Page 72 of Catch Me When I Fall

“Stop,” I begged, my hands going to my stomach. “I swear to you, Michael, I didn’t know who they were from, and I didn’t think it was a big deal.”

He glared at me. “You don’t think death threats are a big deal?”

I looked away from him, trying not to think about the woman from a few months ago. I’d seen her around town; she never really went away. In restaurants, standing outside shops, or just walking down the street, every time I noticed her, those dead eyes were staring back at me. It gave me the creeps, but I’d always brushed it off. I figured she was just a local who liked to stare. I’d never seen her before coming to Astoria.

“I thought it was a local or someone trying to scare me off.”

“A local?” he parroted.

I nodded, meeting his eyes. “The old creepy guy down the street.” It wasn’t exactly a lie. The guy gave me the fucking creeps, more so than the brunette woman.

The sheriff stared at me like I’d grown an extra head. “Mr. Winters?”

“If Mr. Winters is the old man who walks his stuffed animal up and down the street with a shotgun on his shoulder in nothing but his underwear, then yes.”

Michael said nothing.

I cleared my throat and said, “He scares the shit out of me and Tic-Tac.”

“Who the fuck is Tic-Tac?”

“The orange kitty that lives in the shed out back.” Micheal blinked and I quickly added, “I’ve been feeding him.”

His eyes shot to the ceiling again. “Not even fucking thirty yet, and I’m already too old for this.” Another sigh left Michael before he bent his head, muttering something about investing in a retirement home as he clicked the button on his radio. “Gavin. Do you copy?”

The sound of static filled the room before a man replied, “You got Gavin. Over.”

“Go down to Mr. Winter’s house and take the fucking shotgun from him,” Michael ordered sharply. “And find out where he bought it. That’s the third fucking firearm I’ve had to take from him.”

I pressed my lips together.

“Roger that. Want me to bring him in?” Gavin asked.

Michael’s eyes shot to me. “Yeah. I need to ask him a few questions. Over.”

“Roger that. Over and out.”

Michael looked at me. “I’m going to need the rest of those notes. You still have them?” he asked, his tone softer.

I nodded.

He looked me up and down. “Look, about what I said before—”

“Sarah is lucky woman, and I hope she knows that. Your children are very blessed to have you as a father,” I said softly.

His brows came together. “Carrie, I scared you.”

I let out a quiet laugh. “I wasn’t scared of you. I was scared of losing everything I’ve gained since coming here,” I told him. “Your kids have no idea how lucky they are to have a father who protects them the way you do.”

Michael gave me a pained look. “Carrie…”

“You’re my family, too, ya know?”

Suddenly, I was in his arms, wrapped up in a bear hug.

For once, I didn’t cry.

“You okay?”

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