What Janie Saw(46)

                “It’s not how we usually do things,” he agreed.

                “Then why are you doing it now?”

                He hesitated, unsure of what to tell her or if he even should tell her. He figured spouting some empty platitudes would only piss her off.

                He gripped the steering wheel a moment, then reached over to put the key in the ignition. Before turning the car on, though, he said, “You’re the one who read the art book. You’re the one who works at Adobe Hills Community College. You’re the one who might recognize some name, some obscure reference, some connection we might miss.”

                “I’m only at the school a few days a week.”

                “Yet, you were the one Derek chose to confess to,” he reminded her, then finally started the car. “You’ve made a difference. It’s not just me losing sleep over Brittney’s disappearance anymore. You’ve brought her back into Nathan’s and Justin’s focus.”

                She stared out the window, silent. He tried to imagine what she was thinking. Probably that she wanted to run screaming from the whole situation.

                Then, after a moment, he felt the gentleness of her hand as she reached over to touch his shoulder. She gave him a slight squeeze, letting him know she understood what couldn’t be understood.

                * * *

                IT WAS AFTER midnight when Janie finally walked through the door of her cottage. After she picked up her car from the school, Rafe had again followed her all the way home, walked her to her door and checked inside.

                “I just need to grab some clothes and then wake up my sister and her husband.”

                “There’s nothing else you want to share with me?”

                She shook her head, although it wasn’t quite true. She hadn’t shared with Rafe that she was battling her attraction to him, even while she disdained his profession.

                Though it was hard to keep that disdain after she’d listened to a cop bemoan the plight of two little children. Still, Justin admitted to knowing the couple, knowing what they were doing with two little kids in the house. Why hadn’t they taken the kids away months earlier?

                But she understood now that cops had to weigh the short-term risk versus the long-term reward. But she didn’t have to like it. After walking her to the main house, Rafe seemed to realize that it was time to go. “Lock the door, and if you hear anything suspicious, call me.”

                His footfalls sounded against the hush as he strode to his car. The cool late-night air stung her cheekbones. Or was it tears at what she didn’t want, couldn’t have.

                As she listened to the departing sound of his engine, the silence of the Arizona night settled around her.

                And she felt alone.

                Usually she enjoyed being alone, especially in her own space. She appreciated the freedom of it all, being able to do what she wanted when she wanted to do it. And no one could make her do what she didn’t want to do.

                The commanding Rafael Salazar threatened that. So why was it that the more time she spent with him, the less she wanted him to go away?

                With no answers, Janie headed for the shower to wash the grime of the day off her body. Being at a police station still made her feel invaded. Turning the shower to blistering hot, she tried to analyze her attraction to Rafe.