Page 60 of Perfect Fling
“There’s some damage,” Cara said to her. “Erin, look. Assuming it’s the same person behind everything else, and assuming we’re right that it’s a woman, she went for your personal things.”
Nausea, which came so easily these days, rose in Erin’s throat. “I want to see.”
“No!” Cole and Sam said at the same time.
Erin froze at the unilateral command. “Do not tell me what I can and can’t do. Not now.” She shook Cole’s hand off her arm and stomped toward her home.
“Let me,” Cara said, catching up to Erin as she approached the front door. She touched Erin’s arm. “It’s more the emotional aspect of what this person did that will affect you,” she said softly, more as a friend than a cop. “It’s a violation, sweetie. And you’re going to feel it. Are you sure you’re ready?”
Erin nodded, certain no matter how shaky her insides had become.
“Then I’m right there with you. Let’s go. Just remember—”
“Don’t touch anything. I’m still an ADA. I know the drill.”
Cara sighed. “Sometimes it’s easy to forget when you’re also the victim.”
Victim.Erin hated that word, had avoided using it or thinking of herself in those terms since all this had started. But as she entered her house, which now smelled of another woman’s strong perfume, she felt every inch the injured party. The same people whose rights Erin usually foughtfor.
“Upstairs,” Cara said.
Erin pushed forward and headed for her bedroom without having to be told. She knew Cole and Sam had joined them, felt their presence behind her, silently following Erin and Cara.
She stepped into her room and came to a halt, taking in the carnage with her own eyes, yet unable to comprehend what she was actually seeing. Her clothes—her new maternity clothes that she’d spent so much money on—were scattered around her bed and floor, shredded, cut, torn in pieces.
“Son of a bitch,” Cole muttered.
Ignoring him, Erin forced herself to take in each item until her gaze fell on the distinctive lapis blue dress she’d worn Saturday night, cut in pieces. From there, she was compelled to shift her gaze to her dresser, where she’d proudly put her award. Sure enough, the star had been snapped off the base. But that wasn’t what caused the lurch in her heart.
Her large mirror had a message scrawled across the glass with red lipstick:HE’S MINE.
Erin’s gaze flew to Cole’s in question because who else couldhebe referring to? Why go after Erin’s maternity clothes and nothing else unless she felt possessive of him? There was no otherhein her life, none that would elicit this kind of reaction, anyway.
Color highlighted his cheekbones, anger and a hint of regret in his expression. Clearly, they’d come to the same conclusion.
“Who is she?” Erin asked him directly, ignoring the dizziness flooding through her.
He didn’t answer immediately, but Erin could see the wheels turning in his mind as he ran through the possibilities.
“Let’s get you out of here,” Cara suggested, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. “Sam and Cole can talk some more.”
Erin shook her head. “I want to hear what they say.”
“I’m not hiding anything. Hell, I don’t know anything.” Frustration laced Cole’s tone. He met and held her gaze, his expression angry but open.
She believed him.
“Go downstairs with Cara. Sit down. You’re pale and look like you’re about to collapse.”
Erin didn’t want to admit it, but Cole was right. She was shaky, and it wouldn’t hurt to get off her feet for a little while.
“Go,” he said firmly. “I’ll talk to your brother and make some phone calls, see if something is going on with any old cases that I don’t know about.”
“Fine.” She spun around and walked out.
***
Cole’s head poundedas he turned to Sam. Usually considered the mild-mannered Marsden brother but no less intimidating than Mike, Sam glared at Cole with full-on fury.