Page 304 of Cold Case, Warm Hearts

“You have a bodyguard?” She pulled over and narrowed her eyes. “We’re both park rangers. Trained law enforcement. Why do we have a bodyguard following us?”

“I’ll fill you in, but let me introduce you first, so we can get back on the road.”

After introductions were made and Sam gave Gavin her address in case they were separated, Emily went into the list of reasons Wade believed she needed protection even though she believed she was more than capable of taking care of herself.

“I’m surprised you accepted help from Wade.” Sam tapped on the steering wheel. A nervous habit that drove Emily batty.

“He showed me the murder board they’d created. From the looks of it and the teddy bear I received, I may have been the next victim, and nobody can be on guard twenty-four hours aday. I needed to be able to shower and sleep, so I let him provide extra protection.”

“I knew he thought you were being targeted when he sent you to stay at my place the last time, but you never said why.”

“I received a teddy bear with a charm bracelet on it.”

“And?”

“It’s the guy’s signature move. He sends his next victim a stuffed animal with jewelry he took from the previous victim.”

“The bracelet belonged to Lorraine Moore?”

“It did.”

“I can see why he’d be concerned, but it doesn’t fit the guy’s timeline for him to take someone else now.”

“I know. When I received the stuffed bear, Wade figured the killer was escalating, and now that he’s taken Jamie, it’s more than a theory.”

“What happened with the guy they arrested?”

“They arrested him on unrelated charges. Wade was never convinced he was the killer, but he sounds like a shady character, and he has ties to a couple of the victims and the park.”

Gavin was kind enoughto drive her back to Wade’s house the next morning, and she was pleased to see he’d already left the house when she arrived. She dressed quickly in her uniform and then packed her belongings. Her phone alerted her she had an incoming call. When she glanced at the screen and saw Wade’s name, she hit ignore. She had no desire to talk to him. She certainly couldn’t remain under the same roof as him.

His behavior made no sense. What was the point in making her think he cared? It wasn’t like he was trying to get her intobed. He’d been the one to show self-restraint. Why toy with her emotions?

She’d been prepared to give him another chance until he’d walked into O’Brian’s Mug with a gorgeous woman on his arm. The woman was a solid ten. Tall. Curvy. Gorgeous. Emily was none of those things. She couldn’t compete with the blonde bombshell.

She was surprised he would be out with a woman instead of searching for Jamie, but she’d never claimed to understand men.

With her bag slung over her shoulder and Ruger whimpering behind her, she trudged out the door, giving the dog one last pat before Gavin locked up behind her.

Life was strange. A week ago, she’d have been thrilled to be leaving Wade’s house. Her chest constricted, and she refused to identify the emotion causing the painful sensation. Work would keep her mind off Wade. Her phone rang again, and she pushed the power button to silence it.

Gavin glanced over at her as she buckled her seatbelt. “Are you sure you don’t want to give him a chance to explain?”

The look she shot him had him raising his hands in surrender. “Forget I said anything.”

“Would you mind swinging by my place this morning so I can get my car since we have a few extra minutes.”

“Wouldn’t mind a bit.”

If Emily didn’t getsome sleep soon, she wouldn’t be able to function. It was a good thing it was her day off.

Gavin joined her at the kitchen table. “You’re getting a new bodyguard today. Her name is Sandra. She’s been with Garrison Security for two years. I trust her.”

“The woman you had working with you at O’Brian’s Mug?”

“That’s her.”

“Are you getting back to your real life?”

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