detract much from her simple beauty.
“Unfortunately he’s found ways of improving his life and using his father’s connections,” Matt finally said, before she figured out he’d been studying her. “I’ve tried not to have anything to do with him over the years and that remains a good idea, but not at the expense of the law or other people’s safety.”
Krista’s eyes held an undercurrent of alarm in their blue-gray depths. “Matt, don’t do anything that’s going to get you into trouble. I don’t think he’ll try coming around again.”
From her expression, Matt knew she didn’t believe it. If Ricky had started this, he probably wouldn’t stop, but he’d be more careful.
The question was, why? What were Ricky’s reasons for wanting Krista gone?
“Don’t worry about me,” he told her, unwillingly touched by her concern. “I can take care of myself. I’m more worried about you being out here on your own.”
For the first time in fifteen years, he saw her smile. It transformed her; erased a lot of those hard years.
“Well, those are words I never thought I’d hear from your lips, Officer Burgess.”
Matt snorted. “Don’t get any warm and cozy feelings, Krista.”
Her mouth puckered into a frown. “No, I wouldn’t dare.” Then she ruined it by grinning.
She was clearly teasing him, and for some reason, he smiled back. Definitely time to leave. If he didn’t he’d be sharing a cup of coffee with her, or something just as cozy.
He took a step backward. “Remember to call if anything else happens.”
“I’ll remember. I don’t think Gus would offer the kind of protection a policeman could give me anyway.” She nudged the sleeping dog with her toe.
“I don’t know about that, he seemed pretty fierce yesterday. He must be very loyal to you.”
“I rescued him from a slow death. We’ve had a bond ever since.”
Matt didn’t ask her to elaborate. He didn’t want to show his curiosity. Instead he nodded and stepped off the porch. Then turned. “Everything going okay over at the mill?”
Damn, why don’t I just leave?
“Couldn’t be better. Everything is on schedule.” She hesitated a moment. “Listen, while we’re on the subject, I have a question for you.” She stepped off the porch and walked toward him. “Word is you teach tae kwon do and kick-boxing. I’m trying to set up classes at the center. We need an instructor. Would you be interested? For a good cause?”
Matt paused and considered the idea. He couldn’t make such a decision on the spot. “I’ll think about it. Come up with some kind of schedule and I’ll see if it would be possible.”
Her smile returned, wide and engaging. It made a person not notice the scars that marred her face. “Thanks, Matt. At this rate I might have to change my opinion of you.”
With a shake of his head, Matt returned to his cruiser and pulled out of the drive. Once more Krista Faye had surprised him. He’d have to make an effort to stay away from her.
Krista moaned and pressed her hand to her mouth. “This cannot be happening.”
She stood in the middle of the new nursery, slowly studying the wreckage that had once been her beautiful center.
The damage was beyond belief. The day before, the nursery had been nearly complete, walls painted in pastels, a mural depicting teddy bears and bunnies covering one whole wall. New carpet.
Now, all destroyed.
Someone had brought in what must have been buckets of black paint and had splashed the entire room in the stuff. Even the ceiling was covered with splatters. Worse, someone seemed to have taken a box cutter or other sharp device and had gouged the walls and the carpet.
Most bone-chilling was the single word carved right across one of the fanciful bears . . .
Murderer . Just like the brick from three days ago.
“Krista.”
She turned and faced Mel Kangas, the contractor who had called her that morning at six to report the destruction.
“You’d better come to the
“Unfortunately he’s found ways of improving his life and using his father’s connections,” Matt finally said, before she figured out he’d been studying her. “I’ve tried not to have anything to do with him over the years and that remains a good idea, but not at the expense of the law or other people’s safety.”
Krista’s eyes held an undercurrent of alarm in their blue-gray depths. “Matt, don’t do anything that’s going to get you into trouble. I don’t think he’ll try coming around again.”
From her expression, Matt knew she didn’t believe it. If Ricky had started this, he probably wouldn’t stop, but he’d be more careful.
The question was, why? What were Ricky’s reasons for wanting Krista gone?
“Don’t worry about me,” he told her, unwillingly touched by her concern. “I can take care of myself. I’m more worried about you being out here on your own.”
For the first time in fifteen years, he saw her smile. It transformed her; erased a lot of those hard years.
“Well, those are words I never thought I’d hear from your lips, Officer Burgess.”
Matt snorted. “Don’t get any warm and cozy feelings, Krista.”
Her mouth puckered into a frown. “No, I wouldn’t dare.” Then she ruined it by grinning.
She was clearly teasing him, and for some reason, he smiled back. Definitely time to leave. If he didn’t he’d be sharing a cup of coffee with her, or something just as cozy.
He took a step backward. “Remember to call if anything else happens.”
“I’ll remember. I don’t think Gus would offer the kind of protection a policeman could give me anyway.” She nudged the sleeping dog with her toe.
“I don’t know about that, he seemed pretty fierce yesterday. He must be very loyal to you.”
“I rescued him from a slow death. We’ve had a bond ever since.”
Matt didn’t ask her to elaborate. He didn’t want to show his curiosity. Instead he nodded and stepped off the porch. Then turned. “Everything going okay over at the mill?”
Damn, why don’t I just leave?
“Couldn’t be better. Everything is on schedule.” She hesitated a moment. “Listen, while we’re on the subject, I have a question for you.” She stepped off the porch and walked toward him. “Word is you teach tae kwon do and kick-boxing. I’m trying to set up classes at the center. We need an instructor. Would you be interested? For a good cause?”
Matt paused and considered the idea. He couldn’t make such a decision on the spot. “I’ll think about it. Come up with some kind of schedule and I’ll see if it would be possible.”
Her smile returned, wide and engaging. It made a person not notice the scars that marred her face. “Thanks, Matt. At this rate I might have to change my opinion of you.”
With a shake of his head, Matt returned to his cruiser and pulled out of the drive. Once more Krista Faye had surprised him. He’d have to make an effort to stay away from her.
Krista moaned and pressed her hand to her mouth. “This cannot be happening.”
She stood in the middle of the new nursery, slowly studying the wreckage that had once been her beautiful center.
The damage was beyond belief. The day before, the nursery had been nearly complete, walls painted in pastels, a mural depicting teddy bears and bunnies covering one whole wall. New carpet.
Now, all destroyed.
Someone had brought in what must have been buckets of black paint and had splashed the entire room in the stuff. Even the ceiling was covered with splatters. Worse, someone seemed to have taken a box cutter or other sharp device and had gouged the walls and the carpet.
Most bone-chilling was the single word carved right across one of the fanciful bears . . .
Murderer . Just like the brick from three days ago.
“Krista.”
She turned and faced Mel Kangas, the contractor who had called her that morning at six to report the destruction.
“You’d better come to the
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