Page 18 of Claws and Feathers

“Please let there be something worthwhile on there,” Cooper said, tossing his keys onto his desk and eyeing James, who was holding up the hard drive. “We need a damn break.”

James fired up the laptop, and they both leaned over the desk, waiting for the footage to load.

“We got all these leads and no reward. This guy must be cunning,” James said, shaking his head in frustration.

Cooper narrowed his eyes. “I think he’s just incredibly lucky.”

The surveillance footage began to play, and they moved in closer, their eyes scanning the monitor. It was taken at the time the van went missing – four-sixteen P.M. on the day of the abduction. Cooper watched as a silver sedan pulled in and parked at the back of the lot. When the man exited the vehicle, Cooper pointed a finger at the screen. “That’s him.” The footage was fuzzy and full of grain, but he could tell by the baseball cap and dark, long-sleeved shirt. The height and weight also matched. “Is there a way to zoom in on the car?”

“Not in my skill set, McAllister. I can make a few calls, though.”

Cooper tapped his foot. It was far too grainy to get a license plate number, but at least they had a vague description of the vehicle the suspect was driving. It looked to be a Kia Optima. Maybe a 2013. Luckily, Cooper was knowledgeable with cars.

They watched as the man spent a good ten minutes inside the van, likely hot-wiring it. Then it sped out of the parking lot.

Cooper and James stood up straight and faced each other. “All right. Let’s start getting a list of car owners within a thirty-mile radius. We’ll start there. I’m almost certain it’s an Optima, which is fairly common, so I’m not exactly hopeful. But it’s something.”

“I’m on it,” James said. “Want me to relieve Kravitz tonight?”

Cooper thought about it, then shook his head. “I’ll head over there after I get a nap in.”

He should have agreed. A break would do him good – aday off. But as long as Abby’s kidnapper was still on the loose, Cooper felt an overwhelming responsibility to protect her. He would sit in Daphne’s driveway 24/7 if that’s what it took. Handing the reins over to his fellow officers didn’t feel right.Hewanted to be there if something happened.Hewanted to be the one to take the bastard out.

His mind wandered to their meeting that morning. Cooper had tried to keep his distance, he really had. But Kate’s words kept gnawing at him:“You’re probably the one person who can reach her right now.”Cooper may have hardened over the years, but his heart was still susceptible to a woman in need. It was susceptible toher. He would just need to be careful. He would need to avoid that look she got when their eyes met – inquisitive. Whimsical. There was a whisper of yearning mixed with pain. There was something that made him want to hold her in his arms and tell her it was going to be okay.

Damnit.

Those were the exact thoughts he needed to avoid. He could be her friend. He could protect her and solve her case, andyes, he could also be her friend. They weren’t black and white.

They were gray.

Chapter Six

Abby walked into the light and airy office filled with simmering nerves. She squeezed the strap of her purse, glancing around the small, yet stylishly, decorated room.

“You must be Abigail. Citrus or lavender?”

Abby looked to her right to see a brunette woman fiddling with an essential oil diffuser. “Oh, um… it doesn’t matter. Are you Dr. Lowry?”

“Maya. I don’t really love formalities,” the woman said. “Have a seat.”

Abby hesitated briefly, then made her way to the aqua-colored loveseat draped with a navy blanket and colorful throw pillows. Her eyes drifted back to Maya who met her gaze with a smile. She was a beautiful woman, exotic and slim. Her ebony hair was pulled back into a loose ponytail, and her green eyes were round and large. She resembled a Disney princess. “Thanks for meeting with me.”

Maya ambled over to the reclining chair across from Abby, the ghost of a smile still tugging at her lips. “I’m surprised the hospital referred you to me. They usually send their patients to Dr. Schroeder in Crow’s Peak. Ashland is a bit of a drive.”

“It wasn’t bad. It was nice to get out of the house, honestly.” Abby played with the embellishments on the hem of her blouse. The first meeting was always so awkward. “I debated even coming today. I don’t really like talking about what goes on in my head. It’s… kind of a dark place sometimes.”

“Even more reason to confide in someone. I’m glad you came,” Maya replied, crossing her leg over her opposite knee. She leaned back with an interested sigh. “Tell me about yourself. What makes you tick? What makes you laugh?”

Abby nibbled on her lip as she pondered the questions. She never gave much thought to such things. “I don’t really tick. I just kind of get by,” she said. Well, that sounded remarkably depressing. “I – I mean, I have hobbies. I enjoy things. Photography.”

“That’s a great hobby. I admire a good photographer. Is it your job?”

“I had a few clients back in Illinois. I was thinking of finding a studio around town and maybe making a business out of it.” Abby thought for a moment, then quirked a smile. “Bumble bees make me laugh.”

Maya chuckled and began taking notes. “Tell me about your family. Your parents, siblings. Significant other?”

Abby shook her head. “Just me. My parents died in a car accident when I was a teenager. My brother is estranged, and my boyfriend and I recently split up.”

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