“Well that’s impressive.” Knox chuckled. “I couldn’t tell you my friends’ habits when it comes to locking their doors or windows.”
No, he probably couldn’t. Then again…
“You ever serve, Detective?”
If not, he may not get it. But if he did…
“Actually, I did. Army.” Knox waited a beat. “Signed out an E-8.”
“Master Sergeant. Impressive.” Logan grabbed a beer from the middle shelf and shut the door. “Well I’m not sure if you’re aware, but Natalie’s late husband was a SEAL.”
He didn’t elaborate, because he shouldn’t need to.
“And the widow of a Navy SEAL would know better than to leave her windows and doors unlocked. Especially while she’s away from home.”
Give the man a cookie.
“Exactly.”
“Okay, but the techs didn’t find any signs of forced entry.”
“Guy could’ve used a lock pick. A good one won’t leave any noticeable markings behind.”
“Especially if the asshole knows what he’s doing.” A deep exhale filled the phone’s speaker. “Unfortunately none of that changes the fact that we still don’t have a direction for this thing. But, like I said a minute ago, we’re not giving up.”
“That’s good, because neither am I.”
Logan popped the metal top from the cold bottle in his fist before taking a long, much-needed draw. The frigid bubbles burned as they fell in waves down his throat, the beer soothing in its familiarity as it helped ease the tendrils of fear still present in his system.
Because someone had targeted Natalie. He felt that shit clear to his bones. And if she’d been home at the time of the break-in…
“You asked earlier if I thought the two attacks on Natalie’s property were related,” Knox returned to the earlier part of the conversation. “My response was accurate and the department’s official stance on the current investigation.”
Logan’s brow furrowed. “And unofficially?”
Three beats of silence passed before the Army Veteran said, “I’d stay as close to your girl as I could. At least for the next few days, just to be safe.”
Meaning he didn’t buy that the two incidents were random any more than Logan did.
“Don’t have to worry about that.” He glanced up to see Natalie standing at the kitchen’s entrance. With his eyes locked on her weary gaze, he vowed a solemn, “I’m not letting her out of my sight.”
“Didn’t figure you would.” The other man cleared his throat. “I’ll call if anything else comes up.”
“Have a good night, Detective.” Logan ended the call and set his phone on the counter next to him. “Hey.”
“Hey.”
With her hair pulled up in a tight bun-type-thing on the top of her head, she was still dressed in the same black, mid-calf pencil skirt, white blouse, and cherry redfuck meheels she’d worn to work.
The woman looked like the star of the greatest sexy CPA fantasy in history. She also looked exhausted and…scared.
And it was that fear that had Logan squeezing the bottle in his hand with a murderous rage.
Her fear.
His.
I’m fucking terrified.