Page 14 of Nick
She laughed softly. “I don’t know. I never gave him the chance to say. As soon as I heard his voice, I hung up.”
Rafe cursed softly, and Gracie’s eyes widened at some of the colorful words coming from her usually soft-spoken friend. He definitely had an extensive and fairly pithy vocabulary. Bet he didn’t use that language around his momma. “How did he get your number?”
“That’s what I want to know. Other than my parents and a few people like Joaquim Alvarez and the San Antonio district attorney, no one knows about the name change or where I live. Well, except you and Chance.”
“He didn’t get it from Alvarez, which means we either have a leak in the DAs office or somebody sweet talked your parents into giving them your number.”
She shook her head and then foolishly realized he couldn’t see her. “They’d never tell anybody. They are far too aware of the power of the Brewster family. Their political clout in San Antonio would make my parents’ lives a living nightmare.”
“Okay. I want you to hold tight. I’m on my way.”
“Wait, no. There’s no reason to come here. It was just a phone call. I got spooked, but the ladies made me promise to call you, so here’s me calling you.”
“Let me decide whether I need to come there or not. Wait…yep, I’m on my way.”
“You realize there’s nothing you can do from here that you can’t do from wherever you’re at. Tracing the call will simply tell you it came from the prison, probably from a burner. I’m sure Jeremy had somebody smuggle one in so he could talk with his parents.”
And me, she thought, though she didn’t add that little tidbit.
“Why, Miss Medeiros, are you trying to tell me how to do my job?” She could hear the teasing note in his voice, knew he was trying to ease her worries, bring a little humor into the situation to lighten any anxiety. Which actually helped, as she felt the muscles in her shoulders begin to unclench?
“Alright. I’ll be here.”
“See you in about an hour.” Without another word, Rafe disconnected the call. Gracie realized if he was an hour away, he was probably at the Big House, which made her feel even guiltier, pulling him away from time with his family.
Yet, in the tiny recesses of her heart, she was glad he was coming, because she was scared this time Jeremy might finish what he’d started.
Fulfil his promise to kill her.
Rafe slid thecell phone into his pocket, and looked at his parents. Simply from reading his posture, Nick knew something was wrong. He had already apprised Rafe and his parents about his conversation with Calvin, and the depressing lack of progress being made in finding the shooter. It felt like he was spinning his wheels, accomplishing nothing here in Shiloh Springs. He was sorely tempted to head back to Melbourne. Yet something, some sixth sense, told him he needed to stay put. Through the years, he’d learned to listen to his gut. His instincts had saved his bacon more than once out in the field.
“I’ve got to head back into town. Thanks for the grub, Momma.”
“I’m going with you.” Nick stood, daring Rafe to say no. Rafe stared at him for a second before nodding.
“Sure, we can talk along the way.”
Nick gave Ms. Patti a quick kiss on the cheek, said goodbye to Douglas, then followed Rafe out the front door and onto the porch. Not waiting to see if he followed, Rafe bounded down the steps, headed toward his truck. He didn’t have the county-provided cruiser he drove when on duty, but Rafe had told him he had the morning off, which was why they’d met up at the Big House, figuring it would be easier to update everyone at one time.
Climbing into the cab of the pickup, he waited long enough for Rafe to start the engine and pull onto the driveway before demanding answers.
“What’s happened to Gracie?”
Rafe turned his head and stared at him for a split second before focusing his glare through the windshield, hands wrapped around the steering wheel tight.
“She got a call from her ex, Jeremy Brewster.”
“The one who’s in prison?” Rafe nodded in response to Nick’s question. “I figured from your conversation with her earlier at her shop she had no contact with him. That she’d assumed a new identity to get away from him.”
“True. Chance has got feelers out trying to figure out how Brewster managed to get a shot at parole. Shouldn’t be happening this soon into his incarceration. Another issue is how he managed to find her. Gracie’s lived in Shiloh Springs almost two years. Upstanding citizen ever since she moved her. Runs her own business. Attends church. Has made friends.”
There was an undercurrent of something Rafe wasn’t saying, and it made Nick twitchy. Not that it was any of his business, per se, except he couldn’t seem to keep the pretty brunette out of his head. Guess he’d have to make it his business.
“Why do I get the feeling she wasn’t so squeaky clean before her arrival in Shiloh Springs?”
“She has a…colorful past. That’s her story to tell, if she wants you to know. Why this sudden interest in Gracie?”
“I don’t know. There’s something I can’t quite put my finger on, but…” Nick’s voice trailed off. How do you tell somebody you haven’t seen in decades you’re obsessed with a woman he’s sworn to protect? Not that he’d harm a hair on Gracie’s head. Quite the opposite. If anybody tried hurting her—well, he might not be responsible for his quick temper.
