Chapter 15
“I’m just so glad you worked things out,” Danny breathed in relief as we strolled the aisles of the grocery store. It was the end of the week, and Travis and I had invited everyone over for a barbeque. The fact that we were joint hosting was still a bit surreal.
Olivia bounced in excitement in the cart as she drooled all over a cracker.
I nodded my agreement, my eyes on Livie. “Sweet girl,” I murmured, dropping a quick kiss to her dark head of curls.
“And project home-ify Trav’s place is in effect tomorrow?” she verified with a grin.
“Home-ify?” I laughed. “Well, I guess that’s about right. Yeah, I told him it would probably take all day, but he seems game.” I shrugged.
She snorted. “Text me after the second store. I’d be shocked if he still feels that way.”
“Normally I would agree with you.” I nodded as I grabbed a package of chicken. “But I really think he wants to make some changes to his place. Not just for me,” I added quickly.
“But without you he’d never be doing it,” she put in.
“Maybe not,” I allowed. “You think chicken and sausages?”
She nodded, throwing in a pack of buns. The guys were off carbs for the moment so we only needed enough for the kids and us girls who didn’t mind a little starch now and then. We steered our packed cart toward the checkout. As we waited in line, the hairs on my neck rose as though someone was watching me. I looked around but saw nothing.
“What is it?” Danny asked absently.
“Nothing.” I waved the feeling off, diving in to help unload the cart.
We walked out to the parking lot, toward her car, the sun just beginning to dip past the horizon.
“I’ll meet you at the house?” she asked as she put Liv in her car seat.
I slammed her trunk shut. “Yep.” I waved, walking over to where my own car was parked. “See you in a few.”
The same prickle crept up my spine as I dug my keys out of my purse.
“Ms. Greer.” A vaguely familiar voice spoke from behind me.
I turned, surprised to find Detective Morales standing there in plain clothes, keys in hand. I’d always been more comfortable with him than Detective Harris, but something about his expression had me immediately on guard.
What if we’d been wrong about Harris? What if Morales was the bad guy?
“I need to talk to you for a minute,” he said, cocking his head toward his car.
His request struck me as odd, and I debated how to respond. I dug around in my purse as though fishing for my keys, intent on grabbing my phone. I sent Travis an SOS text on the sly, using the single number code he’d programmed in my phone in the event of an emergency. I added “M” to the message, hoping he’d understand what I was trying to say. I sent it off and looked back at the detective. “We can talk right here,” I replied calmly, leaning against my car, wishing darkness hadn’t fallen and that there were people around.
He stepped closer, his eyes narrowing. “I need to take you in, there have been new developments.”
“Okay, I’ll take my car and meet you there,” I replied without delay. “Travis is waiting for me, he’ll be worried,” I added. wanting to make it clear that Travis would note my absence.
He took another menacing step toward me, and it was in that moment, in the way his jaw ticked and his eyes narrowed, that I knew I was in real trouble. “I didn’t want to have to do this,” he growled, producing what looked like a syringe from his pocket.
I let out the loudest scream I could muster, trying to break away, but he had me cornered against my car. A second later, when the needle dug into my neck, my last thought was of Travis.
For the first time in my life I’d been truly happy. It hadn’t lasted long enough—I hadn’t had nearly enough of Travis. I never would. I wanted my forever. I’d be damned if that was taken from me.
****
My first awareness was of an excruciating pounding in my head, unlike anything I’d felt before. It was as though my entire head had its own heartbeat, complete with a hammer to compound every beat. There was a bitter, chalky taste in my mouth, and swallowing felt nearly impossible.
I forced myself to remain still, to feign sleep as I lay on my side in the back of his car. By the sound of the engine and the whir of the tires, I guessed we were on a freeway, though which one I couldn’t be sure. I had no idea how long I’d been out for. We could be anywhere.