Page 126 of Stormswept Colorado

“No, I can handle it.” She picked up her phone and walked to the hall. I assumed she was heading toward her office.

River was still on the line, swiveling in his chair as he waited for what I’d say next.

“Thank you. This would’ve been much harder to figure out without your help.”

“No problem.”

I glanced toward Ayla’s office, then back to River on my phone screen. “There’s a loose end, though. Something maybe you can look into, since I’m away from my office computer and my database access.”

River’s fingers poised over his keyboard. “Hit me.”

“I need you to find a Sergeant Roy Carpenter. He was stationed in Upstate New York about a decade ago, when Ayla’s family lived there. He could be a different rank now, or might have left the military. I want to know where he is and what he’s been doing.”

“You think he’s got some connection to Paul Ruxton and this stalker business?”

“It’s possible. Hard to imagine their paths have ever crossed. But Paul got that photo of Ayla as a teenager from somewhere. There are other reasons to think Carpenter has a tie to this stalker situation too. Won’t know until we have more information.”

“Then I’m happy to do what I can. That’s what I’m here for.”

“Let me know if I can return the favor for you or any of your friends at Last Refuge.”

“I’m sure we’ll think of something.”

I found Ayla sitting in her office and staring into the distance, deep in thought. She looked up as I came in, not quite smiling at me.

“How are you doing with all this?” I held out my hand and helped pull her up, drawing her close.

“I’m angry. Aside from that, it’s still too fresh. Cheryl doesn’t want to believe Paul really did this, but she’s coming around. She’s heading over here right now. She wanted to call my publicist too, but I can’t deal with all of that right now.”

I smoothed my hands down her shoulders. “I’m glad you’re speaking up for yourself.”

“I’m trying to. I thought I’d made so much progress toward being independent. I can’t believe how easy it was for Paul to manipulate me.”

“Not your fault.” It was a good thing Paul wasn’t smart enough to go too far with his mind games. In the end, he’d been so obvious and arrogant that he gave the whole thing away.

Ayla played with the hem of my T-shirt. “But if he tries to do anything to you,” she said, “I’m going to grind him into the ground.”

“Unless I get to him first.” I smirked. “I’m not worried about him, though. Defacing my photo and sending it, when he knew I was here with you, was his petty attempt at revenge for us both embarrassing him. When he’s not hiding behind anonymity, he’s a coward. Not a real threat.”

She nodded. I trailed my fingers down her side and squeezed her hip.

“You look great in my hoodie, by the way,” I said. “But if you want to get changed before Cheryl arrives, I don’t blame you.”

“Yeah, that does sound good. I could use a few minutes to collect myself.”

“Then you go ahead. I’ll tidy up in the main room and answer the door when she gets here. She can be patient until you’re ready.”

Also, that would give me the chance to have a little chat with Ayla’s manager.

Bryan called the landline to announce Cheryl’s presence about half an hour later. I answered the door to let her in. She was dressed in a fancy suit like yesterday and draped in jewelry. Meanwhile, I hadn’t changed out of my tee and sweats.

“Landry. You’re still here.”

“I am.” I stepped aside to let her pass. “Ayla will join us in a few.”

“And you’re standing sentinel at her door? I thought your job was chief of police in Silver Ridge. Ayla has enough bodyguards already.”

“Yet until I showed up, she didn’t have the protection she needed.” I wasn’t interested in a verbal sparring match. I preferred to speak plainly. “You’re supposed to be her manager. You should’ve protected her from a predator like Paul Ruxton.”

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