“WHAT THE HELL?” TREVOR snatched his phone up, glancing at the screen, and stood. “It’s Alex.”

“Open up, it’s me.”

Jenna sagged against the cushions. She could cry with relief, and she wasn’t a crier. Hell, she hadn’t been that easily frightened until lately, so what did she know?

Trevor unlocked the door and Alex shouldered his way in. He still wore the green spandex shirt and cargo pants that made up the base of their SWAT uniform. She shoved to her feet as the muscles around her throat constricted while fear and loathing battered at her.

Alex wrapped his arms around her and she didn’t even care that he smelled like wet dog and foot funk. He was there. Everything would be alright.

ALEX STARED AT THE top of Jenna’s head. He’d come as soon as they’d adjourned practice. If he’d known they’d be calling it off until the replacement medic was available, he’d have never let her leave alone.

“Any chance you have her vest?” Trevor asked.

“Yeah.” He stared down at Jenna, peeking up at him. “You tell him?”

“Yes, but...there was a dead bird in my car.”

“What?” Alex squeezed her closer. “In the car? We just had it looked at.”

“I know...I guess, I don’t know, maybe that’s why it got moved?” She pulled back a little and shoved her hands through her hair.

“Her car got moved? What?” Trevor’s mouth hung open a bit.

“A lot’s happened. I’ll bring you up to speed.” Alex pulled one of Jenna’s hands out of her hair and held it.

“I’m going to need to take a statement and I’d like to do a walk-through with the pictures you took.” Trevor was all business. It was obvious he was settling into his role as detective already.

“Can she write the statement while we go over the house?” Alex glanced back at Jenna. “I think you should get as much of your stuff as you can.”

“That works for me,” Trevor said.

She nodded and pulled away from him, crossing to the little writing desk that served as her dump spot for mail and the house phone. Under the junk mail was a pad and pen she took back to the sofa.

“I downloaded the images onto my phone.” Alex stepped around the coffee table to the entry and brought up the phone’s gallery app. “This is from a few days ago. This is the first time either of us have been here since then.”

He clicked on the icon and a picture of Jenna’s living room filled the screen. It was the exact same picture...with a few, small details. There was more mail, and Alex knew for a fact she hadn’t been back until now. A blanket that was over the back of the couch now lay across the arm rest. An empty cup sat on the coffee table. Small things that would go overlooked unless he knew they were wrong.

Trevor and Alex shared a look, but neither spoke.

Alex took a few more steps and swiped to the next picture. Again, the differences were slight, but they were there.

Someone had been in her home. And not just once.

They stood in the kitchen where the difference was most pronounced.

The dishes, which had formerly been stacked neatly, were gone. Even the dishwasher was empty.

“You hear that?” Alex tilted his head to the side.

A...scratching? It was hard to tell over the racket the birds were making outside.

“It’s coming from the fridge,” Trevor whispered.

Alex glanced at Jenna’s hunched shoulders. She wasn’t paying them any mind, lost in her own hell.

At least she wasn’t crazy. He could protect her from a stalker. He couldn’t protect her from herself.

Trevor opened the fridge a few inches and a small—thing—flew out, directly at Alex.

“Shit!” He ducked and nearly dropped his phone.

The frantic, angry squawking circled overhead.

“What is that?” Jenna whirled around, eyes wide.

“Think we found the bird’s friend.” Trevor picked himself up off the floor and they all stared at the bird darting around the vaulted ceiling.

“Was that in the refrigerator?” Jenna took a few steps toward them, her chin tipped up.

“Yeah.” Alex opened a cupboard and pulled out a small plate, something with just a bit of a lip on it, and ran some water onto the dish.

“Jenna, keep writing. I want you out of here as soon as we finish the walk through.” Trevor opened the fridge and poked around.

Alex remained still, watching the bird perched on top of the ceiling fan staring at him.

“What are you doing?” Jenna asked.

“I’m going to try to catch it. This was someone’s pet.”

The seconds stretched by. Finally the brightly colored bird swooped down to the counter and hopped to the dish.

“There you go,” he muttered.

He had no idea what kind of bird it might be, but the bright, orange, yellow and green plumage was striking.

“There was a call...a year ago?” Jenna sank onto the couch, turned to face them, her face scrunched up. “More I think. This guy had a ton of birds. They were all over his house. The place stank.”

“I’ll see what I can find out,” Trevor said.

Alex closed his hands around the bird. It squirmed, but not too much.

“Get the box over there.” He nodded at an empty delivery box sitting near the garbage. That he at least remembered being there.

