Dead Heat by Kathleen Brooks Page A

hand through his dark hair, pacing back and forth. He wasn’t irate. He was worried.
    “Agent Parker! We found some shoe tracks in the mud of the flower beds under the downstairs windows out back.” Deputy Smalls reported. Smalls was around six-seven and a good three hundred and fifty pounds. So, the obvious nickname in Keeneston was Smalls. She remembered Howard Brown, also known as Smalls, from high school. He was a senior when she was a freshman. He entered the Sheriff’s Department as soon as he graduated and was a great guy living his dream.
    “Are you finally going to listen to me Paige? You’re in danger. Please, just let me protect you.”
    Paige nodded. Maybe she wasn’t as aware as she should be. She had shrugged last night off as just a weird feeling. But that, on top of knowing she had been followed and knowing someone had been looking in the windows, was enough to freak her out. She looked up from where she had laced her hands and saw Cole sit down next to her.
    “I’m sorry about snapping at you. I came downstairs and you were gone. I was frantic. I ran outside and saw you walking back toward the shop. I came inside and watched to make sure you got here safely. I just don’t know what I would do if something happened to you.” He slid his hand over hers.
    She raised her eyes to his and saw the concern there. The line between fake and real started to blur. His hand brushed against her cheek as he pulled her head slowly towards hers.
    “So, the rumors are true then.”
    Paige jumped back and saw that Cole was already standing in front of her with his gun drawn.
    “Jesus, Miles. Haven’t you ever heard of knocking? Hey Marshall, you bring the equipment?” Cole holstered his gun, but continued to stand in front of her.
    “I think we need to have a talk, Cole.”
    “I agree. Your sister is in danger. The Sheriff’s Department found footprints out back. I think we need to hide cameras on the roof and on the downstairs windows in case he peeks in again.”
    “That’s not the talk I was referring to,” Miles ground out.
    “I know. But, I am pretty sure Paige is an adult and can decide who she wants to kiss. It’s none of your concern.” Cole placed his hands on his hips and stared Miles down.
    “It is our concern. She’s our sister and we look out for her.” Marshall stepped up beside Miles and the stare down continued.
    “Really? Does she interrupt you when you are with women?”
    “Of course not,” Marshall laughed. “But what’s your point?”
    “The point is to give her the same courtesy. She trusts your opinion enough not to question who you are with. Why don’t you extend her the same courtesy?”
    “We’ll talk about this later, Parker,” Miles said.
    “Anytime, Davies.”
    Paige was left upstairs with Chuck as her brothers and Cole installed the security cameras around her property. She picked up the Keeneston Journal and froze at the sight of McKenna and Danielle's side-by-side obituaries. She read the articles by Marianne and had to keep telling herself it wasn’t real. Marianne really did do a great job. She had quotes from the Rose sisters, Mo, Will, Danielle’s Parents, and the Ashtons.
    Paige couldn’t help the feeling that all the lines in her life were blurring. Her fake relationship with Cole was starting to feel more and more real. Her friends’ fake deaths were starting to feel more and more real. Paige stood up and started to pace the room. She didn’t like the feeling of not being in control. The feeling that she was starting to become confused on what was real and what was fake.
    “Hey. What’s the matter?” Cole asked as he walked into the room and saw her pacing.
    “I saw the obits.”
    “Marianne did a great job.”
    “She sure did. But, Cole, I need to see Dani and Kenna right now.” Paige stopped pacing in front of him and looked him in the eyes.
    “I am sorry. It would give their cover away if anyone sees you going there.”
    “I will do it