Bear Meets Bride (Online Shifter Dating Agency Romance) (7 page)

10

Two police cars were outside Erin’s house pretty much as soon as dawn’s light broke. Tom had wanted molds of the paw prints taken as soon as possible so they could be compared to those at the other crime scenes. He was pretty certain by then that the same bear who had killed four people and tried to kill Nana had been checking out Erin’s property, but he was maintaining a discipline to thoroughness so that strange coincidence or unfortunate oversight couldn’t catch him out later. No longer in any denial that this case was now personal to him, Tom wanted to be armed with as much transparent information as possible.

By then, he knew, there would be numerous such mini-investigations going on within a fifty-mile radius. He wasn’t leading the investigation (except maybe in his own mind), but resources had been drawn in from neighboring forces to bring this terror to a speedy end—though he was central enough to affairs and knew the first names of everyone involved in logistics, and so fancied he could adopt a position of semi-authority so long as he didn’t step on anyone’s toes.

As he went about gathering these extra details together, Tom lifted Erin from the sofa and carried her upstairs so she could get a few hours of sleep in the bed. She didn’t stir, and he wished he could crawl in with her and give in to unconsciousness, but his mind would not rest until this threat had been extinguished, and—he was sure she wouldn’t mind—the strongest, and so probably most expensive, espresso sachets found at the back of one of her cupboards would be integral to keeping him going.

By the time nine A.M. came round, Tom had already received confirmation that the paw prints were an exact match with those at other crime scenes, and he had more than enough information to give Jake another call and further stress that this case had changed its nature—as well as obtaining any additional updates the sheriff might have.

His superior had also had a predictably late night, after a day overseeing a number of road safety incidents, attempting to source cover for Nana and also keeping track of any bear sightings or attacks.

“Jake, this thing is becoming even more out of hand,” Tom began when Jake answered his call.

“You’re telling me,” the sheriff replied, “I’m in front of the damn national media at eleven. You get that? First time for me—feel bad I haven’t even been able to go and see Nana yet.”

“You’re keeping the guard on her though, right?”

“It’s a forty-eight hour guard, Tom, then it’s reviewed.”

“No, absolutely not, Jake. That guard has to stay and anyone connected to the forces should not be out alone. Plus,” he went on, talking over Jake’s attempt to interrupt, which was something he’d never done before but hoped would make sure his attention was unwavering, “our loved ones, Jake; friends and loved ones should be warned and kept out of harm’s way as much as possible.”

“What are you saying?”

“I had my suspicions after what happened to Nana.
That
wasn’t typical,” Tom explained, “but I’m certain now. The killer is out to get anyone working for the local forces, or even those who are dear to them.”

“Go on,” Jake said, surprising him then in not offering a devil’s advocate (maybe Jake had similar suspicions).

“You know pretty little Erin at the bakery?”

“The one with the big…”

Tom’s eyes narrowed. “
Yes
. Well, I’m at her house now.”

“Why’s that?”

“Because we’re something of a… partnership now.”

“You what? You mean you and her…?”

“Yes, that’s right. So I’m telling you before it becomes office gossip.”

“You sly old dog, my friend!”

“Never mind that. Outside her place last night there were bear tracks; I’ve had them checked already and they’re an exact match with our killer. The bastard was checking out Erin’s place as well as choosing to target Nana.”

“So you think it’s someone you know?”

“No, not at all. Erin and I have told no one about us, but we could’ve been seen together, especially if this guy’s been watching officers to see who their loved ones are. He didn’t start out this way, so it’s probably not a vendetta, but maybe he’s enjoying the media attention or something and so decided to start toying with us.”

“He’s got an ego we can work on then. We’ll close in on him pretty soon, I can feel it. I just hope we get to him before he kills again.”

“That’s right, but we need to warn everyone in a uniform that they and their loved ones could become a target. Nana was a big part of our operations and Erin would have been very vulnerable coming home alone at night if I hadn’t have been here.”

“She’s not the only one who’s vulnerable,” Jake replied.

“How do you mean?”

“I mean some paw prints have been found outside of my ranch house this morning. How about that?”

