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“What the hell are you doing?” A ham-like hand shot out and grabbed her shoulder.

Yup, Sean Bothy did not like being interrupted when asleep.

“I have some questions for you," Cora said firmly. "There’s no need to grab hold of me. Let go, or I’ll break your fingers. I want to ask you about the hazing that's been going on."

Sean's eyes narrowed, and he sat up, glaring at her. But he let go of her shoulder. "What hazing?"

"I understand you know about it," she persisted.

Sean stared at her with hatred visible in his eyes.

"I have never been involved in that," he spat. "I have a roommate who used to be part of that whole scene, a guy called Donnie, but he transferred to another barracks. I won't have these rumors going around. That asshole tainted my image."

"Someone was murdered on base last night. Three others, on previous nights. It's more than rumors," Cora persisted.

"Well, I’m as sorry about it as anyone, but it wasn't me. I wasn't even here last night. I was doing a delivery, driving between bases. I only got in at six this morning after a fourteen-hour shift. And now, if you don't mind, I'd like to get some sleep."

He scowled at her before turning over and pulling the covers over his head.

Cora believed him. Associating with Donnie might have been enough to get him suspected of the same activity, but he clearly hadn't been on base last night and those details were easily confirmed. Whether he'd been involved in hazing in the past or not, he was not the killer.

As Cora walked out, she realized her phone was ringing.

It was Gabe. His voice was tight, and he was speaking fast.

"Listen, this is an emergency. I'm at Pauline’s address. Something's wrong. They’re having a huge fight inside, and I’m going to have to try to break it up. How soon can you get here?"

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

Gabe walked toward Bob's Diner, his mind spinning with everything that had happened in the past day.

First and foremost, Cora. From that strange encounter with her Army friend that had precipitated this new case, to hearing about her mother’s worsening health issues, and then what had happened last night.

Last night had been something special. It was a beginning. He knew it. For him and for her. He hoped it would be the start of something that was going to be good, for both of them. But he found himself filled with fear because what if he’d crossed a line too early?

Cora had a rough deal in life, and that was because she was a woman who took life by the horns and tackled it head on. She was never scared to step in, to try to do good where she saw bad being done.

He was going to try his hardest to make sure they had a future together. But anxiety surged whenever he thought of all the complications and everything she was dealing with.

What if she couldn’t handle the closeness? She was so fiercely independent. He didn’t know how to react now that they were on this new footing. They were in uncharted waters and he wasn’t sure whether to hold back, or come on strong, or say what was in his heart. The uncertainty, the fear it could all go wrong, scared him.

If he could, he vowed that he was going to be her rock, her support, her shoulder to lean on. Although she would never admit it, he knew that there were times of vulnerability, when she did need that, desperately.

She'd defeated her demons in the past. The drugs, the drink. She'd managed to best those challenges that dragged down and destroyed many people. And he admired her beyond words for that strength of mind. Perhaps he could help her find comfort with him instead of descending to those dark depths. Then she could help her folks; she could rise above that darkness.

Please, let it work, he begged silently. Let this not be doomed, like so much else has been.

His mind flashed back to the encounter that he knew she'd had with his father. It hadn't been long ago, but he didn't think that enough time had passed for her to be ready to talk about it. That time might never come.

Whatever had played out between Cora and his dad, up on that mountain top, had been something that his dad deserved. His dad was a monster and Gabriel had to live with that knowledge, which felt like a heavy burden every time he thought about it.

His dad had done terrible, obscene things. And he knew that, every day, he had to try to do better, that he had to make a conscious effort to turn his back on that tainted blood.

In fact, he could take it a step further. Gabe knew he had to atone for it. And he would. He was ready.

Maybe one day, when enough time had passed, Cora would be ready to tell and he would be ready to hear. But if that time wasn't soon, that was also fine.

Being with her, being close to her in the present moment, was so much more important than revisiting the past. He allowed himself for just a moment, to take a deep breath and remember the feel of her skin on his, the softness of her hair on his face, the vulnerability and trust he'd seen in her eyes that had filled his heart.

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