Page 21 of The Woman Who Couldn't Scream
Kateri winced.
“Or he really is that good.”
She handed Bergen Rainbow’s keys. “What do you think?”
“I think we’ll find out.” He opened the front door and gave her a push inside.
Lacey followed, clearly delighted to once more visit Rainbow’s home.
Bergen asked, “Can you get yourself to bed or should I call Sandra to help you?”
Kateri drew herself up. “I’ve been putting myself to bed for a lot of years.” She considered him. “But I need my toothbrush and a change of clothes.”
Bergen got that panicked look that men get when asked to dig around in a woman’s panty drawer. “I’ll call Sandra to come and pack you a bag.”
“You do that. And thank you both. You are dear friends.”
“Yeah, yeah.” He waved that away and headed for his car.
Sean Weston parked himself at the curb.
Kateri walked inside, shut and locked the door behind her, slithered onto the couch on the way to the bedroom, dropped her walking stick on the floor beside her and slept the sleep of the dead.
***
Kateri woke up with her head kinked funny, one arm numb and a dog curled behind her bent knees. She half-opened her eyes and stared at the back of the couch.
God. What time was it?
Not that it mattered. She had to get up. Her ribs hurt. She was due to take an antibiotic. She had to pee. Plus she probably should brush her teeth and maybe try to climb into Rainbow’s bed, which had to be more comfortable than this saggy old sofa.
With a groan, she rolled onto her back, dislodging Lacey, then over to the other side—and gave a half-scream.
Someone—a man—was sprawled in the armchair, watching her.
Lacey stood up and wagged her whole body.
“Stag.” Kateri put a hand over her thumping heart and slowly worked herself into a sitting position. “You scared the hell out of me.”
“Youscared the hell out ofme. Your place got broken into and you didn’t even call?” He wasn’t actually relaxed, she realized. Each muscle was tense.
Lacey stopped wagging.
“What were you going to do that the rest of the department couldn’t?”
“Guard you.”
“Oh. Yeah. I didn’t think of that.” Kateri dropped her eyes, because she hadn’t thought of it, and if she had, that uneasy suspicion that he’d set up the drive-by lingered. Stupid, but one of the things that appealed to her on a visceral level—that was to say, made her horny—was how very dangerous he was, like a tiger in a sideshow that could at any moment turn feral. He’d been a bouncer. He’d served time for murder. Now he was involved with setting up a casino at the edge of her town, a casino that would ultimately make her life a hell with prostitution, drunkenness and gambling addicts.
She pushed her hair out of her eyes and looked up. A small wheeled bag sat on the dining room table.Hersmall wheeled bag. “Look. Sandra must have sneaked in while I was asleep.”
“Yeah… I could have packed your bag instead of her. I know my way around your bedroom.” He still looked ready to spring, and his deep voice had a dark, edgy tone.
Lacey edged herself into Kateri’s lap and fixed him with a stern eye.
Kateri petted her dog’s head.
He said, “For God’s sake, you stupid animal, I’m not going to hurt her.”
