Chapter 14
Holden was looking at her with those bedroom eyes again. Did he realize it? Or was that expression purely a physical reaction to the chemistry that smoldered between them? Before she had a chance to consider asking him, he threw a dishtowel over his shoulder and went to work filling the sink with sudsy water.
“There’s room for a dishwasher but since it’s just me I haven’t been in a hurry to get one.”
“You don’t need one. I’m here.” He flashed his smile and she leaned a hip against the counter to keep from swooning toward him. Hopefully she appeared casual, not overly interested.
“Thanks. So, about your reporter hate?”
“Hate is the wrong word. My grandmother always said not to use it unless you really mean it.”
“Is she still here?”
“No, she passed away a couple of years ago. Ninety-nine years old and still tending the same ten acres I ran around on as a kid.” A wistful expression rolled across his face. “Funny, that’s the second time I’ve thought of her in as many days.”
“I’ve been thinking about my mom lately, too. Maybe it’s the pageant, or having our lives threatened?” She tried to make it light but the words were heavy.
He finished up and faced her. “I’ve had one or two scary situations. Most of my work is actually pretty boring, much more than, say, Spencer’s job as a sergeant and a K-9 handler. I’m not around the public each day, only when an investigation calls for it. It’s easy for me to end up in the office every day, all day, for long periods as I do research and search archival evidence for clues. But the few times I’ve thought I might be facing death, yeah, I’ve had thoughts of my loved ones. I think it’s natural.”
“I can’t say I’ve ever thought my life was being threatened until today with the explosion. The attack yesterday remains pretty much a blank still, other than what I already told you I remember. I’m not thrilled that someone planted surveillance equipment on my property, either, but again, that’s creepy, not life-threatening.”
He regarded her steadily. Not willing to look away, she allowed the heat to rise, to circle and settle in her most sensitive places. Was this when Holden was finally going to break down and do more than kiss her?
“About your question. Yes, I have a good reason for detesting reporters.” At what must have been her annoyed expression he held up a hand. “Most reporters. Okay, some reporters. My ex Nicole Drew was a reporter. I went into the relationship knowing it, and ignoring it for the most part. I had no reason to judge her or her profession.”
“Until?” She sensed his hesitancy to spill the truth. As if he was ashamed, or didn’t want to betray his ex’s confidence.
“Until I found out she was using me to get the information for an important story. The story? It involved another case I worked on. She tried to manipulate me to tell her classified information.”
“I’m sorry that happened to you, Holden. That’s rough.”
“Rough isn’t all of it, believe me. I am a total believer in free speech and the public’s right to know where their tax dollars are going. But not when it comes to the security of an ongoing case, or an innocent civilian’s safety.”
“That can be a hard line at times.” She thought about how her presence in the pageant might be what was drawing the attacker or killer out, but she didn’t want to quit until she got her story. Was that what Holden was talking about?
“Yes and no, Bella. Would you put someone’s life at risk for a story?”
“Isn’t that what I’m doing? Putting everyone at risk in Ms. Mustang Valley because I have red streaks in my hair and I’m not quitting? Would you have to spend any time away from the pageant or school if I weren’t still in the contest?”
“No, I’d be at the school for most of my time. Which isn’t always the answer, to be at the event venue. Killers go for live bodies, not buildings. Today’s explosion was an exception, a distraction so that no one would see Becky get shoved down the stairs. I’m convinced it wasn’t an accident—she’s been in Ms. Mustang Valley eight of the last ten years. She graduated from Mustang Valley High, your classmate if I’m correct. There’s no way she’d miss those stairs.”
She watched him speak, saw the depth of emotion behind his words. Holden was the epitome of dedication to duty and if she wasn’t already hot for his smoking bod, she’d be drawn to his honesty and intensity. Totally.
“Have you heard any more about what Becky remembers? Does she know who pushed her?”
He leaned back and picked up his phone, tapped and scrolled for a few seconds. “Yes. But no, she doesn’t know who pushed her. According to Spencer, she was grabbed from behind, heard a scary voice tell her “Leave Colton alone,” and then she was dragged to the stairwell. The last she remembers are hands on her back, throwing her into the pit. No one heard her scream because of the explosion.”
Chills pricked at her nape. “That’s horrible! And sounds exactly like the person who attacked me.”
Holden nodded. “Agreed. But there’s nothing we can do about it right now. Spencer and the rest of MVPD are all over the school, combing the area for evidence of any kind. The surveillance equipment we found here didn’t have any prints but my officemate is searching for possible retailers.”
“That’s a needle in a humongous haystack.” She couldn’t imagine narrowing down what had looked to her like a standard surveillance camera to one particular retailer.
“Yes, but you never know. We catch criminals best when we’re working all the angles.”
“I’m sorry you can’t be in the thick of it, Holden.”
“But I am. I couldn’t be at the school now, or I’d risk blowing my cover. Too many of the agents and local MVPD know me and might unwittingly reveal my true identity. I’ve got my laptop and I can access some sites, though not most of the ones I’d need. I’m okay with being here, Bella.”