Wright In Danger

Chapter Six

His mind was on a loop. Loraine hadn't told him about Allison saying anything to her. For all he knew it may have been something vital to his investigation. It didn't sit well with him, her keeping this from him. Not when he viewed her as an honest, mood lifting individual. A pillar of the community as the chief had worded it. Rosalie put a stop to his pacing by standing in his path. "Tell me what your thinking. We're partners in this, Tanner." Stopping, his gaze met hers. "Why would she keep it from me? From us even? It doesn't fit?"

Sighing, she placed her hands to her hips. "We have to remember and put into consideration she had taken a pretty nasty hit." He recalled how swollen her eye had been. He could only imagine the pain she had endured. Rosalie made a solid point. Still. "She's going to see Colson tomorrow. Unfortunately after us. So we won't get to know how he took Allison's apology." He was frustrated. He wanted to drive back over there and confront her about it. Not that he would. "Look at it from this perspective. They were terrified in the moment. Allison knew Loraine didn't stand a chance at actually saving her. Her words were as much a plea as they were a request. I can't be mad at her." 

She made perfect sense. Letting his frustration go, he walked around her. "I need to ask how soon the linguist will be able to get on those lyrics. I need something to shed a light." She didn't join him, likely sensing that he needed space right now. Knocking on the chief's door, he looked up from his paperwork. "What can I do for you, Tanner?" Only the one thing. "I was wondering how soon the linguist would be on the lyrics? They may be able to give us insight into her mood as of late." Setting his pen down, he entwined his fingers. "I asked for a favor and so they should be here to work on them first thing tomorrow. You seem, off. Something you want to tell me?" Dropping his gaze he told him no. "Thank you for getting the linguist so quickly, sir." Turning heel, he headed for the break room for some coffee. It probably wasn't best for his building headache but so be it. Loraine was putting him through it.

The rest of his shift passed by painfully slow. He only wanted to be in his own house, where he could indulge in a shot or two of whiskey and ruminate on his thoughts. He said a terse good bye to Rosalie on his way out. He tried to empty his mind on the drive home. It was going to be along enough night without Loraine pressing on his mind. Living on a dead end road gave him the tranquility he craved. His nearest neighbor wasn't all that near. The way he preferred it. Pulling into the driveway, he climbed out. Crickets were already starting up their song.

Walking inside the house, he dropped the mail on the dining room table. He'd get around to it. Eventually. Kicking off his shoes, he went to take a hot shower. From there he'd think about what to eat and then have his whiskey. He loathed the nights. The darkness had become smothering since the day his fiance had been taken from him. Any sleep he managed were in snatches and never a full eight hours. Terra had been so perfect for him. Always understanding of his hours and willing to help him find solutions to his problems.

The raid of Yousseff Heir had been a dogged need for him. The man had been a torment for him ever since he'd learned his name. The hunt for him had felt never ending. So many weeks of following at his heels only to have him just out of reach. Until the day he wasn't. They had backed off to make him think they had given up. It had given them exactly what they had been hoping for. Yousseff had gone lax. Discovering his hideout, Beau had formulated a plan. His team had praised him for it being near flawless.

As it would turn out that day. Near flawless wouldn't be good enough. The plan had been executed and his men had poured in. Bullets had flown from both sides and yet, miraculously, none of his men had been shot. They had made a high number of arrests. Yousseff, in the chaos had got away. He had convinced himself to be content with the arrests. Afterwards they had celebrated. He had naively thought that all was good in his world. Never did he stop to think for a moment Yousseff would come for revenge. To this day he couldn't scrub the memory from his mind.

He had been working overtime. Terra, the god send that she was had been entirely understanding. On that particular night, he had stopped at the door, the hairs raising at his neck. He knew something was wrong. Putting the key in the lock, he twisted it, getting the door open. The only light on was coming from the kitchen. Calling out her name, there was no answer. Drawing his gun, he made his way. Slowly. His heart thudded in his chest with every step. He knew it was going to be bad. He hadn't been prepared for just, how bad.

Terra lay on her back, limbs sprawled out. Her eyes were open and vacant. His own were riveted to the slash across her throat. Blood had sprayed over cabinets, counters, and pooled underneath her. That's where the memory stopped. Not even could he remember the day of her funeral, his grief had been too great. Trying to function when he got back from leave, it had not gone well. He couldn't stand the looks of constant pity. His chief at the time had suggested moving. Clairview had been in need of a new detective. He starting packing that same day.

Moving to the town of Clairview, he hadn't known it was going to be small town living. It was obvious from the jump they didn't get new people often. His house had been the last one to see and he'd taken it, no questions asked. Meeting Chief Myles had been an intimidating experience. Which was saying something because he didn't get intimidated often. He'd wasted no time letting him know what he expected from him. He took no issue with his expectations. Meeting Rosalie, he read her as ambitious. He had been right. As they got to know each other she told him she wanted to work her way up to detective. 

He wanted to help her get there. Deciding she would be his partner, the chief had readily agreed. Making him wonder exactly what his former chief had told him. From that point on she had shown him the town and let him know all the best places. He was then warned of Solei. The towns appointed busybody and gossip. She had told him, escaping a conversation with her was considered an art.  He happened to meet her the same day he met the Adam sisters. 

Laying eyes on Loraine had been a moment. He had been struck by her beauty. That soft oval face and hazel eyes that soaked in the sunlight. He'd been captivated. So much so he hadn't been able to form words when he got to the counter. Rosalie had to speak for him, leaving him flustered. How was it he was besotted with another woman so shortly after Terra's death? She'd welcomed him to town and encouraged him to stop by whenever he needed his coffee fix. He had needed no further prompting. He would stop in twice a week. Sometimes for the coffee and others time simply to talk. She didn't mind.

Having dried off from his shower he slipped on a pair of grey sweats, not bothering with a shirt as he made his way into the kitchen. He got to work on making himself a burger. As the meat was sizzling he got down the whiskey and a shot glass. He only indulged when his thoughts got to be too much. The first shot now and the second when he was done eating. He welcomed the burn as it traveled down his throat. He would spend the rest of the night staring into the dark, willing for morning to hurry up.

He lay in his bed afterwards, staring up at he ceiling, the beat of his heart in his chest the only sound he was really attuned to. He knew it was past time he got himself situated with a therapist but he still resisted. Telling himself the pain wouldn't last forever. At the same time knowing if he kept on the way he was, he was headed down a slippery slope with no traction and only having himself to blame. She wouldn't want this for him. She wouldn't.