Chapter 4

4

A nger tightened Calvin's dry throat, and he yanked his phone from his pocket. He snapped pictures of the note then called 911. When the dispatcher answered, he said, "I need an officer on Elm Street, just south of the square. Send Officer Cruz Sawyer if you can. I think the incident is related to the Simon murder."

"Yes, sir. Are you hurt?"

The only thing hurt was his pride. If he'd been more aware, he wouldn't have been caught off guard. "I'm fine. Just send someone quick."

Disconnecting, he searched through his recent calls to find Jenna's number. He pressed CALL then lifted the phone to his ear. If someone was trying to send him a message, Jenna could be next. As much as his head told him to stay away, he couldn't help but reach out to make sure she was all right.

"Hello?"

The smooth and familiar cadence of her voice calmed his frayed nerves. And as much as it helped him, it pissed him off. "It's Calvin. Where are you?"

"Just left the hospital. What's wrong?"

Returning his keys to his jacket pocket, he used his free hand to rub his collar bone. "I just left the police station in Pine Valley. Someone used some kind of knife to stick a note to my tire. I think it's one of those surgical knives. I'm going to send you a picture to see if you can verify."

"Okay," Jenna said.

He pushed a few buttons then put the phone back to his ear. "You should get it in a second."

A beat of silence passed before the sound of Jenna sucking in a sharp breath rattled in his ear. "That's a scalpel. Stella's throat was slit by a scalpel, Calvin. My boss just told me."

All the air left his lungs, and he bent over at the waist as if he'd been punched in the gut. "Sonofabitch."

"Where are you?"

"Parked on Elm Street, right off the square. Maybe someone caught something on a security camera." He glanced around at the houses lining the street and searched for any cameras close by.

The hum of an approaching engine rang in his ears. An SUV sped toward him, screeching to a halt to park at the side of the road. He squinted to make out the driver of the vehicle before she jumped out of the driver's seat.

"Jenna?" He'd avoided her for so long only to come face to face with his ex twice in one morning.

Jenna rushed toward him, the wind whipping the ends of her dark hair around her face. Her lips pulled down in a deep frown and a hint of terror clouded her blue eyes.

"What are you doing here?" He couldn't squash the tiny thrill that screamed inside him at seeing the worry lines wrinkling her forehead.

Worry for him.

She reached out, letting her hand hang awkwardly for a minute before shoving it in her jean's pockets. "I was close and wanted to make sure you were all right."

Warmth blossomed from his core. He crossed his arms over his chest, trying to stop the stupid excitement at seeing her from spreading. He didn't want Jenna creating these sensations inside him. "There's no reason for you to be here. I called the police, and Officer Sawyer will come take this into evidence." He hated the bite of his words, but he couldn't let her see how much she still affected him.

She nibbled on her bottom lip, her gaze locked on the paved road. "I was just scared. This is a hell of a lot. The scalpel can't be a coincidence. I can't go home if I'm not safe. I can't bring that kind of danger to my son."

The mention of her son was like a bucket of ice water over his head. Snapping him back to reality and chasing away any sentiment. He'd always hoped to start a family with Jenna one day. Picturing her with another man's child was too much to handle. "I just saw Officer Sawyer at the station when I left. I'm sure he'll be right over and can give you the assurance you need."

After Cruz came and took his statement, he'd go home and wash the mess of this day off him—try to forget the way his body still responded to Jenna. Try to ignore the nagging feeling that Jenna might be in danger, and he might be the only one who could protect her.

Jenna's heart thudded in her chest for more than one reason, the main one being her close proximity to Calvin. She'd lied before. She hadn't shown up because she was afraid. Hell, the note trapped against his wheel was a warning for him, not her.

But instinct had brought her straight here. She'd needed to see for herself he was all right, even though there was no reason for him not to be.

"Here comes Cruz," Calvin said with a nod of his head, cutting into her thoughts.

"Cruz?"

"Officer Sawyer," he clarified. "Looks like he brought his brother with him."

She glanced over her shoulder. The same clean-cut officer from earlier approached with another man beside him. A full beard and longer locks were the only difference between the two men, even their scowls were identical.

"Looks like you really pissed someone off," Cruz said then nodded in Jenna's direction. "Dr. Simon. Didn't expect to see you. Please meet my brother, Detective Sawyer."

The detective shook her hand before fitting both palms in a pair of rubber gloves. "Nice to meet you."

