I looked up at Hayes. “Do you really think these weren’t accidents?”
He blew out a breath. “I don’t know. But I don’t like the odds. Not in a town of this size.”
Wolf Gap had experienced its share of heartbreak. Even a murder or two—but they were far from common. “How will you know?”
“We look closely at everything. If these weren’t accidents, we’ll find a sign.”
I shivered, and Boden pulled me closer.
“Thank you for coming to find me. For telling me in person,” I said.
“Of course.” Hayes looked over at my vehicle and then back at me. “How would you feel about staying with Ev and me for a while? I don’t like the idea of you in that apartment alone when we don’t know what’s going on.”
“I appreciate that, Hayes. More than you know. But I love my apartment. My routine. It’s important to me to stay in it.”
“I thought you’d say as much. I’ll have The Gallery on our drive-by route. You triple-check locks and call me if you hear anything.”
“I will. I promise.”
Hayes’ fingers drummed a beat against his leg. “It wouldn’t hurt to get a Taser or some pepper spray.”
I could just picture it, spraying myself in the face instead of an intruder. “I’ll think about it. Or I could always go with a bat.”
“That works, too. Call me if you need anything.”
“Thanks.”
He gave Boden a chin lift. “Nice to see you, Boden.”
“Wish I could say the same.”
“Eventually, I do get to bring good news.”
“I’ll be looking forward to that, then,” Boden muttered.
“Me, too.” Hayes climbed into his SUV and pulled out of the lot.
I pulled my keys out of my pocket and beeped my locks. “I should get going. Gizmo needs dinner—”
“Laiken.”
“I’m fine. It’s awful and horrible, but I’ve been through this before. I’ll deal.”
Boden’s mouth pressed into a firm line, and he nodded.
I pulled open the back passenger door, and we got Gizmo situated. Boden pulled off the backpack and set it on the seat next to the car seat. “Will you be okay to drive?”
“Of course.”
“You have my number if you need anything,” he pushed.
“Thanks.” I quickly ducked into the driver’s seat and closed the door.
Boden lingered for a moment and then headed to his truck. It wasn’t until he was behind his slightly tinted windows across the lot that tears started to fall. But once they began, I couldn’t do a damn thing to stop them.
13
Boden