Page 27 of Dark Terror
“Oh no,” she cried after a quick glance around. She shoved the dog into Gabe’s arms before going to the broken perfume bottle and falling to her knees. “This was my last Christmas present from my brother.”
When she looked up at him, tears falling from her eyes, he handed Cricket to Harry. “Benjamin, see if you can find a baggie in the kitchen.”
“Detective Caulder, I’m a crime scene technician. I’m never without them the way you’re never without your gun.” He pulled one from his jacket pocket.
Baggy in hand, Gabe knelt next to Cara and carefully picked up each piece of broken glass, dropping them in the bag. When he’d collected the pieces, he dropped them into one of the pockets of his cargo pants. He wasn’t sure what he was going to do with them, but they meant something to Cara, so he wouldn’t let them disappear into the bowels of the evidence room.
“That’s evidence,” Harry quietly said, moving next to him.
“Give it a break, Harry. That bottle means something to her.” He swept a hand out at the other stuff on the floor. “Benjamin has plenty of other things to check for fingerprints.”
Harry pinched his arm hard enough to hurt. “We need to talk, buddy.”
He’d only heard her call one other detectivebuddy, and that had been when she’d been irritated with the man. It didn’t take a genius to know his partner was questioning his intentions. He just wished he knew what his intentions were.
Chapter Ten
When they returned to Gabe’s house, Cara excused herself and went to the guest room with Cricket. She needed to be alone. It was silly to fall apart because of a broken perfume bottle, but the day David had died, she’d stopped using the perfume, wanting to preserve it.
The nameless man stalking her had stolen her sense of safety. She’d had a nightmare about him, and had woken up sweating and gasping for breath. And by destroying the bottle and its contents, he’d taken her most prized possession. The ache in her heart from missing her brother was as painful as ever. Tears pooled in her eyes, and she let them flow. At the sound of a soft knock on the door, she tried to swipe them away.
“Cara, can I come in?”
“Um, not right now, okay?” Any sympathy from Gabe and she would embarrass herself by ugly crying.
“All right. Lunch will be ready in about twenty minutes.”
“Thanks.” She listened to his footsteps fade away. Cricket put his paws on her shoulder and tried to lick her tears away, making her giggle. “Don’t like crying, huh?” What man did? Even her brother would get flustered when she or Lisa cried.
“Guess I should tidy up a little.” After giving the dog a quick ear scratch, she pushed off the bed. She groaned when she looked in the dresser’s mirror and saw that her eyes were red-rimmed. Some eye drops followed by a little concealer and foundation helped. She was brushing her hair when her phone chirped, the tone signifying a text message.
“Who’s texting me, Cricket?” She picked up her phone from where she’d dropped it on the bed and read the screen.
Do not talk to the police. You can’t hide forever. I will find you.
She threw her phone. It hit the wall and bounced back, landing at her feet. With her heart pounding as hard as it had the night she’d witnessed the murder, she backed up to the door and pressed her palm against her chest.
“Okay, Cara, the phone isn’t going to kill you.” No, but the man who now had her phone number could. How had he gotten it? She opened the door to call Gabe, but closed her mouth at hearing raised voices.
“You’re letting this get personal, Detective.”
That was Harry’s voice, and Cara noted the emphasis on the wordDetective. What would Harry have to say if she knew Gabe had kissed her? Not much good, for sure.
“Why? Because I’m worried about her safety? How is that personal? It’s our job to protect the innocent and serve the people. It says so right on the department’s wall. That’s all I’m trying to do.”
Harry let out a sigh loud enough for Cara to hear. “You think I don’t see how you look at her? You eat her up with your eyes.”
“You’re imagining things, Harry.”
“I hope so, but you need to find someplace else for her to stay until she can go home.”
“She can stay with you.”
Harry gave a derisive laugh. “You know I don’t play well with others. Not to mention I only have a one bedroom apartment with—”
“One bed and a recliner that’s seen better days. You really need to go furniture shopping. Even better, give my dad your credit card for the day. All you’ll have to do is tell him your favorite color and he’ll fix you right up.”
“I don’t have a favorite color,” Harry grumbled.
