Page 39 of Gunner

“The shrink? The one I told you to stop following?”

“I’m not following her. I’m not even moving.”

I heard his growl over the line, and I was glad I wasn’t standing in front of him.

“Get your ass to the Diamond,” he ordered gruffly, and then the phone disconnected.

I looked at Haizley’s driveway. Then up at her dark house. She wasn’t home. I didn’t know where she was. And now I had to abandon my post and go to the fucking bar.

I sat for five more minutes, hoping she would pull in. When she didn’t, I angrily threw the truck in drive and peeled off. Haizley and I would be having fucking words about this.

I pulled into the bar in town, surrounded by flashing lights. Running to the door, I yanked it open just as the paramedics were wheeling out the stretcher carrying Aspen Winters, the owner of The Flower Shoppe.

I held the door and slipped in after they left. The music was off, the lights had been turned up, and Grace was talking to the sheriff.

“What the fuck happened?” I asked, standing beside Declan.

“Another drugged female. Passed out in the bathroom. Not sure if she was raped or not yet.” Declan’s angry look said he’d had enough. “You need to find this asshole. And fast,” Declan whispered so only I heard him.

Nodding, I looked at Grace. Pulling her into my arms, I asked, “You ok, babe?”

“I’m good. Sally Jensen was here tonight. She immediately took over until the paramedics got here. She saved Aspen.”

“Tell King I need the camera footage tonight. I can’t wait until tomorrow.”

“Will do.”

I looked around the room. Women were huddled together, some with their men, some with their friends. There were a few guys standing around. I watched them to see their reactions. None of them looked guilty. Not enough to warrant suspicion.

“Nav needs a list of everyone here tonight.”

“I’ll send it over in the morning, once we have the report from everyone.”

I hung around the bar until Declan and his deputies left. Johnny made sure Grace got home, and by the time I drove by Haizley’s house, it was almost one in the morning. Her car was in the driveway and all her lights were off.

I was glad she was home, but I still needed to know where the fuck she was tonight.

Chapter Eleven

Haizley

As soon as Gunner walked into the bar, I stepped back further into the corner. For some strange reason, I didn’t want him to know I had been here tonight. I still needed to give my statement, so I asked Deputy Reed if we could step outside for some air.

“Miss Walker, can you tell me what happened tonight?”

“I honestly didn’t see anything. I was here with some friends and didn’t know anything had happened until someone yelled, call 9-1-1.”

Ok, so I know I said I didn’t have any friends. And while that’s not completely true, it’s not completely untrue, either.

I grew up in Diamond Creek and graduated from the local high school. There were fifty kids in my class senior year, so I knew people. I just didn’t classify them as friends really.

At The Diner yesterday, I was eating my lunch, minding my own business until Gunner walked up behind me. The feel of his chest against my back made my brain malfunction, and I couldn’t speak.

So, I just simply listened.

Then he put his lips on me.

After stewing about it all night and all day today I decided tonight was a good night to get a drink. When I got to the bar, I ran into Audrey Barlow. She owned The Coffee Shoppe. And we graduated from high school together. So, while we weren’tfriends, we were friendly. She invited me to sit and catch up, and I was really glad I did. Until she asked me about Gunner.

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