"Calvin called me about the scalpel that was used on the tire," she said, hating her need to defend herself. Uneasiness hung over her like an itchy blanket. "I was close by, and honestly, a little nervous to go home."

Detective Sawyer's light eyebrow hooked up. "And why would you be nervous after speaking with Calvin?"

Cotton formed on her tongue, stealing her words along with all the moisture in her mouth.

Calvin took a step closer to her, his mouth set in a firm line. "Maybe because her sister was murdered last night and now a scalpel matching the murder weapon was stabbed into the tire of the man she asked for help."

Rubbing the back of his neck, Cruz shifted his weight. "I understand it's a tough time for you, Dr. Simon, but we have no reason to suspect you're in any danger. Calvin, why don't you tell us what happened?"

"As I walked back to my truck, I noticed it was leaning to the side. I scanned the area, and when I didn't see anyone around, I approached the vehicle and found the note. I sent a picture to Jenna, and she confirmed that's a scalpel sticking out of my tire." He flicked a quick glance her way as if unsure if he'd made the right decision when he contacted her.

The detective scribbled notes in a notepad. "And where were you, Dr. Simon?"

"Excuse me?" Jenna asked.

"If Calvin called you after he found the threat stabbed into his tire, and you were close enough to appear, I'd like to know where you were when the threat took place."

"Now hold on just one damn minute," Calvin said, taking one big step toward Detective Sawyer with his finger ready to jab in the detective's chest. "She asked me to help her. Why the hell would she warn me to stay away?"

Jenna rested a hand on his forearm. His body was tense beneath her touch, but losing his temper wouldn't help anyone. "I had a meeting with my boss at the hospital then was on my way home when Calvin called."

Detective Sawyer wrote something else in his notebook. "So there was a span of time when you are unaccounted for?"

She ground her teeth together. Patience was something she usually had in spades, but her already strained nerves were about to snap. "I was driving."

"Hmm-mmm."

More writing. More nerve grating silence. The constant motions and lack of expression on his face made Jenna want to grab the stupid pad of paper from his hands and chuck it across the street.

"We'll search for any cameras on the street and speak to some of the neighbors," Cruz said. "If we find anything, we'll let you know. You have another ride home? I'd like to keep your vehicle here a little longer so we can dust for prints."

"I can take him," Jenna said before she could think better of the offer. The thought of sitting so close to Calvin in an enclosed space made butterflies dive bomb against her stomach. But she'd gotten him into this mess by asking for his help. The least she could do was make sure he got home.

Calvin looked down at her, eyes wide and a little hesitant. "You sure?"

No, but she wouldn't admit that. Instead, she offered a weak smile and nodded.

"I'll call when your truck is released. In the meantime, lay low." The shaggy-haired detective said then turned to the side to speak with his brother.

With her heart pounding, Jenna led the way to her SUV. She spared the two officers buzzing around Calvin's truck one last glance before climbing behind the wheel and waiting for Calvin to take the seat beside her. "I'm sorry about your truck."

He shrugged, his broad shoulders taking up so much room in her car. "Not your fault."

She sighed and started the engine. "If I hadn't asked for your help, it wouldn't have happened. But there's one thing that's really bothering me."

"What's that?"

"If someone knew I'd called you, that means they knew I was at your house. Is someone following me? And if so, why?" Goosebumps erupted on her arms despite the heat pumping from the vents. The idea that someone was keeping tabs on her whereabouts didn't make sense.

"I wish I had an answer for you. All I know is I don't like the way Detective Sawyer questioned you. I haven't had as much interaction with Lincoln as I have with his brother, he's newer to this area, but something about him rubbed me the wrong way."

"You told me to trust the police to do their job," she said, panic rising in her chest.

Calvin tipped his chin, a smirk lifting the corner of his mouth. "You never used to listen to me before, not sure why you would now."

Appreciating his attempt at humor, Jenna whacked her palm against his chest.

Before she could yank it away, he captured her hand in his, trapping it against him.

Heat shot up her arm, but she couldn't dwell on how he still made her feel. At least not now. "If I can't trust the police, then what do I do?"

He released her hand, wiping his palm on his thigh before shoving it in his jacket pocket. "If you still want me to help, I will."

"Really?" She held her breath, afraid he'd change his mind.

"Really."

The tendrils of fear that had grabbed hold of her since the police showed up at her door this morning loosened a fraction. Calvin was on her side for the first time in a long time, and damn if it didn't feel good.