Page 1 of Capture My Heart

Chapter 1

Amy Larson rubbed her grainy eyes and wished for unlimited energy. She’d settle for another cup of coffee. Her first cup had done nothing for her late-night work hangover. She crammed the case folder into her bag and readied for another shift.

Slipping the chain with a St. Michael medal over her head, she scooped up her gun, and slid it into her hip holster. Finally, she palmed the shiny badge. Her finger floated over the words etched in the metal: Ashwood Police Officer.

Her phone buzzed. Tommy’s teenage face popped up on her screen. She needed to update that. No time now. Amy blew out a breath as she tapped the accept button. “What’s up?”

“Jeez, Sis, good thing I brought you coffee. Sounds like you could use it. Hurry up, I’m downstairs.”

Shit. She’d totally spaced their workout this morning. “Sorry, I picked up an early shift.”

Her eyes panned to the time on her stove. The number clicked up. Time to go.

She whipped around at a scraping sound behind her. “Are you at my door?”

“No, I just told you, I’m downstairs.”

The scratching grew louder.

“Hang on.” She moved to the door and peeked through the peep hole. No one.

She checked the door—still locked.

She pressed an ear to the cool metal. The sound stopped. No scraping, no tapping, nothing.

Her brows scrunched. Weird. With one more look through the peephole, she shrugged, picked up her phone, and grabbed her bag. “Hey, did you get the job at the car dealership?”

“No, they said I wasn’t a good fit.” He huffed.

She visualized his eyes rolling.

“Selling cars isn’t what you really want to do anyway. What did your parole officer say?” He’d earned an accounting degree while in prison. She couldn’t be prouder than if he’d gone to a private university.

“Not much.”

“Tommy, when’s the last time you checked in with him?” She wedged the phone between her shoulder and ear as she threw the last of her papers in her bag.

“Don’t get your panties in a twist. I have an appointment with him tomorrow.”

She blew out a breath. Thank God.

Her eyes tracked to the door. The scratching was back. It was faint but she heard it.

She dropped her bag and pulled the gun from the holster.

“Tommy, I have to go but I’ll grab the coffee on my way out. You’re the best.” She heard his grumbled yeah, yeah as she disconnected the call.

Amy closed her eyes and inhaled deep. The breath slipped out, slow and steady. It’s probably nothing but…

Her eyes were focused now and ready for anything. She pressed her back to the wall next to the door. With two fingers, she flipped the lock open and with the stealth of a lioness turned the knob.

One swift pull and the door flung open. She steadied her breath and peeked out. Her weapon aimed at the floor. Amy scanned left then right. Nothing. Just empty hall.

“I’m losing my mind.” She turned back to her apartment, closed her eyes, and inhaled deep. Maybe she was buckling under the pressure. God knows she felt the weight of the world on her shoulders. Or at least the weight of her family. Steadier, she opened her eyes. She wouldn’t crack, she could do this. Juggling was her superpower.

One hand on her bag, Amy turned back to go and…There. She heard it. She wasn’t losing her mind. The bag hit the floor as her weapon raised.

She took two steps out of her apartment. The door clicked behind her. She did a visual survey of her surroundings, no crackheads, Girl Scouts selling cookies, or axe murderers. Nothing. Was she being punked?