raised his head and saw Sarah talking to a couple, obviously Brooke’s parents. When they went inside the room, Sarah sank into one of the chairs in the hall and buried her face in her hands. Daniel’s chest expanded at the defeated picture. He remembered the day he’d pulled her, barely breathing, pale and terrified, out of Rudy Boyd’s closet. He hadn’t known if she’d ever make it back to the real world after what Boyd had done to her. But she’d been a fighter, just as he sensed Brooke Wallace was, and she had rebounded with strength and determination.
Sarah had been the star witness for the prosecution in Boyd’s trial and she had held up beautifully, as she had in the appeal, making sure Boyd paid for Greg’s death. Mentally, though, he wondered how strong she was. Looking at her now, he feared she hadn’t fully recovered.
Unable to stop himself, he headed toward her. He knew he shouldn’t. He was the last person she wanted to speak to and although he didn’t understand why, now he had to talk to her. He’d always thought it best to leave her alone, but tonight he didn’t heed his instincts.
Since Sarah had been a witness at Boyd’s trial, they’d been thrown together numerous times and he’d encountered her on several occasions in the years that had followed. On each encounter she treated him the same, with disguised disdain. They had to talk. He recognized this wasn’t the time or the place, but he was tired of putting it off, just like he was tired of so many things in his life. Tonight Sarah Welch was going to tell him to his face why she hated him.
Then he could forget he’d ever known her.
CHAPTER TWO
SARAH BRACED HERSELF as Daniel sat beside her. What did he want? Why couldn’t he just leave? It had been a horrific night and she didn’t want to talk. If she looked at him, she’d see that expression he always wore when he was around her.
“Are you okay?” Daniel asked softly.
There it was—that worried tone. She restrained herself from gritting her teeth. “Yes, I’m fine. Why wouldn’t I be?” She raised her head, but didn’t look at him. She just wanted him to go away and to leave her with her thoughts.
“Well, a young girl’s life has been altered forever and I can see it has affected you.”
This time Sarah gritted her teeth; she couldn’t help herself. Then she calmly answered, “I’m human and what Brooke Wallace has just endured would affect anyone.”
“But for you it’s different.”
She clenched her jaw so tight that it hurt. Go away, Daniel. Please go away.
Daniel could sense that she wanted him to leave and normally he would, but not tonight. Tonight they were going to talk even if those frosty blue eyes chilled him to the bone.
He took a deep breath and clasped his hands between his knees. “Why do you hate me so much?”
“I don’t hate you.”
“You’re stiff as a board and you won’t look at me. That’s not a positive, happy-to-see-you reaction.”
A tangible pause followed.
“Okay, Daniel.” Those cool eyes looked directly at him. “You make me uncomfortable, but it has nothing to do with you personally. You remind me of the past and when I see you, I relive that awful time. I just want to forget it. But you’re always there with your worried glances, asking how I am. I don’t need you to be concerned about me. I’m fine, and I think it would be best if we stayed away from each other.”
He’d asked and he’d gotten his answer. It was the reaction he’d been expecting so he didn’t understand why he couldn’t leave it alone—leave her alone. But he couldn’t wait any longer. Everything had to be brought out into the open then maybe he could let go of whatever the hell was bothering him.
“There’s another reason, isn’t there?”
“Like what?” Her eyes never wavered from his.
“Greg.”
She looked away.
“You blame me for his death.” He said the one thing that had stood between them for the past five years.
She bit her lip. “You were his boss, his leader. Why wasn’t someone there to help him? Why wasn’t someone there to save his life?”
“Greg volunteered to go undercover in the strip clubs to nail Rudy Boyd. A personal bodyguard doesn’t come with undercover work. It’s dangerous. We all know the risks and we gladly take them to get scum like Boyd off the streets.” He took a long breath. “You’re right about one thing, though. Greg’s death is my fault. I should have been on top of his activities, but I didn’t have a clue you were with him. That’s something I’ll never be able to forget.”
When she didn’t say anything, he stood. “So we’ll agree to stay out of each other’s lives. That shouldn’t be too hard because I’m quitting the force.”
Her head jerked up. “You’re quitting the force?”
Daniel hadn’t made his final decision until this very moment. Talking to Sarah, hearing the pain still evident in her voice, he made his choice—one he’d been wrestling with for months.
“Yeah.”
“Why?”
He shoved his hands into his pockets. “I’m burned out and I’ve had my fill of seeing victims like Brooke Wallace. The good guys are losing and there’s nothing I can do about it. I just have to get away.”
“I hope it’s not because of something I said.”
“Don’t worry, Sarah. I have a very thick skin.” He glanced toward Brooke’s door. “I hope you’re able to help her.”
Sarah followed his gaze. “Me, too.”
His eyes caught hers. “But who’s going to help you?”
She glanced down at her hands. “You’re doing it again.”
“Yeah,” he sighed. “I’m sorry. It’s just part of my nature, but I can see you haven’t dealt with the past.”
“That doesn’t concern you.” She gripped her hands together.
“You’re right about that, too. Just remember that Rudy Boyd isn’t worth the pain you’re putting yourself through.”
“I…”
“Goodbye, Sarah. Have a good life.” He turned and headed for the emergency room doors.
Outside, he sucked the frigid January air into his lungs, letting it cool the heated emotions inside him. For the first time in ages he felt good about himself. He wasn’t exactly clear about the future. He might take a cruise or go fishing on the Texas coast. He just wanted to get away from the darker side of life and to find some sunshine. He wanted to laugh, to feel happiness again. All that was out there—he just had to find what was right for him.
Zipping his bomber