“You’re kidding me…”

“Clearly my arsenal here isn’t that off-putting after all, but I wish I’d got the bastard in my sights—then again I might have been paranoid about shooting
you
.”

“Ha! Don’t worry, I ain’t going anywhere near that right now.”

“Anyway, I think you’re absolutely right. Everyone needs to be aware and on their toes—and Nana’s guard stays there until she’s safe at home again, with reinforced locks and a security light.”

“Seriously Jake, don’t take any chances with that wife and kids of yours. Get them staying with their cousins in Oregon or something.”

“Yeah,” Jake replied, thoughtfully. “That’s not a bad idea.”

“Without distractions, you and I can round this fucker up, while knowing our loved ones are safe.”

“We’ll get him—and we’ll get a guard on Erin too when you’re not there. After the last kill, and Nana, more and more resources are coming our way.”

“Glad to hear it.”

“All right, let’s keep each other updated if we hear anything else. Otherwise I’ll catch you after the media thing.”

“You got it.”

At least dealing with the media was one part of this storm that Tom didn’t have to deal with. He didn’t relish Jake’s role there and couldn’t help but wonder what his friend would say if asked whether there were any bear shifters who happened to be working for him as well as the one trying to kill his staff. The whole scenario had the potential to look far worse depending on how the press chose to report it—and they were not exactly fans of avoiding sensationalism if it drew attention to their work.

Still on edge, but feeling a bit more secure about some of the procedures that were being put in place, Tom decided to wake Erin with some toast and coffee. On entering the bedroom he found that she had already begun to stir, having heard him talking on the phone, and he could see that she was slightly apprehensive about asking him in case there was more bad news to break. Tom was no longer looking to hide any of the complications from her, however. Whether she had clued in to it or not, Erin was now part of his professional responsibility as well as being a personal one. What he was about to suggest would come sooner than she had expected, regardless of how crazy about each other they were, but he wasn’t going to take any chances for the sake of shyness.

“How you feeling, Erin?” he asked.

“Still a bit sleepy,” she said. “Almost feels like my mind doesn’t want to wake up, in truth. Do you still think those tracks could be the same as… as the killers?”

“They are,” he said. “I’ve already had a cast of them taken, in fact, and an exact match has been confirmed.”

There was an ominous silence as this news sank in. Even though he was concerned as to how she would take it, Tom’s experience had taught him that difficult discussions need to be had a portion at a time. Babbling out some plan about how he was going to protect her before she even knew what was going on would only lead to more anxiety and risk harming the confidence she would have to place in him.

“Why would it want to be sneaking round my place, of all people?” she asked at last.

“Erin, I don’t want you to worry,” he reassured her. “Lots and lots of procedures have been put in place or are being put in place. The public is going to be protected from this threat and you will get extra special attention because he’s been around here. You also have me, and I’m going to be a pain in making sure you are not put at risk, though I hope by now you understand why.”

“So…my bakery?”

“I know—it’s inconvenient. But I want you to only work peak hours, when there are lots of people around, and to never lock up without me or another armed officer around. We can get you that kind of protection in case he does try to target you.”

“And when I’m not at work am I locked in with my own firearm or something?”

Tom took a deep breath. “Erin, I want you to move in with me,” he replied. “Not permanently, of course, just for a while.”

“You…I’m sorry?” Erin replied, as if she had misheard him.

“I know it sounds incredibly quick. We’ve spent three evenings together, and you’re the best thing to happen to me in a long time, but I know you wouldn’t be thinking of taking that step already.”

“It’s because of this bear shifter thing?”

He nodded. “Erin, I want to protect you as much as possible. You live alone here and I won’t be able to sleep at night for worry if we’re not together. As for the days—well, we can plan them a day at a time to make sure you’re safe.”

“But won’t I get in the way?”

“Not at all, it would simplify our operations, in fact. Otherwise you would need some officer with a gun who you’ve never met watching over you anyway. Also, it’s partly my fault anyway.”

“How do you mean?”

“This case is a strange one. We’re pretty sure this guy is targeting either the police operations, or their loved ones to try and disrupt or upset us. He’s trying to get clever and vindictive at the same time.”

