But deep down, something continued to whittle at his peace of mind. He would protect her to the best of his ability, but against what? Who?
“He has a thing for her,” Logan said, filling in the too-lengthy, telltale silence. “Give him time to get a grip. He’s still reeling.”
“What kind of thing?”
Juggling all three foam cups, Reese returned to the table. “A none-of-your-business thing.” He set one cup in front of the lieutenant. “Do you want me snooping into your love life?”
He waited for her to deny that a love life existed. He waited for her sarcastic reply.
Instead, she blushed.
Oh, ho, what was that about? Lieutenant Margaret Peterson, red-faced? Reese glanced toward Logan and caught his friend’s reciprocal expression of surprise.
“Margaret,” Reese teased, dropping formality as he took a seat. “What have you been up to?”
She slapped a file folder down on the table. “Work.” Avoiding eye contact, she sipped her coffee. “Detectives Rhodes and Garland took over on our follow-up after that mess in Reese’s apartment. They got the buyers, some other traffickers, freed a truckload of new victims and, overall, they’ve wrapped things up nice and tight.”
Reese let it go. For now. Finding out info on the human traffickers was more important to him than speculating on Peterson’s uninspiring feminine side.
“Glad to hear it.” He turned the file around and opened it to peruse names. “Anyone else hurt?”
“Nope. It was a clean bust. The bastards had only just set up house, so gathering everything was easy. The thing is...” She sipped at her coffee, her demeanor going somber, flat. “They closed off the neighborhood, searched the whole area and found a body in a dilapidated house a few doors down. A young female, bound and gagged.”
“Damn.” Logan ran a hand through his hair, wincing at the pain caused by the movement. “Got an ID?”
“Not yet. There’s a good chance it’s unrelated to the traffickers. Early estimate is that she died recently, within the past twenty-four hours.”
Reese thought of Alice, of a dark history, and kept quiet. His thoughts churned. He wanted to see her, to hold her.
“Anything to go on?” Logan asked. “Any ideas?”
“It might not be anything, but then again, it could be.” She reached for the file, pushed aside a few papers and withdrew a photo. “She had a very odd tattoo on her forearm.”
Reese studied the photo but couldn’t quite make out the design of the tattoo. “What is it?”
“Lines, numbers. So far, no idea what it means. But it’s unique,” Peterson said, “and it’s the only clue we’ve got. We’re hopeful that it’ll tell us something.”
* * *
ROWDY WATCHED ALICE pull into the apartment parking lot mere seconds before he drove in behind her. After retrieving her from the bus station, he requested—because telling her anything would probably get her back up—that she drive straight home. He informed her that he’d be following her more closely this time.
Thank the heavens, she’d done as asked.
He didn’t like letting her drive, but didn’t see a way around it. Even now, as he caught up to her on the walkway in, he could see her trembling.
Nerves. The adrenaline dump after her escapade.
Crazy Alice.
He narrowed his eyes against the sun, now streaking the sky in shades of crimson, pink, purple and neon yellow. He said nothing as they walked side by side into the apartment complex, but his concerns shuffled around again and again, making his head ache.
He knew she’d once been kidnapped, though Reese didn’t have all the details yet. From the moment he’d met her, Rowdy had figured she was afraid of something.
From what he’d seen today, she mostly had herself to fear.
Near her apartment door, she asked, “Are you coming in?”
“Damn straight.”
She gave him a sour look. “Cash will need some attention.” She unlocked her door. “I’ll have to take him to the yard—”
The second the door opened, Cash launched out. His body wriggled and squirmed in maniacal excitement.
Alice did a fair job of subduing the dog while hugging and stroking him, talking to him in a soft, sweet voice. She reached inside for the leash. “When he’s excited,” she said over Cash’s loud whining and yapping, “I have only moments before he wets the floor.”
“I’ll go with you.” Rowdy took the leash and attached it to Cash’s collar. He would have offered to take the dog out on his own, but...well, he didn’t trust Alice alone just yet. “C’mon. We have a lot of talking to do before Reese shows up.”
Cash practically dragged him down the steps. Rowdy took Alice’s hand and hauled her along.
Once outside, Cash continued in his effusive greeting...while peeing. Funny dog. Luckily they were already on the grass, and Cash missed his shoes.
At this time of early evening, no one else was about outside. Likely most were at dinner, which was where he needed to be. Chasing after Alice had helped him work up an appetite.
Maybe once he finished up here, he’d head to the bar, grab a sandwich...and maybe a woman.
Maybe Avery.
Yeah, he liked that idea.
Alice stood back, her arms crossed, her annoyance palpable. “I want to know why you were following me.”
He shrugged and gave Cash a little more leash. “Reese asked me to keep an eye out.”