Once they secured the bird and provided it with a bit to eat and drink, they proceeded with their inspection of the house. Alex hoped the bird was the worst of it. Neither Trevor nor he had pointed it out, but killing animals was an obvious marker. The kind of people who would kill an animal were the same who would kill a human.

“There’s only two more rooms and a bathroom.” Alex led the way down the short hall. He intended to cover the office first, but a bit of white, fluffy stuff caught his eye in the bedroom. “Shit.”

He shoved the bedroom door open, but it hit something on the other side.

“What is it?” Jenna called.

“Stay in the living room,” Trevor said before Alex could get the words out.

He shouldered the door open and stepped into the ruins of her bedroom.

The mattress was shredded on one side, the sheets in tatters, while the other was perfectly made. Bits of fluff, feathers and fabric lay everywhere. The dresser drawers were open, most of the contents spread across the floor or hanging from the bedposts. There was something laying in the middle of the bed...

“Holy shit.” Trevor crossed to the other side of the bed and crouched down.

This was a lot of rage. Alex couldn’t say what triggered it. Jenna’s routine changing, their relationship, the stalker no longer having access to her. Unless they knew who they were dealing with, he couldn’t say.

“What happened?” Jenna side-stepped him into the room.

“You don’t need to see this.” He held up his arm to push her back into the hall.

“Oh my—no!” She ducked his arm and dove for the thing on the bed. Her hands wrapped around it, keeping it under the torn up duvet. She snatched a bit of torn fabric and quickly bundled it up.

“What is it?” Trevor stood, his frown deepening.

“Nothing—just, look somewhere else.” Jenna scuttled off the bed and backed into the closet.

Trevor stared at Alex. They needed to preserve the scene, but he also understood what a terrible invasion of privacy this was.

Alex nodded and stepped over the piles of her clothes. It was such a change from his last glimpse of her underwear drawer with its neatly folded bits of lingerie.

Jenna backed into the walk-in closet. Clothes were hanging partially on hangers, but mostly piled on the floor.

“No, please,” she whispered, her face a strained mask of panic.

“Jenna, we’re just trying to help.”

“I know, but this isn’t going to help anyone. It’s just going to embarrass me.”

“Show me so I can tell Trevor it’s not going to matter to his investigation. You know him.”

“I hate today.” She squeezed her eyes shut. Her grip on the thing was tight enough her knuckles were white. “Right about now I wish the ground would open up and swallow me.”

“Jenna.”

Her face squished up, and she whined. Could it really be that bad? What was she hiding?

She held the object out in the palm of her hand, but it extended several inches beyond her fingers. The size was strange, too. What the hell was it?

“Don’t laugh,” she said and unwrapped the object and held the end between her fingertips.

“It’s a...?” The purple object was completely foreign to him, though a little phallic shaped. What caught his eye though were the letters M-Y-E-R-S drawn on the base, just above her fingers, in permanent marker.

“It’s a vibrator,” she said in a whisper through clenched teeth.

He continued to stare while she wrapped the sex toy back up and tucked it into the back of her pants, like one might conceal a gun.

She had a...vibrator...with his last name written on it.

For once he didn’t know what to think.

“I’ll handle it.” He turned and stepped into the bedroom.

Trevor paused his inspection of the mattress to glance up at him.

“Forget about it” Alex felt heat crawling up his neck along with a hundred questions.

How many times had she used that thing? How long had this been going on?

If the guys, even Trevor, found out about it, they’d never let her live it down. Plus, he didn’t like the idea of the guys even thinking about Jenna and sex, much less flirting with her.

“Fine. Whatever. Jenna—finish that statement and let Alex take you home.” Trevor was clearly grumpy about bending the rules, but he would get over it.

“We can’t go back to my place.” Alex resisted the urge to look at Jenna.

“Why not?” Jenna emerged from the closet, pulling her hair back into a floppy topknot.

“We don’t know when he had access to your car, if it was at work, the station or my house. He could know where I live. I...saw a car this morning and had a gut feeling.”

“You—what?” She stared at him, eyes wide, lips parted.

“I didn’t want to worry you.” Alex turned to her, wishing he could wipe the shock and fear off her face. “We still can’t be for sure it wasn’t just a neighbor. Part of the plate had mud on it.”

“Mud? This time of year? It’s bone-dry, man.” Trevor shook his head.

Shit.

“Okay—so—what?” Jenna’s voice rose and her gaze ping-ponged between them.

“You have that op tonight,” Trevor said.

