. She stared woodenly at the table. I sensed her almost locking herself away inside. I slid my hand up and down her back in a soothing pass, wishing I could impart some warmth to her, some calm. Yet I knew this was her biggest fear, that Rich would use Eric as a bargaining chip to get her back.

“So what’s the plan?” I asked.

“We’re working with the tech team and coordinating on the geo-location. The call came in from a cell. We should be able to locate him. In the meantime, we need someone to stay with her,” one of the police officers explained.

“Tessa can stay with me,” I said quickly.

“They said it’s best if I go home because Rich might look for me there.” Her eyes lifted to mine.

I didn’t like that. At all. “Sweetheart, I don’t want you in danger.”

“I need to get Eric back.”

I glanced at the two police officers seated near Colin. “Is it safe for her to go home if I’m with her?”

The police chief, Mike Taylor, looked at Tessa before meeting my eyes again. I knew Mike well as he was born and raised here like me, but he had also married Fiona’s mother recently, so he was part of our extended family. “We think so. It would be ideal if it appears as if she’s home alone. We will be parked nearby monitoring. She said she has security cameras on the front and the back of her house.”

“She does.” I glanced at Kenan.

“I’ll stay with both of you,” he offered.

“More is better, right?” I replied.

Tessa looked from me to Kenan to her attorney and to the police. “Just tell us what to do.”

“If it appears you’re home alone, Rich might come to your place. We want to limit who is at risk,” one of the police officers cut in reluctantly.

“Oh, for fuck’s sake. There’s no way we’re leaving her alone,” Kenan said.

Mike looked between Kenan and me. “I know you all have a hard time staying out of things.”

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