Vulnerable (Morgans of Nashville 4)

He pressed his forehead against the rough bark and gently rocked back and forth. He wanted to see her again. Touch her. Hold her. Be inside her. Life was always more vivid and jazzed when he was with her. What had she called them once? Bonnie and Clyde.

He dug his cell from his pocket and dialed her number. As her phone rang, her head turned and she picked up the phone. For a long moment she stared at the display and he thought she might pick it up. But then she hit silent as her mother appeared in view.

Amber turned from the window, as if he did not exist. Almost like she knew he was out here, watching her.

Pressing the phone to his head, he needed her. He wanted Amber so much.

Be patient. Be patient. She promised they would be together soon. Very soon.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Thursday, October 5, 9:00 P.M.

Overhead lights of the Nashville Police Department’s parking lot hummed as Georgia crossed to her car. She left Deke at the medical examiner’s office hours ago and returned to her lab where she spent several hours processing a robbery scene. As she cut across the lot she could only think about food. She was starving.

“Georgia!”

She turned at the sound as a tall, lean man stepped from the shadows. He wore a dark blue shirt from a local garage that skimmed his muscled biceps and chest. His black beard was thick and his dark hair tied back.

She looked around the lot, irritated she’d not paid more attention to her surroundings before she walked out of the building. “Can I help you?”

“I’m Hal West. Carrie’s boyfriend.”

She reached in her purse, thumbing the canister of mace she always carried. “Right. The guy that likes to put bruises on the mother of his child. How the hell are you, Hal?”

He held up a crumpled napkin. “I found this in her purse. When I asked her what it was about she got real jumpy. Mind telling me what my girl is doing with your number?”

Jamming her thumb under the safety on the mace, she hoped this jerk stepped closer. “I told her that when she’s tired of being your punching bag to call me.” She was outmuscled, but knew if she showed any kind of fear he would take the offensive. “When she wises up, I’ll see to it she leaves you for good.”

“Fuck you.” He ripped the napkin and threw it on the ground. “You got no business in my life.”

She pulled her phone from her back pocket and hit the 911 speed dial icon. “You got no business beating on a woman half your size, pal. Let’s see how badass you are when the cops show up in less than a minute.”

He advanced a step, his fists clenched. In the distance she heard sirens and knew valuable seconds would separate her from the cops being able to stop real trouble.

“Is there a problem here?” The deep male voice belonged to Jake Bishop.

Georgia looked past Hal to see Jake standing outside the circle’s edge of light. His feet were braced, his hand rested on his gun as if hoping.

Hal’s gaze remained locked on Georgia. “I’m having a conversation with the lady. She’s glad to see me.”

Georgia shook her head. “Detective Bishop, I’ve told Hal here the cops are on the way.”

“What’s the issue, Hal?”

Hal stared at Georgia, grinding his teeth as if he were chewing on a bit. “Nothing. I got no problem.”

“He hurt you in any way,” Jake asked Georgia.

“Nope.”

“Threats?”

“Nothing to charge him with.” There would be no holding Hal tonight, but that didn’t mean the trouble was over.

A marked squad car raced into the lot and stopped, catching the trio in the headlights. An officer got out of the car. “What’s the trouble?”

Hal shook his head. “No trouble.”

“Then leave,” Jake ordered.

Hal flexed his fists, but he turned and moved along the line of parked cars until he reached a beat-up truck. He got behind the wheel, fired up the engine, and peeled out of the lot.

Georgia looked at the officer, allowing herself to release the breath she’d been holding. “Thanks for the quick call.”

“We’re set,” Jake said.

The officer nodded, got in his squad car and left, leaving them alone.

“How long has this been going on?” Jake asked.

“That’s the first time I met Hal. But I know his girlfriend. Hal likes to knock her around and I offered her a place to stay if she ever wised up and left his ass.”

He faced her, the light from the streetlight cutting across his face. “Did he do anything to threaten you in any way?”

“No. This is the first.” She pressed trembling fingers to her forehead. “But I’m sure it won’t be the last.”

His hand rested near his weapon, the ring on his finger tapping against the grip of the gun. “Shit, you’ve got to be more careful.”

“Yeah, I know. I’m sure if he wasn’t pissed off when he arrived, he was when he left.”

“Don’t take this lightly, Georgia. I’ve seen stalkers before. Hell, ask your brother Alex what it’s like to deal with a stalker. His fiancée, Leah, went through hell and back with her stalker.”

“He’s all bluster. He’s used to backing down. But you’re right. I’ll be more careful, but I am worried about Carrie.” She dialed a new number on her phone and listened until she landed in Carrie’s voice mail. She detailed what had happened and told her to be careful. She also repeated her phone number and offer for a place to stay.

“Shit. You’re taking this too lightly.”

“What are you doing here?”

“Taking a break. I’ve been reviewing tapes since I left Scott Murphy’s motel room. Figured you were working and decided to stop by.”

“Why are you so nice to me?”

“I don’t know. You sure don’t deserve it, yet.”

Good. He was annoyed. At least the evening wasn’t a total loss. “Any more leads on the guy who was spending time with Elisa?”

He studied her an extra moment as if sensing the tangle of emotions. “Not yet.”

“Brad tells me the motel room was filled with prints.”

He flashed one of his smartass smiles. “You forensic folks are the turtle in this race.”

Talk of work soothed some of the chaos. “Slow and steady wins the race.”

“You keep telling yourself that when I cross the finish line with my suspect.”

“My evidence will keep him behind bars.”

“It’ll help, but I could do without.”

That prompted a laugh. “You’re so sure of yourself.”

“I’m sure I know how to chase a trail and catch bad guys.”

She understood what he was doing. Grating on her last nerve to make her feel better. Words rose up in her and caught in her throat. “Thanks for showing up when you did.”

He offered a slight nod of the head. “You can count on me, Georgia. I’ve got your back.”

“You do,” she whispered.

A heavy silence settled between them. In the distance she heard people talking, knew others from the station were approaching their own cars. She tightened her hand on her keys.

He leaned closer, his body eating up a little more of the wedge of space between them. “I’m not kidding, Georgia. Don’t underestimate Hal or think he’ll forget about you.”

“I won’t.”

Finally, he stepped back and allowed her to open her car door and sit. Silent, Jake stood steady as she closed her door and turned over the engine. In the rearview mirror she watched as he stood in the parking lot staring in her direction. She watched until she turned the corner and he vanished from sight.

* * *

Georgia wasn’t sure how long her eyes had been closed when her cell rang. She sat up on her couch, dropping the television channel selector as she twisted around and searched for her phone. She glanced toward the television and the muted infomercial that displayed some kind of kitchen gadget that could peel and dice.

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nbsp; She found her cell between the cushions of her couch and accepted the call without bothering to look at the number. She wasn’t on call tonight, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t be called in to a rape or homicide scene.

“Hello.” Her voice sounded like sandpaper, forcing her to clear her throat. “Hello.”

“Georgia Morgan?” The feminine voice sounded small and charged with fear.

“That’s me. Who is this?”

“It’s Amber Ryder.” She hissed in a breath and then slowly released it.

“What’s happening?” Georgia stood, dusting cracker crumbs from her shirt. She’d not intended to fall asleep on the couch when she’d switched on the romantic comedy. However, she’d dozed almost immediately and at this moment couldn’t have told you a thing about the plot.

“I’ve been mugged.”

She rubbed her eyes. “Where are you?”

“I’m at a convenience store.”

“What happened?”