Page 103 of Making Home with You

Craig exhales.“Look Finn, I know you and I were never really friends, okay?But I don’t believe you did what Carla says you did.”

“I didn’t do anything to her,” I half shout, pissed that I should even have to defend myself about all of this.

“I know,” he continues.“That’s why I’m calling.”He pauses, and I don’t say anything, still confused about all of this.“Look,” he eventually says.“I just wanted to let you know that I believe you, that I believe you didn’t do what she said you did and that’s what I’ll be telling the detective when I call him back.”

“You do?I, um…”

“I’m sorry it’s come to this,” he adds, his words coming out in a rush now, as though he just wants to get it all out.“I mean I should’ve told you years ago about her weird obsession, I just…” he pauses now, as though he isn’t sure how to say what he wants to say.

“It’s fine,” I say, exhaling hard, as Sarah stands and wraps an arm around my waist.

“Yeah, okay,” he says.“Anyway, I hope you find her, get everything sorted out.”

I nod, even though he can’t see me.“Thanks,” I say.“Look, I gotta go, I appreciate the call though.”

After we hang up, Sarah and I stand there looking at each other.I know I should call Detective Greenwood and let him know that Craig has been in touch, but honestly, I’m not sure there’s much point.He doesn’t know where Carla is and short of confirming this weird obsession she has, which is pretty much undisputable given everything they found in her house, I don’t think he can offer much else.

“You going to call him?”Sarah asks, reading my mind.

“Yeah,” I breathe out, reaching for my phone.Before I have a chance to call though, my phone rings again, Kelsey’s name flashing up on the screen.

“Kels, hey, everything alright?”

I hear her exhale down the phone, the noise in the background suggesting she’s in her car.“Finn, I’m so sorry to do this,” she starts.“But I’m halfway home and one of the guys has called to say there’s been a disturbance down by the docks.I’m going to come back and take a look, but I wondered if you could…” she trails off and I immediately know what she wants.

Ever since she got kidnapped by her stalker ex-boyfriend down at the docks, Kelsey has been reluctant to go down there alone, especially at night.I don’t blame her, that kind of shit is hard to get over.

“Kels, don’t worry about it,” I say.“Go home and I’ll take care of it.”

“You sure?”she asks, relieved.“I don’t want to trouble you.”

“Promise,” I say, chuckling.“Besides, I am the Chief around here remember?It’s kinda my job.”

Kelsey laughs a little, but I can tell she’s relieved.“Thank you, Finn, really.”

“It’s all good,” I tell her.“I’ll call you when it’s done, okay?”

I hear her exhale.“Thank you,” she says, gratefully.“And I’m sorry to disrupt your night.”

“Don’t worry about it,” I say, knowing that this night has been a bust from the get-go.

When I hang up, Sarah looks up at me, a confused look on her face.

“I need to go down to the docks and check something out for Kelsey,” I tell her.“I won’t be long, I promise.”

She smiles.“I’ll come with you.”

“No, it’s okay, stay here, I won’t be long.”

“Finn,” she says, grabbing my hand.“Let me come with you.”

Something in the way she says it has me pausing, remembering that she has been through her own shit tonight and the last thing she needs is me leaving her alone in this room while I go take care of something.

“Okay,” I concede, squeezing her hand in mine.“But stay with me the whole time.”

She grins, giving me a salute as she says, “Yes, boss.”

As we walk out of our room and down toward the back entrance of the inn, I actually tell Sarah about the boat I have.I’m not sure why I’ve never mentioned it to her before, mostly because I never really take it out anymore, work and shit always just getting in the way.Kelsey lets me keep it down at the docks though, near her dad’s old boat, just in case I ever feel like taking it out sometime.