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His affection for his grandmother warms my heart. When he told me he hates his mom and won’t talk about her, it raised some concerns. Who could hate their mom? I wish I had one more second with mine. But the love he shows for his grams settled those thoughts.
“Tell me about your ex,” I say, taking a chip.
He rolls his eyes. “Really?”
I laugh. “Yes. How long did y’all date?”
“You’re really not going to let this go, are you?” He’s the one who brought her up first. I shake my head, smiling. “We dated a few months. Eight, maybe. She couldn’t accept my life.” When I lift a brow, he adds, “Being with a K-9 police officer is a lot. There’s a lot of sacrifice. Time. We’re always on call. And then this happened…” He gestures with his hand, the restaurant.
That was the tipping point. I can’t say I don’t understand. I don’t agree with it. It’s part of who Paxton is, and I love that part.
Paxton’s phone rings on the table, and his chief’s name flashes on the screen. He offers a quick apology before answering. Whatever. Less talking for me means more time to munch on chips.
After a brief exchange, he replies, “No.” He listens, nodding. “How long has she been missing?”
My hand halts, a chip with salsa hanging in the air, as a shiver races across my skin. His words trigger a surge of panic through me. Paxton studies me as he talks, assessing me as if trying to gauge my reaction. Thoughts race through my mind, fragments of the conversation leaving me unsettled. Is his chief calling to tell him my monster kidnapped someone again? My appetite vanishes, and I drop the chip on the plate. I sit and wait. Questions and fear tighten around my throat as Paxton reaches across the table and squeezes my hand, as if reassuring me that everything is fine.
But is it?
After he hangs up, the first thing he says is, “People go missing all the time.”
“Then why did he call you on your day off?”
A momentary look of discomfort crosses his features. “They want Riggs and I to be ready if they need us.”
I rub my face, attempting to drown out the unease. Like he said, people go missing daily, and I can’t let my emotions hijack me every time I hear about one. “You don’t know her, do you?” The question slips out, regret flooding me.
His shoulders tense. But Martinez’s voice repeats in my head. There could be a connection, even if it’s not direct.
“Are you still having doubts about me?” He mutters curse words under his breath, his eyes darting around the room. “I thought we were past that?”
“We are. I’m not saying you did anything. But what if there is a connection? Somehow? You can’t deny that it’s a possibility considering how everything went down.”
“Well, you’ll be happy to learn I have no idea who she is.” His voice carries an edge, and while, yes, I’m relieved, I feel bad at the same time.
I toy with a crumb of a chip that’s fallen on the table, breaking it into tiny pieces with my nail. Our food comes, and I stare at the generous burrito, not hungry anymore. Between the inhaled chips and my talent for putting my foot in my mouth, I’m done.
“My boss had the same question.”
I pick my head up, understanding his brash tone.
“That’s one reason he called me. I think it just pisses me off that I’m being tossed into question because everyone thinks I have the answers. And I shouldn’t get this mad because you’re right, I would’ve asked the same question if I were in your shoes.”
“Can we take this to-go?” I ask, and he nods.
He might not be so in agreement with my next request.
CHAPTER 34
Kali
“I know Martinez. He’s thorough. He’s already been out here,” Paxton says as the Jeep’s tires struggle to stay on the winding, wet dirt road. I don’t care. I need to see for myself. My concern mounts with each second that she’s not found. He can tell me all day this has nothing to do with me, but after seeing her picture on the way over here, I don’t believe him.
Thick, mousy-brown hair. Pale-blue eyes with a slim build.
She could be my sister.
The possibility that she’s buried and going insane right now is making me go crazy myself. He told me he would go for me, but there was no way he was leaving me home on my own with my thoughts, so here I am.
