Free Shield of Refuge by Carol Steward Page A

one who ran into Officer Matthews.”
    Officer Daniels smiled back. “Garrett’s my cousin, so yeah, I know all about it. Still, we’ll need to figure out if this case was random, or if it might be related. So can you tell me more about what happened?”
    Garrett had started pacing the room. “Yeah, where were you? Why didn’t you answer the door?”
    â€œI woke up to the sound of the alarm, so I’m not sure how long I was asleep or what time it is, even. I closed the shop at five and ran a few errands, so I was gone for an hour or two maybe.”
    â€œWhat—” Garrett’s cousin started to ask another question when Garrett interrupted.
    â€œIt was longer than that. Did you go out and come home alone, or was someone with you?” Garrett crossed his arms over his chest.
    The officer looked at Garrett and laughed. “Well, that’s subtle.”
    Garrett shrugged his shoulders. “What? I needed to talk to her about the case.”
    Amber felt her heart flutter for a moment as she realized he was really concerned about her. Question was, was his interest personal as well as professional? “I was, and still am here alone—besides you, I mean. There were some guys standing outside the pub, so I drove on by and came back a few minutes later.”
    Garrett stopped pacing and bent to look at the rock, studying it from all directions without touching it. “Have you seen them around here before?”
    â€œIt’s rather hard to tell whether it’s the neighborhood kids or not with their hoods over their faces.” She glared at him. “I try not to confront them, hoping they’ll leave me alone. Nana always managed fine.”
    â€œYour grandmother wasn’t—” Garrett started to say something, but his cousin interrupted this time.
    â€œShe was very fortunate,” Officer Daniels said, pushing his cousin aside. “Garrett, let us investigate. Why don’t you two go see if there’s something to cover this hole for the night?”
    Garrett glanced up before standing. “It looks like there’s something written on this.”
    â€œWe’ll handle it, Gar,” Jared said, nodding for them to get lost.
    â€œSo show me where this wood might be.”
    Amber led the way to the cellar, comforted to have him with her. “How’d you know this happened?”
    â€œThe shift commander called me. He seems to believe it’s related to the kidnapping you witnessed. Apparently the chief told the commander about my meeting with him today. You shouldn’t stay here, Amber. Not alone, anyway.”
    She pulled the string to turn on the light and showed him where her grandfather’s workshop was. “Here’s everything.” She pulled a couple of wooden carts out of the way. “I don’t see…”
    â€œAmber…”
    She didn’t want to admit that she’d already started thinking of someone she could call. “What time is it?” She’d never get any sleep after this, but Rachelle had gone out of town to visit her parents for the weekend, and worrying Nana with this was out of the question.
    Garrett looked at his watch. “Eleven-fifteen. Do you have someone you can stay with tonight?”
    â€œIt’s kind of late to be calling people,” she said hesitantly. “I’ll be fine upstairs.”
    â€œThe chief won’t go for that,” Garrett said simply. “We need to find a safe place for you to stay, and it would be best if it’s not a friend’s home where whoever did this could have seen you go before. You don’t want to endanger them.”
    Amber simply stared at him. “Well, then, that doesn’t leave me many options, does it? I wouldn’t want to cause anyone else any trouble. Where does that leave me? Jail?”
    â€œI wasn’t thinking of that,” Garrett said, with a smile teasing his lips. “I