Page 49 of Behind the Cascades
Goosebumps erupt along my skin, just like they always do. The sight of the flowers alone has me involuntarily cringing but I swear I’ve been seeing them more often. It seems like every store in Three Sisters is boasting cryptic bouquets.
Olivia lets out a small gasp when she sees them. Quietly, almost a whisper, she says, “What the fuck?”
We stay silent until it’s our turn. Maisie greets us with a warm smile and is overly friendly as always.
“What can I get you for you ladies?”
I shake my head, suddenly not able to stomach anything. Olivia orders some treats, as well as an iced coffee for her and an iced green tea for me. She gives me a sympathetic smile and says, “In case you change your mind.”
“Here you go!” Maisie smiles at us, but it looks forced. Once again reminding me, our friend has pulled so far away that she has to fake a smile around us.
“Thanks, Mais. Hey, where’d the flowers come from? It seems like they’re all over town.”
Maisie grins back, completely unaware of the unease we are feeling. “Not sure. Someone delivered them yesterday, no note or anything.”
My vision begins tunneling as I stare at my shaking heads. I don’t even hear what Olivia says back. I completely zoned outthe drive back to the office, trying not to hyperventilate in my seat from a panic attack. It isn’t until my door is suddenly yanked open that I snap out of it.
“Sunshine.” I look to Hayes as the first tears spill over.
“He’s here!” I wail, sounding like an upset teenager.
Hayes pulls me into his arms. “He isn’t here. He’s trying to fuck with us. I talked to his probation officer, and he saw him this morning. In South Carolina.”
That should make me feel better, but it doesn’t. Carter is always one step ahead of us. Skirting by and laying low until he strikes.
“What is this? A sick game of cat and mouse? Am I some kind of prey?”
Hayes shakes his head and holds my head against his chest. “I don’t know. But if it is, he’s forgetting one thing. I’m the Golden Eagle here. Apex predator, baby, I have no problem hunting his ass down. Talons out.”
A small laugh bubbles out and I hold onto him tighter. Having Hayes here, reassuring me, is everything I wanted when all of this first started. He’s strong enough to hold us both up, and he still manages to make me laugh. He calls me his sunshine, but it’s the same when I think about him. He’s the light in my dark times.
Dan pulls into the office parking lot in his cruiser. Olivia meets him at his door and quietly explains everything she knows. I watch as he nods, a serious look masking the concern I know is there.
He gives her a hug, holding her like Hayes is holding me. The universal masculine hug of reassurance that lets us know they’re here to fix all our problems.
Pulling away from Hayes, I lace my fingers through his as we walk over to them.
“Hey, Char. We’ve got everyone who is free checking inwith the businesses that have flowers. All we know right now is that they’ve come on different days and none of them have had any notes.”
My eyebrows naturally rise. “That didn’t take long. It’s been like fifteen minutes.”
He tries to smile, but ends up just nodding instead. “Small town. With a lot of people that care about you.”
“What do we do now? Sit around and wait for more calls? More flower deliveries?” Frustration radiates out of Hayes.
Dan huffs out a breath of air and then rubs the back of his neck. “I don’t know, Hayes. I need to talk to my dad. See what he wants us all to do. I think it’s safe to say that for now, Charlie doesn’t go anywhere alone.”
I nod my head. I thought I’d be the tough girl who said she didn’t need a babysitter, but right now, that isn’t me. I’ll take five armed babysitters, an armored car, and a flame thrower. I don’t know if it was luck or skill that brought Carter down the first time, but I’m not taking any chances.
Chapter Thirty
Charlie
My feet unconsciously shift back and forth from nerves as I stand in the deli, waiting for the order I called in thirty minutes ago. I was hoping it would be done already, but it’s unusually busy today and looks understaffed. Hayes is going to be livid if he finds out I ran across the street by myself, but I wasn’t prepared for the line of people out the door and Olivia was on the phone. I’m back to being a prisoner of the fear that is Carter and I’m trying not to let it completely cripple me.
Officially, one week has passed since the flower debacle and I keep seeing them pop up every now and then. Most of the town knows what’s going on, though, and has been throwing them away. There’s still no proof that Carter has been sending them, but Detective Paul assures me every day that he is keeping a close eye on the situation. It’s a blessing to know that he cares so much and is taking this just as seriously as we are.
Hayes has barely left my side for the last week, to the point where I have to convince him to leave me alone so that I can use the bathroom by myself. It took thirty minutes for me to convince him to go have some guy time, but he acquiescedwhen I told him guns and ammo would be involved and I wouldn’t leave Olivia’s side.Whoops.At least I know that he’s spending the afternoon blowing off steam, as he knows best. Hopefully he comes home in a better mood because the brooding is only adding to my anxiety.
