“Be our guest.” Charlie bowed magnanimously.
“They caught the Sneaky Stalker.” He beamed at them.
“Truly?” Mia stared up at him.
“Truly,” Thor said. “It was your old boyfriend Alden.”
“What?” Her voice was full of disbelief. “Alden?”
“Yeah. The police found him wandering around outside your flat, repeating your name over and over again. He’s gone nuts, apparently. They got him in custody and then went to search his flat again. They found Thomas’s body.”
“Thomas?” Mia put a hand to her stomach.
“He’d killed Thomas. I guess hoping to pin the women’s disappearances on him. They found all kinds of information about each of the girls that had been taken.”
“Sick old chap,” Charlie put in.
Zeke was thrilled the guy was caught, but something didn’t add up. “Why didn’t they find any of this information the first time they searched his flat?”
“Well, apparently he’d moved recently and they only searched his new flat. They didn’t know about his old flat until he turned up and had the key on him and they were able to find where it went. He’s off his rocker, they’re saying. Muttering Mia’s name over and over. Maybe killing Thomas and the guilt of doing who knows what to all of those women got to him.”
“Sick old chap,” Charlie said again, his blue eyes bright as if this were all some fun game.
“Did they find a money trail?” Zeke asked.
Lewis shook his head. “Not yet. They’re wondering if he really made any money on the women or if he just did it for the thrill.”
Zeke’s stomach churned. If there wasn’t a money trail, those poor girls were probably murdered. It sounded like the guy was insane. Maybe not finding Mia had made him crazy? Who knew? Zeke wasn’t a detective, but he wanted more details. Hopefully they’d find information about the other women to give their families closure.
He looked down at Mia. What mattered right now was she was safe. That was good. He was relieved. He should be happier, but it felt like Mia’s words were prophetic and the news would tear them apart. He had to somehow keep his promise of touch therapy every day.
They all sat there for a few beats, then Lewis said, “If you’d like to get ready, Miss Burton, and pack up, your parents would like Charlie and I to accompany you home.”
“Home?” She leaned into Zeke. “I’m not going home. I’m staying here for Christmas. With Zeke.”
Zeke’s heart threatened to burst with happiness. She was choosing him. She was really choosing him. Could he choose her too? Would he need to leave the military, or could they somehow make it work with their careers? Too many questions there. They needed more time to develop their relationship and enjoy being together.
Charlie and Lewis’s brows both squiggled. Thor grinned and gave them a thumbs up. “Christmas in Summit Valley is the absolute best. You can do all the activities with Shelly and I.” His grin grew at Zeke’s concerned look. “And don’t worry, we’ll leave you alone plenty, too.”
Zeke smiled at that. Until he realized his phone was buzzing at his hip. Again. He should check it. But he wanted to talk to Mia and make sure she knew she was his first priority.
“I’m going to shower,” Mia told him. “Then we’ll figure out breakfast and the rest of our day.” She kissed him quickly, smiling brightly.
The rest of their day. They were going to spend the day together. No stalker. No guards interrupting them. Just him and Mia. It seemed surreal. And as if it would never come true. But it would. Mia had said it.
His phone was still buzzing. Mia walked toward the bathroom. He watched her go. When could he kiss her again?
“Cap.” Lewis’s voice was low, and it drew his head around. “Could you talk her into coming back home?” He spread his hands. “Even for a few days. Her mum and dad have been a mess with this stalker deal. They’re keen to see she’s all right for themselves and spend time with her. You could …” It seemed to pain him to say it. “Accompany us.”
Zeke looked him over. The last thing he wanted to do was be around Mia’s parents or Lewis, but if he and Mia were going to have a lasting relationship, he supposed it had to be done. “I’ll talk with her.”
“Cheers.” The guy looked the opposite of cheery. He nodded and pivoted, stalking off.
Charlie saluted him and Thor put out his fist to bump. Zeke bumped it. Not a big deal, easier than a handshake even.
He turned into the bedroom and shut the door behind him. Mia walked back out of the bathroom and toward the closet, still in the sweats from last night. “I guess I need clothes for the day before I get in the shower.” She grinned. “What should I put on? Actually, I think… forget the shower. Let’s go workout first. I quite fancy watching my tough Rambo exercise. Then we’ll get ready, eat a leisurely breakfast, plan our day.” She looked excited and irresistible.
He smiled. “We could do all of that.”