Page 74 of Safe With Me

“I’m sorry,” I said. “That does suck, Amber.”

“Thanks,” she said, not looking up. “But enough about my sad love life. Do you think Lila isthe one?” she asked, batting her eyelashes at me.

I opened my mouth to reply, but no words came out. I’d never believed in “the one.” I’d also never believed in love at first sight or an immediate and all-consuming connection tosomeone I hardly knew, but after the past few months, I didn’t know how else to explain it.

“Could be,” I allowed.

“The hesitation and that dopey grin on your face don’t seem like acould be,” she said, pointing a finger at me.

“It’s a little more than could be. Or a lot more. All I know is that I’m fucking crazy about her.”

I turned my head to Amber’s glossy gaze.

“I know I’ve been a shitty friend. I’m sorry I’ve been all over the place this summer.”

“You have been a little scattered.” She smiled, but I spied the hurt in her eyes. “But I get it. Enjoy it.”

I grabbed her hand. “I’m here for you. You know that.”

“It’s okay, Mike.” She patted the top of my hand. “I understand, and I’m glad you’re happy. Really, I am. Just a little shocked to see you commit to anyone.”

A few months ago, that word would have made me break out in a cold sweat. But committing to Lila didn’t spook me. I should have been unnerved how fine I was with it.

Other than her talking about bolting because she didn’t want to bring us trouble.

“Excuse me,” I told Amber when I felt my phone buzz in my pocket.

“Hey, Mike. It’s Jude. We’re trying to get the prints run quickly, but it may be a while. Keith is trying to contact the Albany Police Department to see if we can use their system.”

Police in bigger cities had more funding and access to digital forensics and technology. If they helped us, it would cut the waiting time in half.

“Either way, it’s going to take a bit, but we’re working on expediting it.”

“Thank you,” I said, heading toward the hallway near Aaron’s office for some privacy. “I get it.”

Keith didn’t contact Albany unless it was a larger crime scene. I gave thanks for being a cop with an extra connection to the chief, but Keith hated stalkers, especially when an ex-partner or spouse was responsible.

“It’s hard when you need the answer for someone you care about. The kids that we picked up spray-paintedsluton somebody’s door last night too, and it was an older lady so it didn’t seem like a deliberate target. This still could be part of that.”

“I hope,” I said, rubbing my temple. “I’d have an easier time pinning it on them if the marks weren’t so deep.”

“Me too. You also don’t know. One of them could have been showing off by making a bigger mark. Until the prints come back, it’s unfortunately conjecture at this point.”

“Conjecture when it’s someone you care about sucks.” I let out a long breath and rubbed my eyes.

“Trust me, I know. But for right now, I would tell Lila what I told her this morning. This is most likely nothing, but it’s good that we all know what happened to her before she came to town. She should still stay aware, but it sounds like she was anyway.”

“She was,” I said, letting my head fall back in angry frustration. Just when she’d started to have an easier time leaving her apartment, this had to set her back.

“Ask her to get me that flash drive as soon as she can so I can keep it here.”

“Thank you, Jude,” I said with a loud exhale. “I’ll tell her.”

“I also don’t think it’s a bad idea to see if the Francos would get a doorbell camera, at least on Lila’s door. The hardware store installs them for a good price.”

“And my father is their best customer. Maybe if he talks to them, they can do it for an even better cost—or one Kathy and Terry will consider. I’ll see what I can do. And thank you again, Jude. I appreciate it.”

“Of course. Stick by her for a little while, which I think you were going to do anyway.”

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