Page 89 of Protected By Duval
She tried to nod in response, but his weight made it more difficult than she could manage. “Mmm?”
“I needed to see you.”
She heard his words and they melted right into her heart.
Noelle rubbed her hands on his back, trying to soothe whatever it was that he was feeling.
She didn’t ask him any questions, she just stood there, holding him.
“We interviewed the two brothers who ran the market where Aracely worked.”
Noelle nodded as her hands continued to rub his back.
“They gave us a hint about the man who might have... who might have killed her.”
She tightened her arms around him.
“Trouble is... Both of these men were complete jerks. I’d love to nail them for it just so they could pay for some of the horrible shit they did to the women who worked for them.”
“But they didn’t kill her?”
He tensed against her and she felt his hands grip her tightly. “I hate to say it, but we don’t think so. They were really upfront with the shit they did.”
She tried to nod, but there wasn’t enough room between them to move. “You talked to them?”
He sighed and she moved her hands over his back. “No. Jack went to talk to them along with a female deputy from the sheriff’s office. We felt like they’d be more open talking to two pretty women.”
She smiled a little at that, knowing that her face was likely hidden in his shoulder.
“I felt that,” he murmured softly. “Your smile.”
“I bet Jack did a great job.”
He held her closer, something Noelle hadn’t believed was possible until it happened. “She was great. Hayden, too. They got us another name. Someone related to the brothers.”
Noelle felt him turn his head and brush his lips against her cheek.
“They have an old picture of him, but we can’t find anything more recent.”
She heard him pull in a breath and then let it out.
“Do you think... ‘Elle, do you think you could-”
“Show me the photo. I can see what I can do.”
He tensed again. “I don’t want to ask you to do this unless-”
Noelle leaned away from him, moving her hands from his back to his upper arms. She met his gaze and hoped that he could see the truth in her gaze. “McCrae, I’m here for you. I’m here for this. I feel like I have a connection to her. I... I have herface in my head. I want... I need her to get justice for this if we can help. You give me the photo, and I’ll see what I can do.”
She hesitated and let out a breath. “If I’m working from a photo,” she wanted to warn him, “it’s not my strength. Working from bone out? I’m great. But with a photo, I’m working in the opposite direction and then I’m working back out again. I can’t guarantee how good the image would be.”
McCrae leaned in closer, leaning his forehead against hers. “Baby, whatever you can do? It’s icing. It’s gravy. Whatever you can give us to help? It’s lightyears ahead of where we’d be without you.”
Noelle heard McCrae’s stomach growl. “Well, let’s get something to eat for everyone and once Ciela is down for the night. I’m yours.”
McCrae’s breath caught in his throat. “Yeah?”
It took her a moment for her to realize what she’d said. “Oh, I meant... I could work on the photo.”
