Bound to Her - Deborah Pin (books for 9th graders .TXT) 📗

got himself a crush. How cute.”

Then her face went back to serious. “If Seth could make this decision for

you he’d tell you to stay. He’d also probably guilt-trip you into buying him a new Xbox game too but basically he’d want you to stay. He likes

her a lot and he would understand. There isn’t much choice right now.

She needs you here.”

He nodded, staring off into space. He was confused and spring break

was likely the least of his confusions. He was falling for her. More than

falling for her. He wanted her desperately. He wanted her so much he

was ready to risk his job to be with her. He wanted her so much he couldn’t bear the idea of not having her.

But it wasn’t just the want. It was the worry, the care, the strong pulsing need in his chest to give himself to her. If he never had the chance to give her what they both wanted he’d regret it for the rest of his

life. At the same time, if he jeopardized her in any way with his selfish

needs, he’d never forgive himself. Absolute confusion.

“I’ll take the boys to Mom and Dad’s. You stay here and take care of

the teacher.”

They stood and joined the boys outside. He and Molly took on Jake and Seth in a round of HORSE and by the time dusk stole their light he

was exhausted. He and Seth walked the short stretch to their house while

Seth bounced the basketball.

“I think I have to miss spring break, bud. I’ve got a witness in danger

and I can’t leave knowing how unsafe it is for her.”

“Is it Ms. Page?” He hadn’t expected that one.

“Why? What makes you think that?”

“I’m not stupid. She looked like she’d been beat up a month or so ago.

Kept saying it was nothing but she was lying. She just didn’t want anyone to worry. Plus you two. You’re weird around each other. I mean I

know you have a crush on her but…” He shook his head for a second.

“It’s her. I know she’s in trouble. She’s different than she used to be.”

“How so?”

“I don’t know. Just different. She spaces out a lot. Seems tired.

Flinches sometimes when someone surprises her.”

“Ever thought about being a detective, Seth? That’s quite an eye

you’ve got.”

Seth laughed. “So are you going to tell me if it’s her?”

“Of course not.”

“Of course it’s not her, or of course you’re not going to tell me?”

“Of course not.” He grabbed Seth by the back of the neck as he

steered him through the door. Seth threw his hands up in the air, letting

the basketball get away from him across the entryway floor.

* * * * *

When Chief Greenwood called him and Stephens to his office the next morning, Dillon’s blood pressure spiked. He got along fine with

Greenwood but the man didn’t call a person to his office just to chat about the weather.

“Sit down.” Greenwood was staring at an open folder in his hands as

he stood in front of his window. He didn’t even look up at them as they

moved to the chairs and sat. “Care to tell me what these are?”

He didn’t bother showing the folder to both of them. Instead he

tossed it onto Dillon’s lap. Dillon opened the folder, hoping there wouldn’t be any more Photoshopped nightmares inside.

What he wasn’t expecting to see were real pictures. He might not

have been naked and fucking her like he had been in the doctored images left at her home but these were just as damning. He was walking

beside her on the sidewalk in one. She was practically in his arms in another. The worst was as he walked her around his car with his hand on

her lower back. From the angle, it practically looked like he was groping

her ass.

“Chief, this isn’t—”

“Isn’t it? Showed up addressed specifically to me. Not a print on any

of them.”

“I was driving her home from her evening class downtown. This

picture was taken when a skateboarder nearly took her out! This isn’t what it looks like.”

“And where was Stephens?” It might have been a question but he was

on the verge of yelling. Dillon just sat silently, shaking his head. He was

feeling a bit fucked at the moment. “And let’s not forget the pictures your perp left at her house the other day.”

“And I’m responsible for that too? The man’s a lunatic!”

“I asked where Stephens was when these pictures were taken.”

Greenwood was two shades away from scarlet and he was close to losing

it.

“He wasn’t there.”

“I couldn’t go and I told him to go without me.” It was a lie and Dillon’s jaw nearly dropped as his eyes flashed to Stephens’ quickly before dropping to his lap. He hadn’t told Stephens anything about

going to see her that night.

Chief Greenwood glared at them both. “I’m putting Smith and Terrell

on this one. You two are being reassigned.”

“What? Chief—”

“Silent! Stephens out, Adler you stay put.” He was panicking as

Stephens stood to leave. Smith and Terrell were fine detectives but this was Katrina. His Katrina and he couldn’t very well let go of her safety just to hand it over to someone else. As the door closed behind Stephens,

Greenwood sat on the edge of his desk. “Do you have anything you need

to tell me?”

He just stared at Greenwood for a moment. “I think this is a mistake.

Stephens and I know what we’re doing and there is no reason to pull us

from this just because of a couple of stupid pictures that are being taken

out of context!”

“You’re right and if that was all I was going on, I’d be wrong to remove you. Care to tell me why you went to see her at her friend’s house alone a couple days ago?” Dillon was silent, staring at the top of

Greenwood’s desk. “No? How about the day before that? Hmm? I

assigned a patrol officer to monitor Imogen Graham’s property as well given Ms. Page is living there. Didn’t quite expect to see so much of you

there.”

