He exited the county offices and got in his vehicle. If she wasn’t answering, he should check up on her.
The sky had been gray and rainy this afternoon and he turned the windshield wipers to the highest setting as he steered through town toward home. He would stop by the bungalow first; he hoped she was there and not out in this weather.
To his surprise, Tori steered right past him, going in the opposite direction.
Ryan made a quick U-turn in the middle of the highway as he grumbled under his breath, although he didn’t know why he bothered to keep his voice low. He was alone in his vehicle as he followed Tori.
She would be furious when she found out he’d tailed her. If she found out.
Following her hadn’t been his intention, but she’d ignored his call, choosing to text him a short message instead. And her father had paid him a visit.
Still, the investigation into the multiple homicides needed to be his top priority, not Tori herself. But after the two attempts on her life, he remained concerned about her safety. And she was tangled up in this investigation whether he liked it or not.
The rain wasn’t helping matters. His windshield wipers couldn’t keep up with the torrent.
Tori drove out of town and just kept driving along the freeway. What business could she have out here? Tension built up in his shoulders as he followed Tori for a good forty-five minutes, and she never noticed him on her tail—he could thank the weather for that.
In Shady Creek, Tori parked her vehicle at the curb near a cluster of apartments. Across the street was a laundromat, an insurance office and a coffee shop advertising free internet. The downpour continued as if the storm had traveled with them to the next town. The rain had probably ceased in Rainey—he laughed out loud at that. But in Shady Creek, the storm kept up.
Shady Creek was in Maynor County, so it was still part of his jurisdiction, but if she’d gone as far as Shasta County he would have continued to follow her as part of this investigation.
She’d learned something. He knew it. But what?
The thought soured in his stomach. He thought they had an understanding and had agreed that she would share whatever she learned so that he could more quickly find the murderer. He parked across the street from where she’d parked and noticed she had remained in her vehicle so far. He was down a ways, too, and needed to think through his next steps. Should he follow her from a distance or should he make his presence known? If he did reveal himself, would she be forthcoming with what she’d discovered?
Though it was still raining, Tori got out of her vehicle, wearing a hooded jacket. She started down the sidewalk of the quiet two-way street.
Ryan tugged his wind jacket on and pulled the hood up. Looked like he was getting out in the rain, too. Hoodie covering his head, he tried to follow her. He decided that once he knew her destination, he’d make his presence known. Unfortunately, he wasn’t certain she would give up what she knew, even though he was the detective on the case.
Unease crept up his spine and his senses kicked into high gear.
Something wasn’t right. Call it instinct or a gut feeling, but he’d learned to never ignore it.
Tugging her jacket tighter, Tori glanced over her shoulder at the slow traffic as if to rush across the street. She started across and Ryan made to cut her off, done with trailing her.
An engine revved behind them as a vehicle rushed forward, heading directly for Tori.
“Look out!”
SIX
The grille of the blue crossover filled Ryan’s peripheral vision as he propelled himself forward. Tori twisted around as he grabbed her. Gripping her arms, he dove with her out of the vehicle’s path. Together they slammed against the sidewalk, though Ryan rolled to absorb the bulk of the impact. Pain stabbed through him, but he ignored it.
Protecting her, he held her on top, his back against the asphalt. Tires squealed as the vehicle sped away. Gasping, he tried to jerk his gaze around to catch the license plate, but he couldn’t see it as it turned the corner. Still, he had the make and model. He would radio the information in for law enforcement to be on the lookout.
Would the vehicle come back? Had the near collision been intentional or had he overreacted? He didn’t think he had.
As if it hadn’t been pouring hard enough, the ground began to crackle with drops. The rain wouldn’t give them a break.
“Ryan!” Tori’s voice startled him.
He’d been focused on the vehicle and only now realized she’d been calling his name. She stared down at him. “You can let me go now.”
What? Oh, he still gripped her tightly to him. “Are you all right? Are you hurt?”
“No, I’m not all right.” Her dark green eyes pierced him. Her frown deepened. “What are you doing here?”
“Saving you, apparently.” He opened his hands, releasing her.
She got to her feet, then offered her hand to assist him up. Her grip was slick with rain and his hand slipped free, but he got to his feet anyway.
“I’m good.” Was he? His back might never be the same, and for sure he’d have a few bruises. But rushing Tori out of the way had been worth it. No doubt there.
He glanced around them. Was someone else watching and waiting? The rain kept everyone inside, and if someone had witnessed what happened, no one had stopped to help them.
“I don’t understand. Why are you here?” Water droplets beaded on her weather-resistant hoodie.
“Let’s get out of the rain and go somewhere safe and dry,” he said. “Maybe you can
