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Bridget lifted her eyes, struggling to regain her composure. The moment was suddenly overwhelming with Maggie saying the exact words she needed to hear.

“Damn. Your son said hanging out with you would be what I needed, and I hate to admit he’s right,” Bridget said.

Maggie laughed. “I won’t tell him if you don’t.”

Maggie squeezed Bridget’s hands and released them as she stood. “Take some more time to yourself. I’ll send the kids for you when dinner is ready.”

Bridget didn’t protest or insist she check on the kids herself. She allowed herself a moment alone in the stillness of the guest room. Her tears flowed unchecked, her hands shaking from the intensity of her thoughts and memories. That morning replayed in her head on a loop, and though she knew she wasn’t to blame, she allowed herself to wallow in her own regret and shame, letting the negative emotions well up within her and escape through her tears.

∞∞∞

Zane’s eyes scanned the neighborhood, resting on every lawn, house and vehicle on the quiet street. Nothing appeared out of the ordinary. People arrived home from work or took their dogs for an evening walk or watered their lawn — all ritual tasks which defined their everyday lives. Everything so routine that if something was out of place, he would be able to spot it. Other than the car parked on the opposite side of the street, with KSI Investigator Sam Montgomery sitting behind the driver’s seat, all was calm.

So why did creepy fingers of unease tickle up and down his neck? Why did his stomach churn with the notion they were missing something? And was that something having to do with Bridget and her case, Bridget and her attack, or the De la Peña case? He didn’t think his gut would be sending him signals about anything other than those three.

His phone buzzed. With one last glance around him and a wave to Sam to let him know all was alright, he answered the call. He didn’t have to glance at the screen to know it was Jay checking in.

“They okay?”

Zane released a long breath. “Yeah. My mom has Bridget settled in the guest room. Mom said she needed a few minutes to herself, but she was fine. Mom put the kids to work in the kitchen. Sam’s at his post, but I’ll probably stay here tonight as back-up.”

“You feel it too.”

He started pacing, relieved his team leader shared his unease. “Something’s off. I’m not sure what, but there’s something brewing. I can’t figure out if it has to do with Bridget or something else.”

“It’s the doctor. I had Gennessey and Isobel go to the hospital today to check him out. He’s a dick, but his reputation is solid. One of the best surgeons in the state. A big donor to a lot of local charities. A bit of a player who dips his toe in the BDSM scene on occasion. But nothing in his background points to him being a rapist.”

“I heard her scream. I saw him pin her against the wall. She told him no, and still he touched her. I don’t care if no one has come forward about it before. He’s a rapist.”

“I believe you. If he’s done this before, he was careful enough to choose victims who wouldn’t come forward. So why Bridget? What was it about her which made him take such a risk? I mean, he had ample opportunity to take advantage of her before he got her home. Why wait until he had her in her house with her niece and nephew in the next room?”

“What are you saying?”

“I’m not saying anything. I’m spit balling. But admit it. I haven’t said anything you hadn’t already been thinking.”

Zane ran his free hand through his hair. “So you think this warrants an independent investigation? Is the Sheriff’s Office going to be open to that?”

“I’m saying right now we keep a protective detail on Bridget and the kids. The doctor has the means to make bail, and with no priors and a solid reputation, bail will be set, I’m sure.”

“You think the SOB will try again?”

“Don’t know. But if there was something about Bridget which made this guy act out of character enough to commit a crime, then I think it’s a safe bet to assume he won’t stop until he gets to her. I talked to Brick, and he’s upgrading security at their house. He’s installing video cameras outside and in common areas in the house. The feed will be piped to the command center, and Kat has it rigged to alert the investigator on duty of any breech at their house. Tristin has authorized overtime for the investigators, so someone is with them all the time. Since Alpha is still working the De la Peña case, Tristin has Delta on standby to provide back-up to the investigators and to Alpha. Whatever’s needed.”

“Thanks, man. I—”

The door creaked open, and Zane turned to see Bridget stepping out of the house.

“Zane, I just remembered…” She paused mid-step when she saw he was on the phone.

She seemed almost disappointed to find him occupied, and then he noted the urgency in her eyes.

“Hey, Jay. Let me call you back.”

“What’s wrong?”

“I don’t know,” he said slowly as he watched Bridget shift her weight nervously from one foot to the other. “Stand down for now. I’ll brief you when I figure it out.”

“Copy.” Jay hung up without another word, and Zane replaced his phone in his jeans pocket.