“It involved the case.”

“Right. And yet you forgot to take your partner. Again. Ms. Page is Seth’s teacher. You know her, even if only casually. She’s pretty and you

just can’t seem to stay away from her. This has become as much a liability for you as it is for her.”

His voice was reined in as he studied Dillon. “The man that’s doing

this to her has taken pictures of you as well. He may or may not have identified you yet but he’s targeted you nevertheless. I like you, Dillon.

You’re a damn fine detective. That’s why I’m taking you off this case—to

salvage your fucking career before you throw it out the window for a piece of ass.”

Dillon couldn’t even keep his butt in the chair at that point but when

he stood abruptly ready to fire back, Greenwood cocked his head in warning. Dillon took a deep breath, cramming his fury down painfully.

He shook his head. “Smith and Terrell—”

“Are damn fine detectives too. They’ll do their jobs and since I absolutely think your head is getting clouded on this one, you’re just going to have to deal with it. Believe it or not, I’m looking out for your

best interest. Hers too for that matter. Let them work the case, you stay

out of the way and you let the smoke clear before you go anywhere near

her, you hear me?” He didn’t react at all. He was still too stunned to move. “I said, do you hear me? I want you to stay the hell away from her

until this thing is long gone and done.”

“Is that an order, sir?” His jaw was nearly too tight to speak.

“No. It’s a strongly worded suggestion I fully expect you to comply with. You’ve created a conflict of interest and I don’t need that conflict popping up and biting us on our asses if this thing even ends up in court.

A decent defense attorney will have a field day with these pictures alone.

If there’s any truth to the relationship Mr. Crazy Pants is insinuating exists that will only make it worse. Now get out. I need you to bring Smith and Terrell up to speed before the end of the day.”

When he returned to his desk Stephens was sitting there with his

hands rested behind his head. He was watching Dillon, saying nothing.

Dillon sank into his chair, staring at nothing. How the hell was he going

to hand over her safety? His guts were clenching and he was scared shitless.

“What are you thinking?”

“I’m afraid they’re gonna fuck it up and she’s gonna end up hurt.”

“Yeah? And that’s why you’re not allowed to care for her.” Stephens

stood and walked away.

Chapter Sixteen

 

She’d been trying to reach him all weekend but he wasn’t returning her phone calls or messages. She didn’t know how to feel about the new

detectives on her case. They were crotchety old men, unlike her

handsome Dillon and his gruff yet oddly cute sidekick.

She liked the new detectives fine but they weren’t him. And he was refusing to speak with her. She’d asked Detective Smith when he and Detective Terrell had come to Imogen’s for a chat on Monday afternoon

why Dillon and Stephens had been replaced and the most he did was shrug his shoulders and give her a vague excuse.

“Happens.”

“But why?”

“Just happens.” She needed to get this man into her classroom and teach him a thing or two about communication. But neither of them ever

came to her classroom or her house or Imogen’s if they could help it. Hell

they didn’t even know how to get through Imogen’s security gate and Kat had no intention of telling them.

They didn’t give a shit she had a cat she had to feed every day—they

didn’t seem to understand her concerns at all. But it wasn’t them. They

were likely fine. They just weren’t him and she was sour about it. He always showed his concern, he was always there when she needed him,

she never had to feel alone even if it was just to talk on the phone. She

just missed him.

It had been three days since she’d seen Dillon, kissed him, touched him. And it was the last week before spring break. She was still staying

with Imogen and pretty soon she’d have the fortress to herself for almost

two weeks. She didn’t want to be alone at Imogen’s but she certainly preferred to be alone there than her own home. She’d grown to resent her house and she was just plain over her need to stick it out there.

The officers still patrolled her neighborhood—not that she was there

to see it—and now they patrolled Imogen’s as well. She had no reason to

believe the psycho knew where Imogen lived or that Katrina was staying

there but they weren’t taking any chances.

Imogen would be leaving the next morning for the UK to spend a

couple weeks with her family and Kitty had finally made the journey to

Imogen’s place to live. She’d caught her saucy Brit friend poking Kitty on

more than one occasion. She’d murmur sweet pet names to the old lady

and then poke her on the face or the chin. She really did think she was

being sweet but—she poked.

And now it was late Tuesday night, Imogen’s luggage was stacked by

the front door and they were cracking open a rather large bottle of pre-

made margaritas. When her cell rang, she snatched it up from the

counter. She was half drunk already and the moment she saw his

number she choked. Her heart started racing and her face dropped.

Imogen saw it instantly and grabbed the remote, turning down the

overloud stereo system.

“How are you?” She walked out onto the deck as he spoke and she flopped down on one of the wooden loungers.

“Umm, I’m not sure how to answer that. I guess I’m fine. You?” She

could hear the defensive tone in her voice.

“Katrina, I’m sorry. Being taken off your case wasn’t my choice.”

“I don’t really care about that. I’ve tried to reach you for a few days

now. I just wanted to know what was going on and why a couple of new

detectives were suddenly showing up at the door. You could have at least called to tell me.”

She listened to him breathe slowly. “I