скачать книгу бесплатно
“I’ll call you later,” he said.
With a nod, she focused on the sandwiches. A minute later she heard the door close and she breathed a sigh of relief.
Luke walked behind her to the sink. “Eight is a big order. Sure you’re up to it?”
She eyed him. “What is with everybody today? I’m a big girl and I know my limitations,” she said a little more firmly than she’d intended.
Luke put up his hands. “Didn’t mean to offend.”
“You’ve got a sink full of dishes.”
“So I do.” He turned and got to work.
Krista was exhausted by the end of the day and looking forward to a nice, quiet evening.
Instead, she came home to a crowded house full of friends who’d orchestrated an official welcome-home party.
As she stood in her living room surrounded by friends she felt so full, so at peace. Yet a part of her had hoped for quiet time to upload more photos to her blog, and maybe even sneak in that long bath she’d been fantasizing about.
She should have known something was up when the Sass girls offered to close the shop. They always had friends to catch up with after work, and church activities to attend, yet today they practically forced Krista out the back door so they could clean up.
They’d all been in on the plan: the Sass twins, Natalie and friends from church. Their goal was to show her how much she’d been missed.
“Krista?” Luke said.
She turned to him. He seemed completely out of place and more than a little uncomfortable surrounded by these down-to-earth folks.
“Looks like you’re okay here so I’m going to meet up with the chief for an hour,” he said.
“Oh, okay, sure.”
“Hang in there.” He smiled.
She realized he was the only person in the room who saw through her smile and knew how tired she really was.
“Thanks. And thanks for being my busboy today.”
“Maybe you’ll promote me to handyman?”
“We’ll see.”
“Enjoy yourself.” He made his way through the crowded living room and practically ran out the front door. She wondered what made him so uneasy about the group. Was it simply that the suspect could be among them? No, she wouldn’t accept that possibility.
Natalie weaved her way through the crowd. “Did we surprise you?”
“Totally.”
Natalie put her arm around Krista and gave her a squeeze. “I know you’re tired, but they insisted.”
Krista glanced around the room and spotted Tori and Tatum’s mom, Julie Sass, chatting with the youth minister.
“I should have known something was up when the Sass girls offered to close.”
“Yeah, why’s that?” Natalie asked.
“They’ve always been nervous about locking up and setting the alarm.”
Natalie scanned the room. “Where’s Alan?”
“He doesn’t like to share me.”
Natalie snapped her attention to Krista.
“Sorry, that was mean,” Krista said.
“No, it was accurate. I didn’t think you noticed.”
“I notice a lot. I just keep it to myself.”
Like she noticed how Luke bolted from the party as soon as possible. He acted as if being around friendships and laughter physically pained him. Maybe even terrified him.
Her cell vibrated on her hip. It was a text message alerting her that something tripped the alarm at the tea shop.
“Drat. The girls must be having trouble setting the alarm. I’ve gotta buzz over there for a minute.”
“You can’t go,” Natalie said. “It’s your party.”
“It will take five minutes.”
“Then I’ll go with you. You look too tired to drive, anyway.”
“Gosh, thanks.” With a smile, Krista led Natalie out the front door. Within minutes they were at the shop.
“Stay here,” Krista said, grabbed her keys from her purse and went to reset the alarm. The back door was open.
Why would they set the alarm before they locked up?
Panic gripped her stomach. “Tori? Tatum?” Krista called as she stepped into the shop.
No one answered. “Girls!”
She started for the stairs to the office and spotted broken glass and loose-leaf teas sprinkled on the hardwood floor. Backing up, she grabbed her cell phone from her belt and called 9-1-1.
“9-1-1 emergency.”
“This is Krista—”
Someone grabbed her from behind, yanking the phone out of her hand and tossing it across the room. He had his arm around her neck and waist.
“Where is it?” he growled into her ear.
“What do you want?”
“Your purse, your money.”
“Let me go!” She struggled against him, but he was too strong and about five inches taller than Krista.
Sirens wailed in the distance.
Her attacker shoved her aside and Krista lost her balance, banging her head on the counter as she fell to the floor.
She opened her eyes and spots cluttered her vision. Stunned and confused, she struggled to sit up and lost the battle. Collapsing against the floor, she focused on taking deep, slow breaths.
“Krista!” Natalie cried.
And the world faded to black.
FIVE
This couldn’t be happening. He’d left her for ten minutes.
Adrenaline rushing through his body, Luke gripped the door handle ready to jump from the chief’s cruiser.
Come on, come on. They couldn’t get to the shop fast enough.
The chief finally pulled into the parking lot and Luke flung open his door.
“Wait for backup,” the chief ordered.
Backup? Small-town law enforcement was no match for the likes of Victor Garcia.
“I got it.” Luke jumped out of the chief’s cruiser and bolted for the restaurant.
He reached inside his jacket and slipped out his Glock. He turned the corner to the back door and froze at the sight of Natalie kneeling over Krista.
No, he wouldn’t accept it. He couldn’t handle the possibility that Krista had been hurt…maybe even killed. His shoulder muscles tensed.
The chief rushed into the doorway, along with another cop.
“Natalie, what happened?” Luke demanded, rushing to Krista’s side.
“Out front, some guy ran out front!” Natalie shouted.
“We’ll check it out,” the chief said.
“Someone call an ambulance,” Natalie pleaded.
“It’s on the way.” Luke shoved his gun inside his jacket. Didn’t want Krista opening her eyes to see Luke hovering over her brandishing a gun.
He kneeled on the other side of Krista and gently gripped her wrist to take her pulse. Her skin was cool to the touch, but her pulse was strong and steady.
Thatta girl.
He noticed a red bump on her forehead.
“What happened?” He glanced at Natalie. She was pale, looked like she was going to pass out herself.
“Natalie, breathe,” Luke ordered. “Krista’s going to be okay.”
She had to be okay.
“Talk to me,” he prompted Natalie.
She sniffled. “Something tripped the alarm and Krista thought the girls were having problems setting it, but we got here and the door was open and the…girls! Where are they?”
Krista moaned. “Why all the shouting?”
The chief kneeled beside them. “How is she?”
“She’s coming around.” Relief settled low in Luke’s gut. He glanced at the chief. “Natalie’s worried about the girls who were working here earlier.”
“I’ll check upstairs and call their mom.”
Krista moaned and blinked her eyes open. Luke had never seen anything more beautiful in his life.
Confusion creased her forehead. “I’m on the floor.”
“That you are.” He placed her hand on her stomach. He’d been holding it while taking her pulse and hadn’t let go.
“What happened?” She touched her forehead where an ugly bruise was already forming.
“You don’t remember?” Luke asked.
“I was at the party and then, no, it’s foggy.”
She automatically reached for her silver charm at her neck. He guessed it was her touchstone.
“Where are the paramedics?” Luke whispered, glancing out the back. He couldn’t stand seeing her hurt like this, lying on the floor and probably suffering from a concussion.
The chief came downstairs. “The Sass girls are home, safe and sound.”
“Thank God,” Natalie said.
“Something tripped the alarm,” Krista said. “I remember now.”
Luke snapped his attention to her. “What else do you remember?”
“The floor, tea and glass everywhere.”
