Free The Green-Eyed Doll by Jerrie Alexander Page A

received flowers...”
    “Shit,” she interrupted, her eyes flooded with panic. “Am I a target?”
    “I don’t know. We’ve found no evidence Julia received any gifts.” Matt finished filling two glasses, handed one to Catherine, and joined her at the table. “There weren’t any pictures of body parts found in her belongings. I don’t get the significance of the scarf.”
    “I found it at the ‘All Bright Things’ boutique the day I went job hunting, but didn’t have the money. At the time, I thought it was beautiful. Now I can’t look at it.”
    “Someone watched you. Do you remember seeing anyone from the bar?”
    “No. I got into town on a Friday, and the following Monday I hit all the shops on the square looking for a part-time job.” She stood, resumed pacing. “I need to go.”
    “Go where? You’re safe here with me.” Then her meaning struck him, she was talking about leaving town.
    “I should move on. Pack my stuff and leave.”
    “Bull. We’ll figure out who this is. I don’t suppose in your travels you stopped long enough to take a class and have a license to carry a handgun?”
    The color drained from her face. Catherine stared at him, blinking rapidly. For a second, Matt worried she’d faint.
    “Hey. I didn’t mean to upset you. Guns are safe if you’re properly trained.” Matt went to her and placed his hands on her shoulders. “Breathe. Let your heart rate slow a fraction.”
    “No guns. I can defend myself without a weapon.”
    “Defending yourself isn’t as easy to do as you might think.”
    “I’m not scared. I don’t want a gun.”
    Matt studied her face, trying to read something in her eyes. Anything he could use to understand what was going on in her head. She wouldn’t hold his gaze.
    “I’m going home.”
    “First, let’s go to my office. You need to fill out a report.”
    “No report. I left my windows down too far. I’ll be more careful.”
    “Your safety is important to me.” He tried to tug her back to the table, but she resisted, so he relaxed his hold.
    “Listen, it’s getting late, and I have to get home. I’ll exercise caution. I promise.”
    “It’s a mistake not to get this on record.”
    “Mistake or not, I have no intention of setting foot in your office.”
    He heaved a sigh of aggravation. “Keep your phone close, and call me when you get home.”
    Matt kept the scarf, picture, and box. Concern for her and curiosity about her swirled in his head as he closed her car door and stepped back.
    ****
    Tuesday, August 1st, 11:30 p.m.
    Catherine fluffed her pillow, rolled over onto her side, and did her best to fall asleep. She sat up when a sharp stab hit her in the chest. What a liar she’d become, telling Matt she could defend herself without a gun. She’d used one to protect herself from Andy, but the idea of ever holding another weapon in her hand repulsed her.
    She’d driven away from Matt’s house fully aware she’d missed her chance to tell him why she’d never hold a gun again. Or why she’d refused to go to the courthouse. No one ever looked at her the same after learning of her past. She’d taken another human being’s life. She couldn’t bear seeing Matt’s beautiful, blue eyes turn dark and full of doubt. He was a cop for Christ’s sake. The ones she’d dealt with in Tulsa had believed the worst. He’d be like everyone else and question her motives. Didn’t she still? Didn’t at least part of the blame lay with her?
    Nausea stirred and her throat filled with bile. She’d opened her soul and relived her humiliating life with Andy to the police and the DA. Their eyes had been cold, full of disbelief. She might’ve been convicted of murder had she not permitted her doctor and the director of the women’s shelter to come forward. Thanks to their records she wouldn’t spend the rest of her life in Oklahoma’s Tutwiler State Prison for Women.
    Why shouldn’t she have this little bit of respite? Maybe spending time