He might not have identified the threat, but he could feel it, just out of sight, waiting to strike.
Chapter Ten
Friday, December 2, 8:45 a.m.
Abby’s gaze drifted from the laptop to her cell phone. She’d called in at six to check on things and decided both she and her officers would be more effective if she worked from home today. With the reporters dogging her every step, it was best if she stayed out of the way.
Besides, she didn’t want any witnesses to her persistent daydreams. Even with an in-box full of more dire and personal threats, she couldn’t get her mind off Riley’s kisses.
The man had skills that went far beyond hanging garland and looking hot in a tool belt. The first thing she’d done this morning was check the driveway, hoping for a glimpse of him, but his truck was gone.
So she’d called in and tried to focus on being chief of police—a job which, according to today’s overwhelmed in-box, she was failing miserably. In the meetings following the drug bust, both FBI and Homeland Security agents had told her to hand the bulk of this off to someone in her department. They’d had good reasons and she didn’t doubt their experience. But she’d taken a look at her small department and just couldn’t saddle any of her officers with this kind of mess.
She’d been at it long enough now that she recognized the spam and lunatics, easily weeding them out before she forwarded messages she thought were valid on up to the federal analysts. Belclare didn’t have the cyber forensic experts to follow the bread crumbs to something helpful.
She was making her second pot of coffee when her doorbell rang. Hoping it might be Mrs. Wilks with cookies, she hurried to the door. Flowers filled her peephole, an arrangement large enough that it hid the face of the deliveryman.
Mrs. Wilks would’ve come to the back. Cautious now, she opened the door. “Yes?”
“Delivery for Chief Jensen.”
She smiled, recognizing Deke’s cultured voice behind the green floral tissue paper. “What are you doing?” She opened the door wider and invited him in.
“I thought you deserved something beautiful after the recent trouble,” he said, handing her the vase.
The scent of lilies and roses filled her front room as she set the arrangement on her coffee table. She unwrapped the protective tissue and marveled at the flowers and the crystal vase.
“For a shy, artistic celebrity, you’re spending a great deal of time out and about,” she said.
“For a police chief you seem to be spending a great deal of time in the field,” he countered.
Fair point. “Would you like coffee?”
“No, thank you. I can’t stay long.” He removed his cap and gloves and settled into the wing chair facing her. “How bad is the station?”
“It’s not destroyed, which is a plus. And they tell me it’s possible that no one will know the difference from the front.”
“Clever arsonist. Are you sure you have the right man?”
She nodded sadly. “I’ve seen the video. Filmore cried throughout his confession.”
“He does love all of this old architecture.”
“He does,” she agreed. “We’re still trying to sort out what drove him over the edge.”
“How fortunate you were nearby to get him off the streets.”
She rubbed her palms together as she gathered her thoughts. Guilt nipped at her for skipping dinner with Deke only to wind up at the pub with Riley. She and Deke didn’t have anything officially personal beyond their weekly coffee, yet she sensed he wanted something more from her. Something more that she’d thought she was interested in, as well, despite her reluctance to cross that line.
Well, she thought as her cheeks heated, she’d certainly leaped over that line with both lips and most of her body last night with Riley. Which meant it was time to clear the air with Deke. Hopefully, she was just misinterpreting his signals. Braced for embarrassment, she tried to explain.
She cleared her throat. “I was close to the station, though I didn’t intend to be. After I called you, I came home to find my neighbors had been decorating like crazy. My yard looked stark in comparison.” She couldn’t stop babbling. “One of my neighbors helped me get caught up in record time. The least I could do was buy him a burger at the pub.”
“Of course. Your passion for this community is what makes you stand out. It’s what makes them love you so,” Deke said, waving off her concern with a flick of his hand. “Think nothing of it, my dear. Our plans were tentative at best. I only came out today to see a friend and offer a bit of encouragement during this ordeal.”