Devils at the Door by Tessa Wegert

Author:Tessa Wegert [Wegert, Tessa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Severn House
Published: 2023-09-13T00:00:00+00:00

TWENTY-SEVEN

I was back at the barracks in a matter of minutes, driving too fast along Route 12. Craving the reliable shelter of my workplace like a drug. Tim wasn’t around when I walked past his desk, and for that I was thankful. I needed to process my encounter with Ford. To reason out what it meant.

I paced my small office, hands still shaking hard. What the hell had I just done? Ford had it rough. It pained me to imagine him alone in his house, wandering rooms that had once brimmed with laughter and life. And yet, what I felt wasn’t customary pity for a victim’s family. The way Ford had reached for me, both down by the water and next to his wife’s grave … it was like we’d shared a hundred embraces already, just as though he had every right to press his lips to mine. I hadn’t stopped him. That was the part I couldn’t get past. I’d allowed it to happen, and worst of all, it had given me a thrill.

I slammed my hand against the desktop, shook out my fingers, and reached for my phone.

‘This is Courtney.’

Even though I was the one who’d placed the call, Tim’s stepmother’s voice on the line gave me a start. I stammered out a greeting and tried to put Ford Colebrook out of my mind. ‘I’m sorry to bug you at work, but I need— Can you— I’d love your help with something.’

‘Whatever you need, honey,’ Courtney said. ‘Just name it.’

Her kindness was a knife in my side, and I clamped my teeth against the pain.

‘I know those boys,’ she said once I’d explained the situation and given her the two names. ‘Let me think. Dariel’s not likely to be driving a boat these days. He’s in a cast from the knee down – football injury, I believe, and right at the start of the season. Now Asher, he and Leif definitely hung out.’

As Courtney spoke, I rubbed my bare ring finger raw. Somehow, I’d neglected to wear my ring. Somehow, I’d allowed a man who wasn’t my fiancé to kiss me.

Courtney said, ‘If there was someone else out there with Leif on Saturday night, I’d start with Asher Vance.’

‘Thank you,’ I replied, clasping my head in my hands.

I’d known Hen’s arrival would bring changes. I’d even suspected it might put some strain on my relationship with Tim. The house was a source of stress too – but we were engaged and in love. What was happening here? Thoughts of Ford had me in their grip and were pulling me deeper. I was drowning. No hope of help in sight.

‘Shana?’ The door cracked open, and Tim’s face appeared. ‘Got a sec?’ he asked, looking contrite. ‘I was hoping we could talk about—’

‘I need to find Valerie.’ I was still in my jacket, I realized, the phone clutched in my hand. ‘I’m sorry – later, OK?’ I stammered, pushing past my fiancé and out the door.

I cornered Valerie at Bogle’s old desk and filled her in on what I’d learned.

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