“Yeah.” And there wasn’t anything Alex could do about getting out of it.

“Here’s what we do, take Jenna to my place. She’ll be there a couple hours on her own. Hit Liam up, ask him if you can use the cabin, the one out by the stock pond. You know his family could house a village on their property. That’s far enough out this guy will stick out. There’s nothing for him to hide behind up there. It’s just grass and cows.”

“Okay—but what about Mittens and Genghis and...” She stared at the clothes. “I don’t want to wear any of this stuff.”

“I’ll swing by, pick them up. We’ll figure it out.” Alex pulled her into his arms and nodded at Trevor. Right now, it was the best plan they had. And the best part? No one could deny that she needed the full support of the department now.

THERE WERE TWO OF them now, in the house with his Jenna. What was worse? That man—Alex—was here now. If only he’d just get the hint and take a hike.

Jenna was his. His—and not the cop’s.

He had plans for them. They were going to live a long, happy life together. People wouldn’t turn their noses up at him them. They’d welcome him. Hell, he’d thought he might even run for mayor. With Jenna at his side, people would have to accept him. He’d belong.

The ring in his pocket was a comforting weight. A reminder of the future they were supposed to share.

At least, that was his plan. Now, his chest ached. She’d chosen another man over him. He couldn’t take it. He couldn’t let this go.

JENNA FOLLOWED ALEX up the stone walk to Trevor’s house. It was maybe a couple of miles from her place in an older development. Trees shaded the porch and hedges stood guard. It was nice. Like out of an old TV show.

“Trevor said he’d try to be here early, but they’re going to be awhile processing your place.” Alex unlocked the door and ushered her inside.

“You’ve said that three times.” She knew he was trying to comfort her, but she was numb inside. She turned the security system, working on autopilot.

“I have?” he turned to face her, unfamiliar lines creasing his face.

“Yeah, you have.”

Alex was worried. He wasn’t a man who worried much. He was too confident for that, and now he was worried about her.

“I’m not going tonight. The guys can do the bust on their own,” he said.

“No.” She pushed at his chest when he took a step toward her. “No, Alex. I will not let you do this. I’ll stay here. Trevor will be back soon—you said it yourself. I will be fine. Besides, it’s not like I’m helpless, and you have to go take care of the animals.” She just felt that way because up until now all her choices were taken from her. That was going to change.

“Do you know what it’s doing to me to even think about leaving you here?” His torment echoed hers.

She pulled him to her and hugged him tight.

“I do, but I also know that not being with your team is just as bad of a decision. Go and get the bad guys. I’ll be fine.”

She felt his phone vibrate against her hip.

Alex dug it out and sighed.

“Time for action?” she asked.

“Yeah.”

“Go. I’ll be fine. I’m just going to shower, make myself a snack and wallow in self-pity.”

“I’ll be quick tonight.”

“Don’t be quick, be safe. I’m not there to patch you up.” She chuckled and swatted his ass as he let her go. Her grin was plastic and brittle, but Alex needed a picture of strength to get him out the door. What she wanted to do was punch something really hard.

“Fine.”

He grasped her face between his hands and kissed her. If she could live in a moment, it would be this. All the warm fuzzy feelings and heady euphoria buoying her spirits.

Alex slipped out of the front door and tapped on the glass. His silhouette waved then get smaller as he hurried out for the job. She flipped the lock and armed the security system. That done she turned to face her temporary domain and sighed.

Alone.

But not for long, she had to remember that.

Jenna grabbed her work bag and ambled into the hall bath for a shower. She’d feel better once she had a change of clothes.

For three months she’d lived in terror that it was all in her head. That the monsters were inside of her. Fear for not just herself, but others, had consumed her. The rage simmering low in her belly was of a single purpose. To make the person responsible pay. It was wrong and deep down she knew it, but right now, the only thing she wanted was for this person to pay. Maybe lock them up in a refrigerator, too.

Her phone buzzed from her back pocket.

“Alex, what do you want?” she muttered to herself.

Jenna glanced at the screen.

Unknown Number.

Huh. Strange.

There were a lot of people who had her number. It was a choice that now seemed like a bad one. If her stalker knew how to call her, he could invade her life with the push of a button.

But what if it was someone else? One of the people to whom she’d given her number to?

“Hello?”

“Oh, thank goodness!” The woman’s voice was heavily accented with Latin flavor.

“I’m sorry, who is this?” Jenna plugged her right ear to better understand the woman. Her Spanish was awful, but she’d give it a go. “Quién...hablando?”

