Page 92 of Silent Threat
Chapter Twenty-Two
ANNIE WANTED TObeat her head into the steering wheel. She’d lost her cell phone in the cornfield. At least the Toyota dealership had finally delivered her loaner so she could drive herself back to work. Otherwise, she would have had to ask her cousin for a ride.
She never did find a stray, or any other animal that needed her help. She’d gotten home chilled through, wet from the drizzle that had caught her. She’d be lucky if she didn’t catch a cold.
She stopped by the AT&T store, picked out a new phone, filled out the paperwork, then drove to Hope Hill.
The staff break room was buzzing when she walked in. The conversation still centered on Trevor, but when Kate saw her, she said, “Hey, Murph’s been trying to reach you.”
“Lost my phone.”
Dan strolled over. “He’s setting up appointments for exit sessions for the Navy SEAL. He’s checking out.”
Annie stopped where she stood, a mix of feelings crashing through her: surprise, regret, betrayal. She couldn’t believe Cole didn’t tell her during their walk that morning that he planned on leaving.
She hated the thought of not seeing him again, not going on walks with him. That he’d no longer help with the midnight feedings left a hollow feeling in her chest.
She tried to shake off the hurt. Considering how her heart leapt every time she thought of the gruff SEAL, some distance between them was a good thing. The relationship wasn’t appropriate. Her life would be easier if he wasn’t here.
She kept telling herself that.
But then, when she was back in her room, and he came to see her, all she could think of was how much she was going to miss him.
He took one look at her face and said, “You heard.”
She nodded, drinking in the solid shape of him that filled her doorway, that solitary way he had about him, the intensity of his dark eyes.
He stepped inside and closed the door behind him.
Before she could sayYou shouldn’t be in here,he said, “You weren’t answering your phone.”
“Lost it in the cornfield.”
Anger flashed through his gaze. “You shouldn’t go into the cornfield.” Then he asked, “Joey still in jail?”
She wanted to turn from him so he wouldn’t see the mixed emotions on her face. But if she turned, he wouldn’t be able to read her lips, so she faced him. “Harper is going to keep them the full seventy-two hours. He’s playing them against each other. He thinks one will finger the other for driving the SUV the night I was run off the road.”
She couldn’t think about Joey. “Why are you leaving?”
Cole stepped closer. “I want you to know that you’ve made a difference for me, Annie. Thank you for making me think about things I wouldn’t have thought about if I hadn’t come here.”
“Did any of it help?” She didn’t want him to leave, but she had no right to ask him to stay.
“I think so. Yes.”
“But you’re leaving.”
“I’ve started having flashbacks.” His voice tightened. “They’re pretty bad.”
Her heart leapt, aching for him. “Have you told Dr.Ambrose?”
“Not yet.”
“Tell him in your exit interview.”
“I will.”
“Are you sure you have to leave?”
