Page 81 of Dark Roads

“I don’t want to be a bother.”

“I don’t want you walking around alone.” Like he owned her. Like it was up to him what she did.You’re a psychopath and I’m going to prove it.

“I appreciate that.”

When she hung up her apron and told Mason behind the counter that Vaughn was giving her a ride to the gas station, a strange look floated across his face.

“What are you up to, kid?”

“Nothing. He offered.” Then she grabbed her purse and left before Mason could say anything else, but she felt him watching all the way out the door, his arms crossed over his chest.

Vaughn opened the truck’s passenger side for her. While he walked around the front, she hit the red record button on her phone and held it in her hand, hidden behind her purse.

The police truck was smothering hot. Vaughn blasted the air conditioner, aiming the vent on her bare legs. She shivered, and even though she couldn’t see his eyes behind his sunglasses, she had the feeling he’d done it on purpose. As they pulled away, she adjusted her jeans shorts, let her fingers absently rub at the top of her thighs. Vaughn flicked a glance at her legs.

“How’s it going at the restaurant?”

“Good. I like Mason.”

“Are you going back to Vancouver at the end of summer?”

“I’ll go home, but I might give up on law and do something with the arts. I like fashion.”

“That would be a switch.”

“I’ve always liked clothes. I used to have an older boyfriend—I met him in the mall. He said I could be a model, and my parents freaked out. They made me break up with him.”

“Sounds like they wanted to keep you safe.”

“Do you think I could model? I get lots of likes on Instagram.”

“Be careful online. Predators use social media.” He looked over at her. “Your sister posted a lot of photos. We don’t know if someone was following her that way.”

“Are you trying to scare me?”

“I’m trying to stop you from getting hurt.”

“Is that why you became a cop? You like saving women?”

He looked at her. “What are you getting at?”

“I want the police to put more hours on my sister’s case.” She slid her leg higher on the seat, twisted toward him. “You can help me… and maybe there’s something I can do for you?”

He pulled over so abruptly that her body jerked forward and the seat belt tightened painfully against her chest. She tried to loosen it, struggling with the release.

“I don’t know what game you’re playing, but you need to smarten up. There’s a killer in this town, and you’re just his type.” He opened the side door. “Get out. You can walk back.” At the last second, he latched on to her wrist hard, twisting until her cell dropped into his hand. He checked the camera, swiped his finger across, and deleted the video. He passed the phone back.

“Recording someone without their knowledge is illegal.” He pointed at a garage. “They’ll have a jerry can you can use.”

He left her on the street rubbing her sore wrist. He’d pressed her bracelet into her skin, made a faint pattern with the links. It had to be a message.Back off or end up like Amber.

CHAPTER 31

Hailey

I forked up the last piece of pie and dropped the plate onto the floor for Wolf. He sniffed it, tasted the lemon, and gave me a side-eye. I shrugged. He huffed and began licking the flakes of pastry and leftover cream. He ignored the smears of lemon filling.

Jonny opened his eyes slowly. “Beth brought that pie for me.”