Page 12 of Dark Terror
“Okay, I guess.”
From the way she hugged the dog to her, he thought the little thing had become a kind of security blanket to Cara. He wondered what she’d been like before she became a witness to a murder, before there was a strong possibility that the killer was watching her, waiting for his chance to get to her.
He guessed that she was basically a happy person who saw the positive side of life, even after losing her entire family. Part of that assumption was made on Mrs. Kastrop’s comment that Cara was always trying to help people. A miserable person didn’t do that. He wished he’d known her before last night.
And he really wished he’d stop wishing things like that.
Chapter Five
Cara followed Gabe into the Dark Falls police station. She was curious to see where he worked. Did he have a messy desk, a spotless one? Did his fellow cops like him or not? Other than he was a detective and easy on the eyes—extremely easy—she knew nothing about him. Actually that wasn’t true. He had a cousin he seemed close to and parents that Doni had said were great. She liked that he came from a loving family, something she could relate to.
What she didn’t like was her growing fascination with him.
Gabe led her into a room on the third floor with sectioned-off cubicles, each with two desks facing each other, stopping at one that almost looked unoccupied it was so neat. He frowned at the blue gel stress ball sitting on the middle of the desk. Cara grinned at seeing the black glasses cut out of paper taped to it and the little pink tutu wrapped around its middle.
“Ryder,” Gabe said, picking up the ball. “You lose something?”
A man with dark hair poked his head over the cubicle wall, his bright blue eyes flashing with amusement. He studied the ball Gabe held. “Look at that. It’s a mini you. That might be Cantu’s best work yet.”
“It does kind of look like you, Gabe. Who knew how adorable you’d be in a tutu?” Cara said, getting a wink from the man. Gabe gave her a look, along with a raised brow, but she saw the slight twitch of his lips.
“I like her,” Ryder said. “Who is she?”
“Cara Jenner. Cara, this is Nate Ryder. Don’t encourage him.”
“Nice to meet you, Nate.” She could see the question in his eyes. Why was she with Gabe?
She glanced at Gabe, waiting for him to explain.
“Don’t you have something to do, Ryder?” Gabe said.
“Besides annoy you? Nope.”
Cara laughed, enjoying the teasing between them.
“Oh Dahlia, love, come back to Papa,” Nate sang.
“Who’s Dahlia?” Cara asked.
Gabe held up the ball. “Meet Dahlia.”
“Ah, that’s cute.”
“You’re encouraging him.” Gabe tossed the ball to Nate. “I have an idea. Why don’t you hide this from Eric? It’ll drive him crazy if he can’t find it.”
“Devious,” Nate said. “I like it.”
Nate gave her another wink before disappearing back behind his wall. She wondered why Gabe didn’t explain who she was and why she was with him.
“Who’s Eric?”
“Eric Cantu, another detective, lover of limericks and dressing up stress balls. Stick around long enough and he’ll make up a limerick about you.”
“Oh, fun. I’ve never had a personal limerick.”
Gabe pulled out a chair. “Have a seat.”
“Is this your desk?” she asked.
