Page 30 of Shattered By the Currents

When he was done telling her about the paint-and-sip session, he climbed from his truck and went into the old firehouse to find Ethan sitting at the tech desk.

“You’re here early,” Connor called.

Ethan turned. “You too.”

“I was going to go for a run before work, but when I drove past the community center, I saw Raven’s car out front. I went in to check on her.”

Ethan lifted a brow. “By the sound of your voice, that visit didn’t go well.”

“There was a toothbrush on the desk. And a blanket underneath it. She also had a cut on her head. She said she got it from falling. I think she fell off the couch, maybe while she was asleep.”

“She’s sleeping there?”

“Assume so. Just don’t know why.”

Ethan leaned back. “Polly has that apartment above her garage. I’m sure she’d let Raven use it.”

“I already called her. I’m not sure Raven’s ready to tell anyone about her situation though.” Not that he knew what that situation was. “I’m going to ask the team to do some drive-bys of the community center overnight, just to make sure she’s safe.”

“Good idea.” There was a slight pause before Ethan leaned forward. “Connor, I know you’ve got that same protective instinct we all have. You were raised with three sisters and a single mother. But you haven’t dated since Margaret and?—”

“This has nothing to do with Margaret.” Jesus, why did his team keep bringing her up?

“I’m just saying…not being able to save Margaret from herself killed you.”

“It hurt like a bitch. But she made her choices, so I let her go. I had to.”

“DoesRavenwant to be saved?”

Connor’s jaw clenched, because hadn’t he just asked himself the same question? He rose. “I’m doing a perimeter check.”

Ethan sighed. “Okay.” He turned back to his computer.

Connor was about to step into the hall when he heard his friend curse.

He turned back. “What?”

“Watch this.” He hit a few keys, and exterior camera footage from the base popped up. Ethan hit play.

Connor’s eyes narrowed when he saw it. Thefuck? “Who is that?”

A man stood in the shadows under the trees, just within view of one of their exterior cameras but not close enough to set off the alarm. He wore all black, his hood up and his head down. His face was too shadowed to see.

“I don’t know,” Ethan said, before scrubbing through the footage. “Looks like he stood there for close to an hour.”

Who the hell was it…and why was he standing there watching their base?

8

Raven tapped her foot in an even rhythm as she pressed the cell to her ear.

Come on, pick up. Pick up the phone, Tim. Let me know you’re working on the case.

Three rings. Four. By the fifth, she knew he wasn’t answering.

His voicemail played. She didn’t leave a message. She’d already left a million.

She hung up. Dammit. Why was he ignoring her? She needed him. He’d already been paid and she couldn’t afford to hire another PI.