Hidden in Shadows by Hope White Page B

shoved his notebook into his jacket pocket and turned to leave.
    She was physically bruised and emotionally exhausted. She needed comforting words, not a lecture. Yet she suspected Luke’s reaction had more to do with something in his past than Krista’s experience today. She sensed he felt…guilty.
    â€œWait,” she said.
    He hesitated beside the curtain. A few seconds later he turned to her, his eyes guarded.
    â€œI’m a small-town girl, Luke. I run a tea shop and attend church every Sunday and, well, stuff like this is foreign to me. I get that you deal with it every day, so you’re smarter—”
    â€œDon’t. I shouldn’t have said the thing about being smarter, that was…”
    â€œMean?”
    He glanced at the floor. “Yeah, mean.”
    â€œBut you said it because—” she hesitated “—you feel guilty?”
    Clenching his jaw, he snapped his attention to her eyes. He leaned away from her, as if she’d exposed him.
    â€œIt’s not your fault,” she said. “It’s not my fault either. How could I know someone really tripped the alarm? We’ve had problems with it for months. The girls don’t set it often, so it would make sense they’d have difficulties.”
    â€œIf I would have been at the house, I would have gone with you.”
    â€œWe can’t be together twenty-four/seven.”
    â€œWe can and we will be. No arguments.”
    The determination in his voice surprised her.
    â€œIt’s the only way I’m going to nail Garcia,” he added.
    Right. The case. This had nothing to do with Luke wanting to keep her safe because he cared about her. This was all about nailing the bad guy.
    She studied his clenched jaw and piercing eyes. “Why is this case so important to you?”
    â€œIt’s my job.”
    â€œI sense there’s more to it.”
    He glanced down, as if he didn’t want her looking too long into his eyes for fear she’d see something he desperately wanted to keep hidden. “Luke?”
    â€œGarcia killed my partner. In front of me.”
    A chill skittered down her arms.
    â€œI’m so sorry.” She reached out and touched his jacket sleeve, a natural, compassionate act. Luke glanced at her hand. She thought he might pull away.
    â€œI’ve gotta call in.” He stepped back, breaking the connection. “Don’t go anywhere without me.” With a nod, he walked out.
    More like ran. From her.
    Krista sensed he hadn’t told many people about his partner, and she suspected Luke blamed himself for his death. But why?
    She’d probably never find out. Truly, what mattered most was that he caught Garcia and closed down his business so he couldn’t make money off hooking children on drugs.
    Krista still couldn’t believe the ugliness had permeated the small town of Wentworth. The tourist town of not quite three thousand was known for its vacation activities, access to both White Lake and Lake Michigan and an annual summer festival. She couldn’t fathom how crime had edged its way into the safe community.
    But after today’s break-in, she could no longer hope that her garage attacker was some teenager out for a thrill.
    Now Grace’s Tea Shop had been broken into, as if someone was looking for something very specific.
    â€œThe shop,” she whispered, searching the chair next to her for her purse. She should call the Sass girls and ask if they’d clean up, restock the teas for tomorrow’s business.
    Nurse Rankin came around the corner with a clipboard in her hand. “Where’s the boyfriend?” She winked.
    â€œHe’s not my boyfriend.”
    â€œHe sure acts like it.”
    â€œHe’s…” She didn’t like keeping the truth from people in town, but knew that for Luke to solve the case he had to keep his identity a secret. “He’s the protective type.”
    â€œMen only