Beverly Long - Hidden Witness

He heard the water shut off. Let himself have the guilty pleasure of imaging Raney’s wet body stepping over the edge of the old tub. Of her drying off on the threadbare towel.

He heard the door open and the floor creak as she crossed the hall. He wondered if she’d brought pajamas or if she slept naked.

He let out a breath, happy to let that image rest on his brain.

* * *

WHEN HE WOKE UP, the sun was low in the sky. He checked the time. A little past seven. He sat up, stretched and went in search of coffee.

There was no coffeepot on the counter. He opened cupboards. Not even a jar of instant. It was another reason to despise Brick.

He walked up the stairs and muscle memory kicked in, making it easy for him to avoid the same squeaky boards that had been there thirteen years ago. Raney’s bedroom door was closed. He considered knocking but decided against it.

She probably needed her sleep.

He opened the door and stopped. The woman knew how to take up a bed. She slept on her stomach with her head at ten o’clock and her feet at four o’clock. She wasn’t naked but her sweet little body was plenty sexy in her lime green shorts and white-and-green-striped T-shirt. She was breathing deeply.

She’d tossed the clothes that she’d been wearing the night before into a pile. On top was her bra and panties, a silky pale yellow with lots of lace.

His face felt warm and when she stirred, he thought maybe he’d moaned.

Dawson was right. He needed to get more regular sex.

He took a step back, carefully closing the door. He could run into town, pick up some coffees and pastries from the bakery and be back before she ever woke up. Maybe that would make up for stashing her in this dump.

He left the house, making sure that he locked the door behind him. The drive to town took just minutes and when he walked into the bakery, the first thing he saw was the cakes in the display case.

It made him remember how the birthday/wedding cake had amused Raney. He debated buying another one just to see her reaction but instead got six doughnuts and a coffee cake along with two extralarge coffees.

He sipped his coffee on the way home. When he pulled into the yard, he did not notice anything amiss. Which was why, when he opened the door and looked down the hallway into the kitchen, he got caught short.

He saw the man. Catalogued his dirty blue jeans and dark sweatshirt and the greasy hair that hung to his shoulders.

Saw all that but what Chase focused on was the knife that the man held. It had a shiny six-inch blade and was raised and pointed.

At Raney.

Still in her pajamas, she had her back pressed up against the sink. Her face was pale and her eyes were big.

The man leaped toward her. Chase pulled his gun but knew that he was going to be too late.

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