Page 58 of Echoes of You

“I understand her reasoning. Her dad will know where she is when he gets back here. Her ex might guess, but he wouldn’t know for sure. A restraining order would tell him.”

“I hate this. It feels like we’re just waiting around for something horrible to happen.”

Lawson leaned forward, his arms resting on his desk. “I get it, I really do. But you’re sticking close. She’s keeping an eye out. It’s all we can do for now.”

“It’s not enough.”

A knock sounded on the door.

“Come in,” Lawson called.

The door opened, and Holt peeked his head in. As soon as he saw it was just the two of us, he stepped inside and closed the door behind him. “I was hoping you two would be in.”

I straightened in my seat. “You find something?”

Holt nodded as he took the chair next to me. “I’ve had some of my best tech guys looking into Adam.”

“Have I told you lately that I’m glad you kept half ownership in that company?” Lawson asked.

The corner of Holt’s mouth kicked up. “It does come in handy.”

“What did they find?” I pushed.

Any hint of amusement fled Holt’s face. “On the surface? Nothing. Adam Westchester is an upstanding citizen. Attends church every Sunday. Runs a charity that helps thousands of people every year. Sends his mother flowers once a month just because.”

My fingers curled around the arms of my chair. “But under the surface?”

“There have been three different charges brought against him.”

“What charges?” I demanded.

“Two for stalking and harassment. One for assault. But they wouldn’t pop in any normal searches or background checks.”

Lawson’s brows drew together. “Why not?”

Holt tapped out a rhythm on his knee. “Because the first two were dropped, and the second one was settled out of court. Our boy must have friends in high places because he’s basically had all record of any of it erased.”

This was what happened when you gave an abusive narcissist power and money. I looked at my brother. “But you found it.”

He nodded and then shifted in his seat. “I got into some paperwork for the settlement. This guy is worse than a douchebag. An ex-girlfriend filed the assault charges.” Holt’s eyes locked with mine. “He almost killed her.”

19

MADDIE

Light tappingon the door to The Brew had me turning around, a cleaning rag in hand. Nash filled the door’s glass. He smiled at me, but I knew each curve of his lips, and this one was strained around the edges.

I hurried toward him and unlocked the door. “Hey.”

He moved inside and wrapped me in his arms, holding on longer than he normally would.

My hand stroked up and down his back. “Everything okay?” Worry niggled at me. “Did something happen on duty?”

I’d never forget the first time Nash had dealt with a death on the job. He’d answered the call for an accident. Icy roads had sent a man veering off into a tree. Nash had done everything he could to keep the man alive, but he’d been too far gone. I’d held my best friend as he cried, not letting go until morning came.

“No, nothing like that,” he mumbled against my neck, still not letting go.

I wanted to relax but couldn’t. Something was wrong. All I could do was wait for him to tell me what that might be. But every moment he held me like this, his lips pressed to my neck, the harder it would be when it felt like there was an ocean of distance between us. Yet still, I held on.

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