Page 25 of Sheltered by the Lawman

Her shoulders slumped “You’re right. I understand. I’ve been thinking, if you can tell me everything you know about the fire maybe something will click in my head.”

“I’ve told you a few things already. The intruder used gasoline to start the fire. That’s why the apartment went up so fast and hot. I’d guess he was waiting for you inside the apartment when you walked in. The apartment manager said you hadn’t been home for a few days and hadn’t paid rent for the month.”

“I did have the backpack.”

“It’s possible you were on vacation.” He emptied his glass of tea, monitoring what he said. If he told her too much would she run? Could it disrupt the possibility of her getting her memory back?

“Is it possible I walked in and caught the burglar in the act?”

“Statistically, when homeowners catch a burglary in progress the thief doesn’t respond with a thought-out plan. They act impulsively which usually means running or taking care of any witnesses. This was a premeditative plan. The intruder had the gas and used it to get rid of evidence. I know this is hard to absorb, especially because you have no clue about the circumstances, but I still believe you’re in danger.” He blew out a long breath. “This person, he wants you dead, enough that he shot at us outside of the apartment. Me saving you wasn’t part of the plan.”

“So what you’re saying is that I had evidence of something in my apartment?”

“Yeah, I do.”

“Do you think the intruder knew you? That he recognized you?” She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

She brought up a good point and he’d thought about that possibility. “It was dark enough that I don’t think he could make out my face. We were sitting ducks out there. Instinct tells me he was trying to hit you and I was in the way.”

Her face paled some. “I’m trying to be brave, but this is all so much…”

He knelt at her side and laid his hand on her shaking fingers. “This is a lot, I know, but right now you’re where you should be. Nothing will happen to you. I won’t let it. I promise.” Yet, was he making promises he couldn’t keep? Even if they didn’t have a gunman on the loose, she was still a suspect in the death of a man she was having an affair with. His stomach clenched. That opened a whole new can of worms. Had she been in love with the dead man? Or was he just a bank account? What if Deke had her all wrong?

Was Cull grasping at straws now?

She nodded as if he made perfectly good sense. “I guess I need to stay patient and hopeful that everything will come back to me. It’s just…well…”

“You want to help find the guy.”

“I do, but I truly want to know what my life was like.”

“Hey, I understand. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Just like the doc said, try to allow the memories to come back on their own. The prognosis is good.” He pulled his hand away and stood.

“Thank you. You’re right.” She stood too. “I better get these dishes washed and get back to the apartment. The crack of dawn will come bright and early.”

“I’ll help,” he offered and started stacking the dirty dishes. He watched her fill the sink with hot water and squirt in several drops of a detergent. “I’ll dry.” He hoped he could handle standing so close to her.

She had nice hands and he envied the china. Her hand moved the dishcloth across the plate with such ease and carefulness and an image broke through him, one of her touching him with the same tender care. He cursed under his breath. How ridiculous was he being? He envied a plate? He was turned inside out over a woman who didn’t even have a clue who she was. Fact was, he knew more about her than she did and what he did know wasn’t very good. “I want a cup of coffee. How about you?”

There was a slight hesitation. “No, I better not. I don’t want to be kept up half the night. My days of drowning in coffee to stay awake to cram for finals are over.” He stopped just as she looked over her shoulder at him. “I don’t know where that came from. I must have been taking classes. But what kind of classes?”

Seeing her smile at the small memory kicked him in the gut. He wanted to see her as a possible criminal, but when he looked at her, all he could see was a beautiful woman with bright eyes and a smile. She just didn’t fit the profile of…what? A woman who got caught up in a risky lifestyle? Good people found themselves making mistakes. But murder wasn’t just a mistake. If she had anything to do with a man’s death, her life would change drastically.

He had to be careful though because he was searching for the positive in her, trying to prove that she couldn’t do any wrong. He couldn’t deny that he liked her, even found her attractive, but in other circumstances—way other circumstances—he would have acted upon those feelings, but things were black and white when it came to the legal system. She was, at least, a witness to a crime and wanted for questioning.

Point blank.

He took an oath to uphold the law and he believed in the system.

Cull also believed in innocence until proven guilty.

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