Page 11 of Cautious Love

“Nope,” she says.

“Uh-huh, so let me get this straight. You were jumped behind the diner. You didn’t call for help, no one saw anything, and you drove yourself here?” I ask her.

She blinks and I see nothing but pain cross her hazel eyes. “Yeah, sounds right to me,” she rasps.

“Okay, I’ll write it up, and we’ll keep an eye out for these … hoodlums.”

“Thanks for doing your job,” she mumbles.

I pin my lips together, but I can’t hold it in. “Shiloh, if Grey did this to you, we will protect you. But you need to tell me if he did. The details are important. It’s how we can hold him accountable.”

She stares at me, and I think maybe she’s reconsidering, but her phone rings. “That’s it, sheriff, thanks,” she says and slowly reaching for her phone.

No desire to see her struggle anymore, I walk over to the side table and hand it to her.

“Thanks,” she rasps.

I hesitate, wondering what I can say to help her understand she’s safe now. I’ll post someone here to protect her from him. Hell, I’ll stand outside her room myself, if that would help. But when she leaves here, there’s only so much I can do, and I hope he doesn’t come back to do worse.

“No, please. I’ll pay for three more nights.” She pauses. “Yes, charge it to my card,” she says, and her voice breaks.

I tip my hat and leave her room.

Tatum meets me at the corner of the hall, and I shake my head.

“She won’t talk, Tate,” I tell her.

She frowns. “I’ve seen this before. They’re scared because they think he’ll do it again.”

I grit my teeth. “I know, but something tells me she has other plans.”

“What do you mean?” Tatum asks.

“I’m not sure, but I have a feeling whoever hit her won’t do it again.”

“Let’s hope you’re right,” she says.

I nod and slip my pen into my pocket. “I hope so, too.”

“Hey are you going out tonight?” Tatum asks.

I glance down at my notebook.

“I don’t think I’ll make it, Tate, sorry.”

She lifts a shoulder. “It’s fine. Your time is better spent on her,” Tatum says, throwing her thumb over her shoulder. “Fletcher wants to take me dancing, though I don’t know if I have the energy. But I figured it would be fun to hang out with everyone. It’s your turn now.”

I shake my head, feeling a burn in my chest. “I don’t know what y’all are on about. I’m doing just fine.”

“We know Ledge, but we all want to see you happy is all.”

“I appreciate that, Tate,” I say and tip my hat to her before leaving the clinic.

When I get back into my car, I radio into the station and tell them I’m going to go speak with someone at the diner to get more information.

“No problem, Calder is already out on patrol.”

“Great, thanks, Daisy.”