“Jesus, are you f**kin’ serious?” I heard him ask in what had to be a rude greeting then finish, “Jon, I’m off-duty. Very f**kin’ off-duty and this would be why I didn’t answer the f**kin’ phone.”
Right, Chace was cursing more than normal. He was pissed. I knew this but I had a feeling his pissed-ness had increased after finding out who was at the door.
“I know that but we need you on this one, Chace, or I wouldn’t be out here. You’re our most experienced detective,” another voice sounded.
“Frank might have passed the test only a few months ago but he’s been around these parts since birth, clean and on the job awhile. He’ll do fine,” Chace told him.
“It’s a murder, Chace.”
My breath left me and my body stilled.
“Fuck,” I heard Chace clip.
“Darren Newcomb,” Jon told him.
Suddenly, all the way from the front of the house, a white-hot current of electricity streamed through.
It was so intense, I twisted woodenly on my stool to face that way as Jon went on, “Brother, sorry, so sorry, brother, but he was found on the access road up to Miracle Ranch about ten feet from where they found your wife. And buddy, this sucks, I hate to share this shit, but Newcomb was done just like her.”
At these words, my body having a mind of its own, I ignored the terrifying current still streaming and moved quickly through the massive kitchen to the hall.
I saw through the hall that the front door was open, storm door closed. The uniformed policeman that was at the reception desk when I went to the Station was standing just inside Chace’s lit foyer. Chace’s body was still and his jaw in profile was hard, both in a way that made my heart clench.
Jon’s eyes cut to me when I moved through the hall then they cut to Chace. I saw them drop to his shirt, taking in the opened buttons and they came back to me. He shifted uncomfortably, likely reading into the situation somewhat inaccurately since the action wasn’t interrupted but reading accurately there was action.
This would normally mortify me.
But my focus was entirely on getting to Chace.
Which was what I did. Immediately, I moved into him. His arm came up in a distracted way, curling around my shoulders as I fitted my front to his side and my arms moved to circle his middle.
“Honey?” I called as he stared silently at Officer Jon.
When my word sounded, his body jerked slightly, he looked down at me and muttered, “Go back to the kitchen, darlin’.”
“I’m good here,” I refused gently, giving his middle squeeze.
He dipped his face close and repeated quietly, “Go back to the kitchen, baby.”
I pulled in breath, squared my shoulders, held his eyes and repeated (kind of), “Chace, honey, I’m good here.”
“Backbone,” he murmured, his gaze drifting around my head and shoulders then it sliced to Jon. “Send someone to check Harker’s Wood. I’ll get Faye sorted and then I’m on my way.”
Oh God. Holy frak.
Harker’s Wood.
I’d heard of Darren Newcomb but I didn’t know how. His name was just familiar.
But whoever he was, this had something to do with Misty.
“Frank’s already on that. Got a cruiser headin’ that way. Frank’s with the body,” Jon replied.
“Call him, tell him I’ll go to the body first. The wood second. Anyone on the family?” Chace returned.
Jon shifted uncomfortably again as he shook his head.
“Fuck,” Chace muttered then, “Right. Body, wood, then I’ll go to his family.”