“Ms. Martin, Lucia Pascual. You deliver my grandbaby.”

Oh...how could she ever forget that call?

“Yes, Lucia. How is your daughter? Is the baby okay?”

“No, no mi bebe is not okay.” The woman’s anguish was palpable.

“Have you gone to a doctor?”

“Too expensive.”

She knew that refrain all too well. The low income population of Ransom had to travel outside the city for affordable healthcare unless they were going to the hospital. It was one area where the city’s growth had outstripped the service providers. There just weren’t enough doctors and public transportation was nonexistent in these parts.

“What’s wrong? Does she have a fever?”

“Sí. Sí.”

“How bad?”

“Bad. One-hundred and—”

“Lucia, you need to call an ambulance or take her to the emergency room. They have to see you there.”

“No money. Please, can you help us?”

Jenna squeezed her eyes shut.

This wasn’t the first time she’d gotten a call like this. One time—just once—she’d given her phone number to a woman with three small children and now she got calls like Lucia’s at least a couple times a month. If it was an adult, she’d tell them to suck it up and go to the hospital. She hated it, but the liability was huge. When it was a baby...

“I don’t have a car, Lucia. I’m stuck.”

“I come get you.”

Alex had brought her bag in. She had the bare minimum tools to at least evaluate the child and advise them where to seek better treatment. It would mean leaving the house.

“Can you bring the baby to me?” She hated offering up Trevor’s house, but it was an option.

“No, my cousin will need it back.”

“But you can come get me?”

“Yes, yes.”

“Where are you right now? What’s your address?”

Lucia gave her the apartment complex name instead. Thankfully it was one Jenna was familiar with. It was maybe five miles from Trevor’s house, and seven from hers. Not a bad distance if she got stranded before she could organize a ride.

Alex—and Trevor—were going to kill her, but she couldn’t say no to a baby. Besides, if she sat here in an empty house she’d drive herself crazy with rage and self-pity. Helping the baby would keep her mind and body busy.

Jenna gave Lucia the address to the house and hung up. She changed into athletic shorts and a t-shirt, and exchanged her heavy boots for running shoes. Her med kit was a big, bulky thing, so she pared it down, selecting what she deemed safe for a baby and fit it all in the bag she kept with her SWAT gear for dirty clothes. It would stink, but if she had to hoof it back on her own, she wouldn’t be that badly off.

Should she tell the guys where she was going?

If Alex knew, he’d turn around and come back, putting not only the baby in danger, but his operation and his team. She couldn’t tell him. But Trevor? She nibbled on her bottom lip. Trevor was a rule follower. He liked the letter of the law. It was in his blood. She’d never discussed her after hours trips playing doctor because he’d try to convince her not to go, that it wasn’t safe or right.

She couldn’t tell Trevor either. Which meant she was leaping without a net. It wasn’t a great idea, especially if she was being watched. But wasn’t she in greater danger alone than around people? Safety in numbers, right?

Jenna scrolled back through her calls and tapped Sterling’s name. The call connected and rang before she got it to her ear.

Ring. Ring.

“Hey, miss me?” Sterling’s voice was lighter, happier. She sounded like she had when Jenna left her at the diner.

“Every second, sugar mamma.” Jenna grinned. Man, they’d had some fun together.

“What’s up?”

“I need a favor and I need you to not ask questions.”

“You want me to follow orders?”

“Yeah.”

“Okay, what’s up?”

“I’m going into unknown territory for an off-the-record job. If I don’t make contact in...thirty minutes, call the Ransom police department and ask for a man named Trevor Walters. Got a pen?”

“One sec. Okay, shoot.”

Jenna listed off the apartment complex and the address, plus the number for the department. Trevor wouldn’t answer an unknown caller, so it was pointless to give Sterling his direct number unless they wanted to deal with wasted time.

“Are you doing something stupid?” Sterling asked.

“Yes and no. What I’m doing isn’t stupid, but the conditions are.” She peered out through the dining room window. A beat up, white suburban pulled up to the curb, all the windows down and a woman at the wheel. Her chariot had arrived.

“You’re going to tell me what this is all about later.”

“I’ll tell you everything. We just didn’t get there this morning. Thanks, Sterling, you’re a lifesaver.”

“Doing my duty.”

“It’s a big duty.” Jenna chuckled and punched in the security code.

“Be safe. I’m setting a timer now.”

“Perfect. Over and out.”

She hung up and let herself out of the house, flipping the flimsy lock in lieu of the deadbolt since she didn’t have a key. For better or worse, she was on her own now.