Shay: You say the word, and we’ll be on our way.
That might take a little longer than she thought, but that would give me time to get my stitches out, and hopefully for the scar to fade. I set the phone back in my cupholder and moved my hand to the gearshift, but a flicker of movement caught my eye. Someone had shoved a folded piece of paper under my windshield wiper.
I opened my door and stood to pull it free. Settling back in my seat, I shut the door and opened what I was sure was a flyer. Only, it wasn’t. The pulse behind my eyes intensified as I took in the sloppy scrawl.
Next time, you won’t be so lucky. Just remember, I’m watching.
27
Hayes
The muffled sound of my cell phone ringing came from somewhere on my desk. “Crap.” I patted the stacks of paper and the map I had spread out across the surface. When I couldn’t find it, I finally sent the map flying to the floor.
I grabbed up the tiny device and hit accept without checking the caller ID. “Easton.”
“Hayes? It’s Everly.”
It was the first time she’d called me, and that alone had the hair rising on the back of my neck. The hesitancy in her voice only put me more on edge. “What’s wrong?” I was already pulling open my desk drawer and going for my keys.
“I’m fine.”
“You don’t sound fine,” I growled.
“I’m in my SUV outside the vet. Someone left a note on my windshield.”
My steps faltered as I pulled my door open. “What kind of note?”
“Not the kind asking me to a friendly tea.”
I muttered a slew of curses and picked up my pace, winding my way through desks and past reception. “I’m leaving the station now. Are your doors locked?”
A click sounded in the background. “They are now.”
“Stay on the phone with me.”
“I’ll be fine. You shouldn’t drive and talk on the phone.”
I hit a button on my screen as I climbed behind the wheel of my SUV. “You’re on speaker, happy?”
“So grouchy.”
“Damn straight, I’m grouchy. And you should be, too.”
Everly sighed. “I’m too tired to be grouchy.”
Hell. She’d been through the wringer since she’d been back in Wolf Gap, and these last few days had been the worst of it. She needed a break, and I was going to do everything in my power to get her one. “Just hold on, Ev.”
“I’m holding. Think we should play a game while I wait?” Her voice trembled slightly as she asked.
“What kind of game?”
“How about would you rather?”
I pulled out of the department parking lot. “Isn’t that something teenagers play?”
“Humor me. We’re gonna play the PG version.”
“All right.”