Page 63 of Montana Heat

When I stepped back out into the main living space, both men looked concerned.

“Alan couldn’t have been behind that snake or any of the physical attacks on her,” Liam said. “Not if he’s been behind bars all this time.”

Lucas nodded. “Yeah. But we can’t rule out the chance that he could be arranging it from there. I don’t buy thesearching for a jobstory with calling the hotel. Too much of a coincidence.”

“Jude and I will continue to look at the hotel employees and keep reviewing all the things online,” Liam said. “We’ll send pictures out to you for Kenzie to look at when she’s feeling more up to it.”

“Is someone going to keep an eye on Alan when he’s out?”

Lucas nodded. “Watters already spoke to the prison, according to Charlie. They have the parole officer’s information, and one of them will be speaking with him as soon as possible. But since Alan isn’t out yet, and we’re looking for a bad guy who’s active, nobody wants to believe he has anything to do with it.”

I knew they would all be working every angle of the case and finding out more about Kenzie’s ex. But with a long look at the closed door behind which the traumatized woman rested, I wished we could just end this nightmare for her now.

Chapter Twenty

Kenzie

The second Jensen closed the bedroom door behind him, I curled into a ball. Covering my head with the blanket, I tried to cry as quietly as I could. The cabin was silent, and I didn’t want them to hear me break down.

I’d seen the men glancing at one another. They wanted to talk about everything and figure things out, but my brain just couldn’t keep up. They wanted to know about Alan, someone in my past who was locked up and unable to get to me. Whereas I was stuck in the present. I was locked in darkness in that bathroom, perched on that sink, desperately listening for rattles.

Trying to make myself as small as possible, wondering if I would die.

All I wanted to do was vent. Scream, even. As loud and as long as I could. Release all the built-up anger, fear, and frustration. Crying didn’t help. It just made me feel weak and helpless. Like I was letting my fear take over.

The low hum of their voices in the next room reminded me that I wasn’t alone. Even after Lucas and Liam left, Jensen would still be here. But I needed someone right now.

I turned to my side and freed my phone from my back pocket.I’d been too numb to register Jensen handing it to me at my apartment before we left, but I was glad he’d given it to me.

Now, at least, I could hear a friendly voice. I called Zoe first, but she didn’t answer. As soon as I hung up, my phone rang in my hand.

“Leah? I just called Zoe.”

“I know. I’m over here with her,” she replied chirpily. “We’re so glad you called!”

“Miss you, Kenzie!” Zoe hollered in the background, clearly with her as the call was on speaker.

“I miss you guys too.” I sniffled, trying so hard to keep it all in. Just hearing their voices threatened to break the tears. I missed my friends so much. It seemed like forever since I’d seen them.

“Oh, honey…” Zoe cooed, the sympathy clear in her voice.

“What’s wrong?” Leah asked, more direct and mother-hen-like. “I mean, I know what’s wrong, but something else happened, didn’t it?”

“I—” I wasn’t sure what to say.

I couldn’t tell them specifics. Both Detective Watters and Charlie had asked me not to discuss the case with anyone as much as possible, for everyone’s safety. And it felt doubly true since the stalker had stolen my mother’s phone.

“I can’t really say.” It was all I could manage.

“Are you hurt?” Leah asked.

“No. I got another…” I struggled with how to word it. That snake wasn’t a message. It was a live, viable, and real threat. “Anotherpresent. But no, fortunately, I’m not physically hurt.”

“Thank God,” they breathed in unison.

“Wait.” Leah’s voice hardened with suspicion. “Could you have been hurt?”

“I— Yeah, but I wasn’t.”

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