Page 73 of The Girls in the Snow

The .177 pellet had busted through the glass with precision, and the responding officer had told Nikki the air gun used was likely a higher-end model because of the likely distance between the snow tracks on the side of the house and the window.

“My guess is the person came to send a message.” “Liar” had been spray painted in red across the siding, right above the circuit breaker. “It’s got to be one of those protesters. One of them caused a scene at the diner and shoved me. Miller kept him at the station for hours, but one of his buddies must have followed me home. The tracks in the snow look like generic snow boots, likely a man’s size ten or eleven.”

“You didn’t say anything about having issues with the protestors.”

“It isn’t any of your concern.” The words came out more harshly than she’d intended.

“It is my concern when it puts our daughter at risk.”

Nikki glared at him. “That’s why I’m staying in Stillwater, and I called you tonight. What else do you want me to do?”

“I don’t know,” he snapped. “I don’t understand anything you do anymore.”

“I can’t do this with you right now. No one in Stillwater even knows I have a daughter. I’ve kept her completely out of this. And my address is unlisted. Someone either went to a lot of work to find me, or they followed me.”

Unless Newport had done the dirty work, but as much as Nikki disliked the woman, she couldn’t see her sending her minions to commit violence.

“Has anyone else been hanging around?”

Nikki immediately thought of Rory and flushed. He wouldn’t do such a thing. “Not really.”

“What about Frost?”

“What about him?”

“You’re letting the media imply he might be responsible for the Stillwater murders. If his ego is as big as you say it is, maybe he’s pissed and sending you a message.”

Nikki had already thought about Frost and ruled him out. “This isn’t the sort of message he would send. It’s too crass. And he knows I don’t really think he’s the killer.”

“How could you possibly know that?”

“Because it’s my job, Tyler.”

“Yeah, well your job’s going to get you killed one day.”

Nikki gritted her teeth. Tyler had never been comfortable with her working in the violent crime unit, and he wasn’t capable of fathoming her need to understand why people committed such terrible crimes. Nikki often wondered if his real issue was jealousy over the recognition she received for her work, but she didn’t dare bring the idea up. The argument always ended in a stalemate. “I can handle it.”

“What about Lacey?” Tyler demanded. “If something happens to you, what am I supposed to tell her? That Mommy chose—”

“Stop.” Nikki stood up, shaking with anger. “Don’t say another word.”

Tyler’s cheeks reddened. “I’m not trying to make you feel bad.”

“That’s exactly what you’re trying to do. It’s what you always try to do when it comes to my job. This is what I do, and it’s not going to change,” Nikki said. “How many times do we need to have this argument?”

The muscles in his jaw twitched. “No need to have it. You aren’t going to change.”

“Neither are you.” Nikki gathered her coat and bag. “I’ll call Lacey tomorrow.”

“You’re seriously driving back to Stillwater tonight? With a head injury?”

“I’m fine.”

Tyler closed his eyes for a moment. “Look, I know we’re mad at each other, but please stay in the spare bedroom tonight. It’s late, and you’ve got to be tired. I won’t bother you anymore tonight. And you can take her to school before you go to work in the morning. Lacey will be so happy.”

Nikki wanted to tell him no, but her exhausted body overruled her emotions. “Okay, Tyler. But this doesn’t change anything.”

“Don’t worry,” he said. “I gave up on you changing a long time ago.”