What Janie Saw(39)

                “Finally!” Janie said. “Did you find the art book?”

                The young officer didn’t look at Rafe and quickly said, “Do you need an escort or shall I—”

                “I’ll escort her.” Rafe took her elbow, nodded to the young officer that he was done, and guided Janie into the dark blue night. There was a slight chill in the air, carrying a faint scent of a nearby creosote bush. But Rafe’s hand, still cupping her elbow, provided a warmth that spread through her until she couldn’t keep the smile from her face.

                The campus was emptying, and Janie didn’t mind. Not with Rafe walking by her side. She felt safe again—finally—because Rafe was here. He wasn’t just doing his job; he was making the world, her world, a better place. So right now, in this situation, for a while, she could put away her distrust of cops.

                Or at least of Rafe.

                He kept coming back for her, he was constantly the one who took control and made her feel...well, special, as well as safe. She’d never felt special to a cop. Or anyone, actually, except for Katie.

                Once they left the sidewalk and hit the parking lot, they had the added safety of the young officer already trailing them in his squad car.

                In the distance came she heard easy laughter and the sound of someone being chased. And enjoying it. Rafe stilled, listening to the noises and gauging how he wanted to react. Suddenly, the laughter seemed to take on a sinister tone, but Rafe didn’t so much as twitch.

                Had Janie imagined the threat? Or had her involvement in a missing coed case suddenly changed the way she viewed the world?

                She certainly hoped that wasn’t it.

                Once the laughter died, Rafe relaxed.

                “Just kids having fun,” Janie suggested.

                “Yes, something Brittney Travis will never do again.”

                Was he reminding her of this so she’d do more? Or was he reminding himself so he’d do more?

                “You’ll solve this case.”

                Rafe raised an eyebrow. “I certainly hope so.”

                “By the way, you scared that young officer,” Janie accused.

                Rafe smiled. “Which is why I didn’t talk to him while we waited for your class to end. He’s been on the force for two weeks and it’s the first time he’s had to deal with a sheriff.”

                “I thought the police were one big happy family, working together both on and off duty.”

                “Who told you that?”

                Janie couldn’t answer that. She remembered all the times she’d sat in the holding rooms of the police stations in Big Smith, Texas, and listened to the cops as they bantered back and forth.

                She’d felt so inconsequential back then, almost invisible, and they’d been a huge, unified force against her. They certainly wouldn’t listen to her.

                “Be nice to him,” she ordered gently.

                Rafe looked surprised at her request, but said, “I’m always nice.”

                Janie didn’t bother to respond.