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A soft chuckle slipped from my lips. "You know… I never thought we'd be pulling all-nighters together like this."
Our hands brushed against each other’s, and a charge ran up my arm. It was ridiculous how a mere touch could send my senses into a whirlwind.
But just as quickly as the moment started, it ended. The phone on my desk rang, and I picked it up. “Detective Green.”
"Kayla," Luke's voice was tight with distress. "Another message. Inside the house."
Heart pounding, I tried to keep my voice calm. "What does it say?"
Luke hesitated. "It says, 'You can't keep her safe.'"
I sucked in a sharp breath. "Lock everything. We're on our way."
I ended the call, meeting Jake's anxious gaze, and repeated what Luke had said.
"How the hell did they get past the patrol?"
"We need to figure that out," I said, grabbing my jacket.
The ride to Luke and Lexi's was tense. Jake's grip on the steering wheel was white-knuckled, and the silence was deafening.
I placed a reassuring hand on his arm. "We'll catch this bastard."
"I can't do this without you," he murmured.
"You won't have to," I whispered back.
The boundary between our personal and professional lives was blurring, but it didn't matter right now. All that mattered was our growing bond and our mutual resolve to bring Lexi's stalker to justice.
The ranch glowed in the setting sun, and despite the moment's tension, I enjoyed the golden fields and bright white of the ranch house. As I pulled up, I saw Luke and Lexi huddled together on the porch, waiting. Before Jake even fully stopped the car, he was out and rushing towards his sister, enveloping her in a tight embrace.
"Are you okay?" he whispered to her. She was trembling, trying to hold back her tears.
"I'm scared, Jake," Lexi managed to say.
Jake responded with a comforting kiss on her forehead, his concern evident. "We'll get through this."
Luke seemed weary, rubbing his neck. "Whoever it is, they've bypassed our security," he observed with a hint of dread.
I scanned the area, trying to assess the situation. "Looks like we have our work cut out for us," I remarked.
We entered the house, searching for any clues the intruder might have left. Aside from the unnerving note, nothing seemed out of place.
After a while, Jake and I found ourselves in the living room, both clearly frustrated. "This is a dead end," I muttered.
Jake ran a hand through his hair, an idea taking shape. "Luke, I think you should leave for a while. Head to my uncle’s place by the lake. I doubt they'll follow you there."
Luke looked surprised. "You think it's that bad?"
Jake nodded solemnly. “It’s the best option for now, until we catch whoever’s behind this.”
I considered it. "It might actually be a good move. Change the scene, throw the stalker off."
Lexi bit her lip, clearly conflicted. "I don't want to run, Jake. But if it’s for our safety..."
Jake reassured her gently. "It's just for a little while, Lex. Trust me."
She nodded, albeit reluctantly. "Alright."
