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“If he’s been stalking you,” Nathan said, “then I need to know so I can keep an eye on him. I’d rather get him to stop on his own than see him reprimanded. Or fired.”

“So this is unofficial,” she said. “Right?”

“For the moment, if you want it to be.”

Ford gave her a go-ahead nod.

“Okay. He was sort of…stalking me.”

Ford’s eyebrows lifted, and she sighed

“I guess not ‘sort of.’ It wasn’t until I threatened to report him and get a restraining order that he left me alone.

Though, to be honest, I’ve had the feeling for a while that he was watching me.

Like, I’d look out my apartment window and see him across the street.

But that coffee shop is there, so…” She shrugged, not that Nathan could see her.

“The point is, he’d left me alone. I tried to report the crime anonymously, but I guess your system made note of my phone number.

I don’t want to have to turn him in, but I’m not going to put up with it again. ”

“I’m sorry about…all of that,” Nathan said. “Lenny said he likes to sit there to watch the town walk by, but now that I think about it…he was mostly watching the gallery.”

Just as she’d suspected, but how was she supposed to call him on that? He was a cop in Shadow Cove. It was his job to be there, looking out for the locals.

“Thanks for telling me,” Nathan said. “I’ll back you up if you ever decide to file a report against him. The chief’s reasonable. You can trust him to do the right thing, if it comes to that.”

She hated to think how Lenny would react if she turned him in.

The fear of that reaction had kept her silent for too long. If Lenny tried to force himself into her life again, she’d report him to the police.

And suffer the consequences.

“Back to business,” Nathan said. “We’ve got patrol cars driving by your building at night.

We’ve informed local business owners and people who live downtown of the fact that there was some trouble at the inlet and to keep their eyes out for strangers.

There’ve been no credible reports at this point, and no trouble at your apartment. ”

“That’s a relief.”

Ford shook his head. He didn’t have to say anything for her to guess what he was thinking. Some variation of a lot of good that’ll do.

She didn’t disagree.

“I’ve been doing a little research,” she said. “Did you know there were rumors about a smuggling ring at the Haunted Inlet back at the time of the Ballentine murders?”

Ford tapped the desk to get her attention, then swiped his finger across his neck, telling her to stop talking.

“Uh…no,” Nathan said. “I think that was before I was born.”

She wanted to mention The Network, but Ford had trusted her with the information, and she didn’t want to abuse that trust. “It’s probably nothing, just an old rumor.”

“I’ll look into it. I’ll call if I learn anything. If you need me, call me at this number, anytime. Stay safe, Brooklynn.”

She thanked him and ended the call.

“You shouldn’t have told him about the smugglers,” Ford said.

“Why? He’s a cop, and he wants to help.”

“Or to get information out of you. Now, he knows you’re doing some armchair investigating.”

“You think Nathan is involved?” Her tone was a little mocking, but she couldn’t help it. “Obviously, you’ve never met him. He’s the twenty-first-century version of Timmy Martin.”

“Who?”

“Timmy Martin.” She waited for the recognition to dawn on Ford’s face. “You know, ‘What is it, boy? Is Timmy stuck in the well?’”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“The TV show. Everybody knows Lassie .”

“Wasn’t Lassie some kind of famous dog?”

“Wow.” She shook her head in mock horror. “Not a fan of reruns, I guess.”

“I wasn’t allowed to watch TV. The point is, you don’t know if your Timmy guy is trustworthy.”

“His name is Nathan, and I went to school with him. He’s a nice kid.”

“He’s a grown man, and for all you know, Lenny was listening in on that conversation. For all you know, Nathan is trying to figure out where you are so he can tell the smugglers.”

“You’re—”

“What do you think, Brooklynn?” Ford demanded. “That if you’ve met somebody, they must be good? Ted Bundy had a girlfriend. Jeffrey Dahmer worked in a chocolate factory. Just because you’re nice doesn’t mean everyone is.”

“Obviously.” She stood abruptly. “There’s nothing wrong with seeing the best in people.”

He stood, too, and came around the desk. “There is if those people are criminals and murderers.”

“They’re not.”

“Because you’re such a great judge of character.” His sarcasm was thick. “Said the one who fell in love with a stalker.”

His words were a blow.

She stepped back, not even sure how to respond.

His eyes widened. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean?—”

“Yes, you did.”

His mouth opened, snapped shut. He seemed at a loss for words. Too bad he hadn’t felt that way thirty seconds before.

The problem was, he was right.

She was a terrible judge of character. She liked people. She trusted people, and when they disappointed her, she forgave easily.

She hated conflict, and she wanted everyone to like her.

Which made her…a fool.

She’d been a fool to forgive Lenny so many times, to think he would ever treat her with respect.

She’d been a fool to believe Ford would see her as a help, not a nuisance.

She’d been a fool to believe she could be more than the burden to society her father believed her to be.

She was just…a fool.

Tears burned. She swiveled and headed toward the door. Not wanting him to see how much he’d hurt her. Not wanting to be a burden or a nuisance or any of the things she knew she was, and couldn’t help but be, no matter how hard she tried.

“Brooklynn.”

“It’s fine.”

He took her hand, his touch gentle. “It’s not fine. I’m sorry.”

She could’ve yanked away. He held her hand loosely, giving her the option.

“Please, don’t go.”

At the kindness in his tone, so contrary to his harshness a moment before, tears spilled over and down her cheeks.

Crying twice in the same day. In the same hour. In front of this man who already saw her as weak.

She didn’t want him to see her tears.

And she didn’t want to leave.

He shifted to stand in front of her. “Please.” He swallowed again. “I’m sorry. I’m just worried about you. I don’t want you to trust the wrong people.”

“Maybe I already am.” She swiped tears from her face, then looked up at him. “Nathan seems to think so. You want me to distrust him. He wants me to distrust you. Maybe I shouldn’t trust anyone.”

His gaze roamed her face. Maybe seeing the remnants of tears, he blinked and stepped back. He dropped his hand from her arm.

She missed the contact, which made her the biggest fool in the world.

“You’re right.” No hesitation in his words. “I’d prefer you distrust everyone than trust anyone. The cop’s not wrong. Only a local would know about your relationship with Lois Whitmore. Whoever sent those thugs to her house last night knew about your friendship with her. You can’t trust anyone.”

“‘Anyone’ includes you, you know.”

“That’s fair. If you want to leave, I get it.

My offer stands. I can take you anywhere you want.

You just can’t go home. Not until it’s safe.

” He backed up and leaned on the desk. “I’m really sorry about”—he waved toward her chair as if their conversation hovered there—“my stupid remark. I was just…”

“Being stupid?”

There was his lip-twitch. “What else is new?”

“You’re not stupid. You need to work on your cultural references, but I can forgive that.”

His expression sobered. “Can you? Forgive me? I was… I think I’m a little…” He shook his head, grunted. “It’s nice you trust everyone. It’s nice you’re so…nice. Also, stop it.”

“Stop trusting people. Got it. Can I write that down?”

He ignored her sarcasm. “Why are you smiling?”

She hadn’t realized she was. But he’d apologized, something her ex-boyfriend would never have done in a million years.

Not that she was comparing them. Not that Ford would waste his time on someone like her. “I guess I’m just a happy person.”

“You’re in danger. You’re trapped in this house with me. You’re being stalked by a jerk. You’re just…” He seemed to grope for a word, landing on, “…impossible.”

“I’m happy.”

“It’s annoying.”

“You love it.”

He looked away, and she could swear he almost smiled.