“A real psycho, huh?”

“Exactly,” he said. “Listen, Erin, I’m not in charge of this investigation. Even Jake has his superiors, and I suspect there are even FBI on the way here. Getting you to move in with me is my way of still being able to call the shots—as far as your wellbeing is concerned at least. And we can try to work together and keep your bakery open as much as possible. The alternative could be someone trying to move you hundreds of miles away, which is what Jake is doing with his family. Anyway, we’ll probably catch him soon, might just be for a couple of nights…”

“
Yes!
”

“What’s that?” Tom asked, not quite interpreting her intonation.

“I said “Yes”, I’ll move in with you for a while,” Erin said, to his relief (she hadn’t been giving much away). “You don’t need to explain the ins and outs of police operations. You trust me in the kitchen; I trust you with the law.”

“You think you can put up with me, then?” he said, offering her a wide grin.

“Only if you promise to take complete advantage of my…vulnerability,” she replied with a naughty smile. “When you’re not out chasing bear tracks, I mean.”

“Sounds a little unprofessional, going about it that way,” he replied. “Of course, there’s nothing to stop you seducing me. I can be the victim too, you know.”

“After your performance in the kitchen,” she replied, “I don’t think I’m going to let you get away with such a feeble excuse.”

And so it was decided. A shared yearning had brought them together, but recent events now meant they were taking a very serious next step. In any other circumstances, and with any other people, the whole thing would scream ‘too soon!’…but to Tom, it felt just right.

Erin would always be the right choice.

11

Temporarily moving in with Tom wasn’t a major operation. Erin packed a few bags of clothes and bathroom paraphernalia, as well as a copy of
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
in case she got locked in all day and bored. She didn’t think this would be the case as secretly she couldn’t get on with Mark Twain or past the second chapter, but there was something un-American about never having read a book of his, and so she persisted with the delusion that she would actually sit down and read it one day.

If she was honest, Erin only brought the book along because she thought a strange twist of fate might cause her to regret not doing so. Her hopes were more along the lines of more blissful lovemaking and carrying on as usual—as much as was possible given the circumstances—at the bakery. It would be sad to see the actions of one psychopath ruling the lives of an entire community, and Erin had always been one for getting on with life rather than hiding from the evils of the world, though she had promised to accept Tom’s guidance on this matter.

On the question of moving in with Tom, Erin had been as surprised by the suggestion as he had expected, though there was also a lingering unease about the circumstances. Despite not having thought about the matter before then, Erin was the kind of girl who knew her own mind and made it up easily. She knew she liked Tom and, when he asked the question, rather than being faced with the dilemma of ‘Am I ready for this yet?’ instead she found herself realizing that she actually wanted to move in with him, even if it was just a temporary thing. Once the idea was out in the open, it sounded great to her, only she wished it had not been for circumstances other than their feelings for each other. That he was pleased to have her under his roof showed that she was more than just a fuckbuddy to him, but there might come a difficult conversation when it came to catching this killer if Tom was under the presumption that Erin would be eager to restore the previous distance.

They were together now and taking a backward step would feel like a let-down, even if it had been made prematurely. For a new couple it was always hard to judge when difficult conversations could be endured.

The change of routine was not without its complications, either. Erin’s initial confusion at his request might have soon turned into enthusiasm, but it soon became clear that they were not quite ready for the change. For the first time there was some slight awkwardness between them. While being crazy about each other, they didn’t quite know each other well enough to understand how to best to approach life under the same roof. Deciphering a partner’s quirks and routines can be a complicated business, and Erin found that she was having to hold in any number of observations concerning basic rules of house maintenance which, for some reason, Tom had never picked up.

