find answers somewhere. I had to come to terms with it, but I want you to know the real reason I made contact with you…after all these years.”
“What do you mean…made contact?”
“I used my dad’s old case files to find you. I had your name and other information to track you down,” he finally admitted, and let go of her hand. “It was my only way to understand him. Don’t you see?”
“How did you get the Millstone files? That’s police property.” She asked the question, more out of shock than any real concern for police protocol.
“He kept copies of everything. He’d been obsessed with that case. As far as I know, it still haunts him, even in his condition.” He leaned forward and grabbed her arm after a tear slid down her cheek.
“Jessie, I needed to understand his fixation.” He brushed her tear away with a finger. “And the way I saw it, there was only one way to do that. I had to track down his kids, the ones he’d saved—to know my family’s sacrifice had been worth it.”
He let the revelation sink in, but when she only stared at him in disbelief, he added, “I’m not proud of why I did it, but, Jessie, I’m beginning to understand how he felt. It’s something I have to finish, so I can…let it go.”
“And Mandy? Was she…?” She fought the emotion welling in her throat, dreading his answer.
“Yes. She was part of your nightmare, Jessie. She was there…in that house. Mandy was one of my father’s kids.”
Jess shut her eyes and took a deep breath, desperately trying to stifle the sickening feeling that gripped her now. She tried digesting what he’d told her, to put it into perspective, but a stark image assaulted her mind like a virulent disease. The blurred face of a crank-addicted hooker—stabbed to death in a cheap motel room—suddenly shifted into focus.
And it was like looking in a mirror.
“We were both there…in that house?” She opened her eyes and stared past him, not really seeing Seth, only feeling his hands pulling her close. “Her life could have been mine.”
“No, Jessie. You survived. You were stronger than Mandy,” he insisted. “Hell, you’re the strongest person I know. I’ve never met anyone like you.”
Seth nudged her chin with his finger and fixed his dark eyes on her, forcing her to look at him. He brushed a strand of hair from her face and let his finger trail down her cheek. His tenderness had shocked her, but when he lowered his lips to hers—for an instant—she simply let go. His lips pressed to hers, a warm, comforting touch. She craved the intimacy. It felt right, and she gave in to the sensation, needing to be held. He pulled her to his chest and caressed her.
But eventually, the shock had worn off, and she realized what was happening. That was when she reacted.
“Seth, what are you…” Blood rushed to her cheeks, and she pulled away from him.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…” Seth scrambled to his feet and stood. He backed away from the sofa and headed across the room. His face flushed pink.
Jess had never seen it coming. Had she misread what he’d done, made more out of it than was there? She replayed the moment in her head and found it hard to misinterpret what had happened.
Seth had kissed her. And damned if she hadn’t returned the favor.
CHAPTER 15
Chicago suburbs
Two hours later
Being the bearer of bad news about Seth Harper didn’t sit well with Ray Garza, but it was a hair better than sharing it over the phone. He hoped Sam Cooper would appreciate the difference.
With a hand on his steering wheel, he leaned forward and held up a note with an address scribbled on it. The light coming off a nearby streetlamp was enough to see the house number as he drove through the older residential neighborhood, a street lined with small, well-kept bungalows. He’d never been to Sam Cooper’s house, but the homey street suited her.
Nudging the gas pedal, he felt anxious about seeing her, a strange mix of feelings that were hard to unravel. Emotions were a black hole he had no patience for. Part of him couldn’t wait to see her—like a damned kid with a crush—but another side wished he were in better control. Hell, he was a seasoned cop. He should know better.
From the first day he’d seen her in the squad room, he had to stifle how he felt. And her being smart and a good cop made his infatuation worse. He wondered if she felt the same, but he didn’t trust his instincts where women were concerned. Taking things slow worked best. At least, that was what he told himself.
Ray knew he’d taken a risk coming to her home, when he could have called. But in his mind, a phone call wouldn’t cut it. Not with the news he had. It was late, but not completely out of line. He only wished he had a better reason for showing up on her doorstep.
He found her home and parked behind her vehicle in the drive. The small brick bungalow had interior lights coming from what he guessed was a living-room window with curtains drawn. The front stoop and the flower beds beneath the porch were lit. It reminded him of his parents’ place, when they were alive.
He hit the front buzzer, and she answered the door wearing jeans and a black CPD T-shirt, her hair in a ponytail. The word—CUTE—could have been stamped on her forehead without lying.
“Ray, what are you doing here?”
When she first saw him through the curtain, her heart leapt. She ran fingers across her hair and fiddled with her clothes—fighting the urge to stall until she could change. But that wasn’t going to happen. Sam prided herself on being a low-maintenance woman.
But that was before Ray Garza showed up on her doorstep.
“Hey, Sam. I was…ah…” He gestured over his shoulder, pointing toward his car, as if the vehicle had brought him against his will.
“You were in the neighborhood?”
She tried to bail him out, but a smile gave her away. She was enjoying herself. Normally, Ray was the picture of confidence, but not tonight. Seeing him like this made her cheeks heat up.
“Come in. Can I get you a beer?” She stood back and let him in.
“No, but thanks. I’m on duty.”
The man looked good in her house, but by the expression on his face, he’d come for a reason. This wasn’t a social call. She stepped toward her small living room, but he stayed in the foyer.
“What’s up, Ray?”
“We gotta talk, Coop. There’s something you need to know about Seth Harper.” Ray Garza took a deep breath and told her, “I’ve got news, and I figured you’d want to hear…in person.”
“Yeah, sure. What’s going on?” A worry knot clenched Sam’s stomach.
“Another hooker filed charges against him a few hours ago. Camille Regan, street name Jade. She claimed he beat her up earlier today…and she says it had something to do with that dead hooker. Detective Loren Clampitt out of Central is checking her story.” He gave her the time of the alleged assault. “The woman was stitched up at an ER, but she’s out now. We’ve got an APB on Harper, but so far no luck. I think the kid skipped.”
“Oh, my God. I can’t believe this.” She slumped to the armrest of her sofa. “Ray, that doesn’t make sense. You don’t know this kid, but I swear…”
“For what it’s worth, it doesn’t make sense to me either. That guy would have to be an idiot to take his fists to a hooker right after makin’ bail. But until we talk to him, we’ve got only her side of the story. You got any idea where he is?”
“No, but I’ll call Jess. Maybe she’ll know.”
She had left Seth at Jessie’s place not long ago. The guy had looked antsy and wired, but she had a hard time picturing him doing anything violent. Keeping what she knew from Ray went against the grain, but she owed Jessie a heads-up. And it would look better for Harper if he turned himself in. She had to give him that chance.
“You think she’d tell you?” He cocked his head, his cynicism showing. “You care to make a wager on
