Free Smoky Mountain Investigation by Annslee Urban

smoothed her robe, inhaling deeply.
    Kylie was beginning to wonder what scared her more: a psychopathic stalker or the allure of Nick Bentley.
    At the moment her heart banked on the latter.
    Blowing out a long breath, Kylie worked to sweep lingering regrets and sorrow aside.
    Picking up the pen Dave gave her, she jotted some notes on the pad. If nothing else, Max would expect an article from her for the evening edition. No better time to start than the present.
    Then she remembered something. She stopped writing, looked up and caught Dave’s gaze. “What came up on the phone tracer from yesterday’s call?”
    “A pay phone on Aberdene Street. Officers scoured the area, interviewed the locals, but found nothing.”
    “Pay phone? But the number came up restricted, like a cell—”
    Swiftly, Dave cut her off. “Pay phones show up that way. The phone company wants calls going out, not coming in.”
    Disappointment pulsed in her veins. “The guy’s pretty smart.”
    Dave shrugged. “We knew it was a long shot. But we’ll keep the wire on. Anyway, think about what we talked about and let me know when you come up with some names.”
    She nodded as he pulled his radio from his belt and headed out the door.
    “So, a whole slew of love interests, but no serious boyfriends since we broke up?” Nick settled in the seat beside her, giving her a dubious look.
    Hesitating, Kylie stared into the masculine face she remembered so well. His strong jawline and the hint of the smile stretched across it brought her back.
    Once she’d known him better than anyone. Now he was as mysterious as any first date. And answering a question like that, well...talk about social suicide. The truth seemed too simple. Too lonely.
    Especially compared to his lively career. A Special Forces soldier. Strong. Gorgeous. Women everywhere probably flocked to him.
    Kylie picked up her cup, curling her hand around it. What was the point of trying to fluff up her love life? She had no reason to compete. She caught his eye, feigning nonchalance. “Nope, no serious boyfriends since we broke up.”
    Nick narrowed his gaze slightly. “I hope it wasn’t because of me. I know I left you hanging.”
    Kylie held up a hand, halting the direction the conversation was heading and protecting her heart at the same time.
    “Nick, we were kids. No guilt, okay?”
    “Well, I should have handled things differently and I’m sorry,” he said in a low voice, regret in his tone.
    Her heart squeezed, but she managed a smile. “Me, too.”

SEVEN
    T he next day, Nick inhaled a long breath and rang up the last few items for the customer in line, thankful that the morning rush at the store was letting up.
    “Thank you, ma’am. Have a good day.” He manufactured a smile and handed the patron her two bags.
    The older woman nodded and made her way to the exit.
    Nick eased back against the counter and glanced around, eyeballing the few milling customers that were left. No one seemed to need his attention.
    Good. He needed a little reprieve.
    Even when he’d worked at the store with his father as a kid, he’d dreaded his time at the register. Not that he preferred to be lazing around. Give him an ax and some logs and he’d chop and stack wood all day. Unlike Steven, who was into the business end of things, which had worked out pretty well for his family.
    Nick crossed his arms and let go of a breath, air whistling through his teeth.
    He’d always felt claustrophobic being cooped up in the store. A phenomenon his parents hadn’t given much credence to.
    But here he was ten years later and that claustrophobic feeling was back; the room was closing in on him while fresh air was being sucked out. He gulped a breath. He was ready to be out of this place.
    With the turmoil about Kylie clogging every brain cell, the sooner he got out of there, the better.
    He glanced at his watch. Almost noon. He’d called Roger, one of the salesclerks, to come in early. Hopefully, he’d