Not that Tom wasn’t clean or fairly tidy, but he failed to fulfil a number of disciplines her parents wouldn’t have let her out of school if she had failed in. For example, unless urged to do so, Tom was completely oblivious to notice that he had the curtains drawn in the middle of the day. For Erin, curtains should be opened as soon it was light outside and closed as soon as it was dark. Sitting in shade for half of the day for no apparent reason was excruciating, as was watching TV with the lights on when outside was all dark and any passer-by could stop to gawp at you. After one day of suffering in this way, Erin took it upon herself to open and close the curtains herself, something Tom hardly seemed to notice and so—if their relationship was to be a long-term arrangement—she supposed would become her sole task for life. Then there were those issues that demanded mutual regard, like making sure the shower curtain wasn’t left scrunched up after use, or that the toothpaste was not squeezed from the middle. There was a perilous time ahead during which Erin would either be challenging her will to hide her intolerance of such peculiar habits, or else her need for change would see them burst forth and so risk having Tom feel like he was some kind of mutt in training.

There was another observation that was not so much of an issue as a disbelief. During their first few evenings together, Tom had shown a healthy appetite for sure—as well as in her bakery, of course—but it wasn’t until living with him for forty-eight hours that Erin noticed exactly how much he really ate. At first she tried to dismiss the curiosity. After all, he was six and a half feet and built with a frame most sportsmen would envy. All the same, a hearty breakfast that Erin thought had gone overboard in order to impress her was completely consumed, accompanied by a wish that he had more pancakes. Later in the day they had hot dogs, but not your average sausage; instead, monster sausages that made her think they were having company—only they weren’t. Struggling to get her lips around the beast, Erin had failed to eat just one of them, but Tom managed four and then continued to look around for pie.

Her lover had just come out of a busy few days chasing around after bear tracks and, in his downtime, jumping her bones, so perhaps there was an argument that a generous quantity of sustenance was needed to revitalize him, but even with this in mind she thought the amount ridiculous. Tom must have used up a lot of energy while on the beat.

“How on earth do you eat so damn much?” she asked, aghast as he chowed down on his tenth piece of toast for the morning. The two of them had been living together for three days now, and Erin still couldn’t get over how much he managed to pack away.

“I’m a growing boy,” he joked, causing Erin to roll her eyes with good-natured humor. “Anyway, how is it living with me? Aside from all the food.”

She grinned. “Hmm….I suppose it’s not horrible.”

“Not horrible, eh? What a compliment,” he said, his grin growing wider.

Erin gave him a kiss on the cheek. It really was great being around him so often, though she was still feeling cautious enough about the unplanned attempt at living together. But of course, all of this was going on against the backdrop of a community in panic and the possibility of one of them becoming a target.

Initially, during the first forty-eight hours especially, Tom had been poised for leads and, quite probably, further attacks. The twenty-four hours that had seen Nana attacked and paw prints outside of both Erin and Jake’s houses had suggested to him a bloodlust out of control, but as a couple of days passed with no more reports he was forced to reconsider his perspective. A whole cluster of towns were on the alert now, and Tom pitied any wild bears unfortunate enough to be sighted anywhere near them. As he had predicted, the FBI were also involved now and, having been interviewed by them, he had no doubt that Tom Ackerman was a name they all knew—as level-headed as they had seemed, he was nevertheless the only bear shifter identified as being anywhere near the case, and he was fortunate to have Jake vouch for his good standing to be able to remain active in the investigation. If not, they might have asked him to make himself scarce just for the sake of avoiding becoming a suspect.

In mulling over all the developments, Tom admitted to Erin, with whom he was now more open about discussing the case, that he was beginning to suspect the last attack had not been bloodlust after all, but was instead opportunistic. In taking on the local police, the killer may have been taking the chance to harm operations by taking out key players when their efforts to get organized were still green, and therefore vulnerable.

Perhaps it wasn’t even farfetched to suppose that targeting Erin was an attempt to turn him into more of a potential suspect. Whoever it was must’ve known how to play with and twist the shifter card and, as time went on, the more Tom thought that they might be dealing with a sharp as well as a crazed mind, meaning they would have to be extra careful about letting their guard down. If this was true, then they had actually been very lucky that the three attempts to upset their work, made upon Nana, Erin and any number of Jake’s family, hadn’t actually resulted in anything worse than the one hospitalization.

Still, Tom had a feeling this killer wasn’t done yet…not by a long shot.