Page 172 of Saving the Halfback

Easier said than done.After a few moments of pacing, Nolan was able to rein Bailey in, handing her a random book he found in her room and pulling her to the couch, curled up on his lap. She asked for a show as well to drown out the quiet of the house. Chase foundBrooklyn Nine-Nine, the detective show funny enough to make us laugh, even when we all were experiencing varying stages of ready to go on a manhunt.

This lasted well into the evening. Shelly went crazy baking to get rid of her stress, but no one was hungry. No one ate.

We were on our phones and still watching TV when Lachlan straightened. “Hey, the new is on.” Bailey sat up when Lachlan walked over, sitting in between us all and holding his phone out so we could see.

“Live from Cloverton, where police say a suspect is at large. The public is asked to keep an eye out for this man.”A picture of Ed was shown.“Police state he is dangerous and may have weapons on his person. They are asking the public not to approach him but please phone in if he is spotted. He may go by Edward Haynes, but his true name is Kenneth P. Walters. Kenneth Walters is wanted for the possible involvement in four cold case rape and murder cases throughout the province. The victims are fourteen-year-old Shelby Price, fifteen-year-old Jaqueline Peirce, fifteen-year-old Kristen Dourly, and seventeen-year-old Willow Peters.”

Pictures of the victims were shown, and though some looked as if they had been taken at least a decade ago, they all had something in common. They all looked very similar to Bailey.

“Again, if Kenneth Walters is spotted, police ask you do not confront him. Call it in at the number displayed here, so they can legally obtain him and closure can be given to these families.”

We all remained silent, just staring at the phone as the video ended. John and Shelly walked into the room and took one look around before Lachlan handed him the phone. We listened again to the news broadcast as they watched the video.

“Bailey?” Nolan asked as she silently got up from the couch.

She shook her head, holding her hand up before running to the bathroom, vomiting. How close? Over the years, how close had she become to being up there with those other pictures?

Chase and Lachlan looked as pale as I felt. If we had gone through this year like we had in the past, there was a high possibility Bailey wouldn’t be here with us now.

64

Bailey

Tuesday

The next morning, there still was no change in the news about Ed. Officers were now flooding the streets, and police dogs were brought in. I thought I had seen a helicopter, but so many news stations came into our little town that I couldn’t tell if it was police or news.

Dad walked into the room, drawing my attention. “I want to come,” I demanded.

“Enough, Bailey.” We had been going at it all morning. Dad had called a few local farmers, his buddies, and they were going on a manhunt. “This goddamn police station isn’t what it used to be, that’s going to change! I’ll see to it. Incompetent fools,” he snapped, talking to himself again.

Ethan walked through the room with his shoes on and stood, waiting for my dad. “No way!” I jumped to my feet, the motion so fast, I became lightheaded, but Nolan put his hand on my back, steadying me. “You are going?”

Ethan didn’t say anything. Of course, he wouldn’t. He just stared at me, his lips pressed tightly together.

“I am able!” I turned on Dad. “I can shoot a gun just as well as you, and you know that.”

“Then, stay here and protect your mom,” Dad said, reaching for the keys and walking out the door, Ethan close behind.

I followed them. Chase and Lachlan were already standing on the porch, talking, when we got outside. “She can shoot better than both of us combined, and you know that too!” I called from the porch while they made their way to Dad’s truck, completely ignoring me. “Assholes,” I whispered under my breath.

I stared at the police car parked at the end of our driveway. He should be out there looking for Ed as well. Instead, he was babysitting me. They all were.

I went back inside and put my shoes on before going to grab my keys, but my keys were gone. I frowned as I walked back outside and down the steps toward my truck to see if someone had left them inside.

“They aren’t in there,” Chase said.

I turned around, glaring at him.

“I’m not telling you where they are, either.” He was a lost cause, but… I softened my glare and looked to Nolan.

Nolan shrugged. Damn it, they hadn’t told him. My gaze shifted to Lachlan. “You see why this is ridiculous, right?”

Lachlan sighed, walking down off the porch and holding his hand out to me. I took it, letting him pull me into a hug. “Would you just be a good girl and let them protect you? Maybe not running off toward the murderer?”

“It’s not that I’m trying to run to him, it’s that all of this is going on, and I’m not chopped liver, Lach.” I didn’t want to see Ed ever again

He chuckled. “I know.” Lachlan’s phone started vibrating in his pocket, but he ignored it while his hand expertly began massaging the back of my neck. I tilted my face up to his, and he met my lips, kissing me tenderly, sweetly.

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