Page 35 of No One But You
“I can try, but I might struggle if my memories don’t clear up properly beforehand.”
Nate nodded.“That’s fine.I’ll put in a request, but it will take a while to find an available artist.”
He slipped the photographs into a large white envelope and stretched.“Fuck, I hope we get this wrapped up soon.There was another vandalized site found yesterday.This time, it was hikers who came across it near the falls.We’re afraid that if they try again in the same area, someone might interrupt them again, and they’ve already shown that they’re willing to become violent.”
The color leached from Bailey’s face.“I’m sorry I haven’t been much help.”She rubbed her knuckles over her temple.“If only my stupid brain would do what it’s supposed to, you might be able to stop them.”
I put my hand on her arm.“You’re doing what you can.No one can ask more of you than that.Don’t beat yourself up about something that’s beyond your control.”
Nate pushed his chair back and got to his feet.“Max is right.Your only job is to stay safe.Leave the rest to us.The rangers are going to start a night patrol, and we’re borrowing an officer from one of our neighboring stations to add to our overnight patrol shift.”
Bailey’s lips pursed.“Still, I wish I could do more.”
Nate started toward the door but then stopped and turned around, his expression thoughtful.There was something about it that I didn’t like.A hint of calculation.
“What is it?”Bailey asked, not nearly as wary of that look as she should be.
“I have an idea,” Nate said.
I crossed my arms.“No.”
Nate scowled at me as if I was the one prone to being unreasonable.I’d been reasonable for my whole goddamned life, but I wasn’t about to let him take advantage of her good nature for one of his harebrained schemes.
Bailey’s face lit up.“What’s your idea?I’d love to help any way I can.”
“Bailey…” I began, but she didn’t pay me any heed.
Nate propped one hand on his hip and glanced at me before focusing completely on her.“Since we don’t have any solid leads, the only way we can identify this guy at the moment is if we happen to include him in a group of potential suspects and you recognize him.”
“What about fingerprints?”I asked, not liking the way he was making it sound as if this entire case rested on Bailey.She didn’t need to be under that kind of pressure.
He grimaced.“They collected so many from the hut that it’ll take weeks, if not months, to sort through them.The only prints collected from your back door were yours, and they were smudged, which makes me think the perp wore gloves.”
Damn, so much for that.
“This whole thing could drag on indefinitely.”He looked as unhappy about that as I was.“But we could potentially end it sooner if we set a trap.”
Oh shit.No.This was a terrible idea.
Bailey cocked her head.“What sort of trap?”
“Don’t even think about—”
“One with you as bait,” Nate finished, his voice raised to be heard over mine.
Well, hell.Now he’d done it.
TWENTY
MAX
“Absolutely not,” I snapped before Bailey had a chance to respond.“It isn’t right to put her in danger when she’s already been through enough.She hasn’t healed yet, and you want to use her to lure out the person who did this to her?”
Nate stared at me as if I’d dressed in drag and burst into song.Usually, I’d be amused to see him so shocked but right now, I was too upset to find any humor in it.How dare he suggest using Bailey that way?Especially to her face when we all knew how much she liked to help and be involved.
“You should just do your job and find them without putting so much pressure on her,” I continued, on a roll.“It isn’t the victim’s responsibility to find the perpetrator.”
“Max,” he said gruffly.
