Page 6 of Law Man (Blue Collar Bad Boys #4)

Riley

After Noah leaves, I find it hard to focus on the books I pulled off his desk. I’m well aware that it’s my nerves, that being alone after that attack is making me crazy. Still, I can’t seem to make myself sit still.

I trust that Noah’s going to take care of the man from the library. He’s competent at his job, and the determination on his face told me everything I needed to know. After tonight, I won’t have to worry about anything like that happening again.

I push myself to my feet, deciding to pace to get rid of some of my excess energy. The office is fairly bare, but there are small piles of clutter lying around. I lean over the desk to take inventory of the pages strewn across it.

Ever the professional, there aren’t any police reports or sensitive information left out here. However, he’s compiled several news articles about crime happening in the city. I glance over them, familiar with a few of the cases.

Ever since that presentation Noah gave, I’ve developed a bit of an obsession with true crime, keeping up with multiple podcasts and YouTube channels dedicated to the topic.

Not to mention the fact that as I librarian I get first dibs on any new true crime book that comes into the library.

It’s not that I like the violence, but I’m interested in the way that the human mind works.

Maybe it’s a morbid curiosity, but I can’t deny that I want to learn everything there is to know.

What drives a person to commit heinous crimes? Is it something that happens in their childhood? Is it a mental disorder? Were they radicalized by outside forces?

I run my fingertips over the pages, but don’t let my eyes linger for too long.

If I do, the librarian part of me will kick in, and I’m likely to pick up the articles and rearrange them.

Noah seems like the kind of person who has a particular way of keeping things, even if it looks like it’s a mess.

There’s doubtless a method to his madness that’s on par with any librarian’s.

The rest of the office is well-organized.

There’s an old picture of the original sheriff’s station hanging on the wall.

Below it is a photo of the current force.

Noah is there in the middle, giving the camera a serious expression.

Actually, upon closer inspection, none of the men in the photo are smiling.

I feel the corners of my mouth tick upward. It’s just like these guys to put on a serious front. I don’t know any of the other men in the picture, but I’m aware of the fact that most of them are kind and a little goofy. Noah might be the only person who was accurately captured in this photo.

Somehow, I’ve been able to see a different side of him. That gentleness might be a part of him that’s reserved only for me. And that makes me feel warm all over. Knowing I’m going to see him soon helps to quell my nerves.

Taking a deep breath, I feel a little steadier.

I walk the perimeter of the room, taking note of the dates on the filing cabinet drawers.

They predate Noah’s time here; the oldest drawer boasts files from the 1960s.

I resist the urge to pull the drawer open to rifle through the cases.

Maybe if I had some kind of job here, or was doing a research project beyond the scope of the library’s archives, I could get away with that, but as it is, I’d just get into trouble.

I run a hand through my hair, noting the sweat collecting on the nape of my neck.

Earlier, I thought I was just hot from what Noah and I were getting up to, but now I realize the lack of airflow had something to do with it as well.

So, I walk over to the door and crack it open to allow cooler air to filter in.

Now that I’m feeling more steady, I settle back into what I already think of as my chair and pick up the true crime book I’d been looking at.

My mind is still all over the place, but I force myself to focus on the pages in front of me.

Besides, with the scent of Noah surrounding me, I can feel myself slowly relaxing.

I wonder if he’ll always have that effect on me. Surely he will. No one has ever wanted to protect me the way that he has.

As I start to tuck into the book, an analysis of a series of murders that took place in Appalachia, I marvel at the way things have worked out for me. The way Noah and I met was unfortunate, that’s undeniable. But, somehow, I’ve met the man of my dreams and he wants me just as much as I want him.

I wonder what might have happened if we hadn’t been interrupted earlier. Obviously, we were having sex, but I didn’t really get to experience it. Having just a taste wasn’t enough for me. I’m already wishing for Noah to get back here so we can finish what we started.

Crossing my legs to give myself a little bit of friction, I shift my focus to the book in front of me. Even if Noah gets back quickly, he’s going to be too busy to give me what I want immediately. It’s best if I do something to pass the time.

Besides, maybe he’s already read this book. If he has, we can talk about the case together. It’s exciting to find out that not only is Noah’s appearance perfect, we share interests. I’m falling for him, there’s no doubt about that.

It takes me a few minutes to get absorbed in the book, but when I do, the rest of the world gets blocked out. The author draws me in, and the case is compelling. Time passes quickly, and I’m not sure how long I’m sitting there before I hear the door opening all the way.

The sound makes me jump, and I shut the book and spin around. A smile works its way onto my face before I even lock eyes with Noah. I’m just so glad that he’s here, that this nightmare with the man at the library will be over.

But, it isn’t Noah standing there.

The man from the library is standing in the doorway, a wild look in his eyes. My blood runs cold, and the smile melts from my face. My body freezes, but my brain runs wild. What happened earlier cannot happen again. I won’t let it.

“You really should have kept this door closed,” he says, rapping his knuckles against the doorframe. “Wouldn't have been able to get into the office if it wasn’t open. Maybe you missed me.”

Something about his tone… it’s like he’s insinuating I liked what he was doing earlier. That makes my blood boil. I’m moving before I even realize what I’m doing.

The book flies out of my hands. It smacks against his face, the corner of it catching his eye.

He howls, falling to his knees. His body lands in the hallway, and I see an opportunity.

With even less thought than I put into throwing the book, I take off, dodging him as I fling myself into the hallway.

As I run through the empty station, I hear the man cursing behind me. He’s not close, though. I think he might still be trying to get to his feet, though I’m too afraid to turn around and check. If I waste even a second here, I could lose the advantage I’ve somehow managed to get for myself.

I retrace the steps that I took to get to Noah’s office when we first got here. I’m not sure where I’m going to go, but I know that I’m no longer safe in the station. As I run, I pat down my body, trying to find my phone – I curse myself when I realize I left it in the office.

There’s no way I’m going back there, and there’s no way I’m stopping to call 911 at one of the desks.

I could try to see if there’s a weapon I could use, but it would just be obvious that I have no idea what I’m doing.

It’s best if I get myself out of here as soon as possible.

I’ll be able to find someone that will let me use their phone along the way.

Or, at worst, I’ll get home and lock myself in.

I’m nearly to the front door when another idea strikes me. It’ll only work if I pass what I need… and… I do!

I grab onto the handle of the fire alarm. As I’m passing, I push it in and pull it down. The alarm blares instantly, and the sound is deafening. It’s the background noise for the rest of my run to the front door, the bright emergency lights flashing.

Praying that I’ve done enough to draw the attention of the authorities, I take off down the street. I don’t look back, I barely pay attention to where I’m going. My only goal is to run until I can’t anymore.