Since Chris was the only deputy she knew, Daisy didn’t feel like she could be much help pinpointing who at the sheriff’s department might be the murderer. “Any luck getting ahold of Macavoy?”
His mouth went tight and flat with frustration. “None. He won’t return any of my calls or texts. Even though he said he was quitting because of a family issue, I called his mom—his emergency contact—and she didn’t know of any ‘family issue.’ Also, she hasn’t heard from him since he quit and took off. She gave me some names of friends and relatives of his, but they’ve all been dead ends so far.”
“I’m sorry.” She gave him a sympathetic grimace. “I wish I could help more.”
Hopping off the counter, he looked at her in surprise. “You are helping, Dais. We’ve gotten more new information from you and your training buddies than we’ve found in weeks.” He helped her down and stayed standing in front of her, close enough to make her breathe faster than normal. “It helps to talk to you, too, especially now that I have to keep my mouth shut at work, just in case the wrong person is listening.”
His proximity was shutting down her brain, so she just bobbed her head like a dummy. “Good. I mean, I’m glad I can help.”
“More than you know, Dais.” He leaned closer, his gaze flicking from her eyes to her lips and back. Her stomach tightened in anticipation, but he turned his head slightly and pressed a kiss to her cheek. Even as the contact of his lips against her skin made her blood buzz with excitement, disappointment flooded her. She’d wanted a real kiss, not something a sister or grandma would receive. Shoving down her dissatisfaction, she told herself to enjoy their restored camaraderie and quit wanting more from him than he wanted to give. That was the road to becoming an angry, bitter old lady.
Chris pulled away and headed for the door. “I’m going to go home and grab a shower.”
Lifting the collar of her shirt so she could sniff it, she nodded, scrunching her face to make Chris laugh. “Me too.”
Her efforts were successful, and he chuckled as he unbolted the door. “Remember, it’s a rest day, so no exercise of any kind.”
“I might need to climb the stairs occasionally,” she said, trying to keep her expression serious.
“If you absolutely have to go upstairs, then do it slowly.” He winked at her as he left. “Bye, Dais.”
“Later, Chris.” Closing the door behind him, she started to turn the dead bolts, beginning at the bottom as she always did. When she reached the two chain locks, she fastened the first, but her hand stilled on the second one. Daisy’d had enough of longing and wishing for things to be different. To change, she needed to act. No matter how terrifying it was, the thought of a life trapped in her house, a life without Chris, was even scarier. With her heart pounding in her ears, she released the chain, letting it swing loosely against the door.
She took a step back, and then two, her eyes locked on the dangling, unsecured chain. The floor tilted beneath her, and she sat abruptly, not wanting to fall and hit her head if she fainted again. Her breath came fast and shallow, and her skin switched between hot and sweaty and clammy. To her relief, though, she stayed conscious.
Daisy wasn’t sure how long she stared at that one unfastened chain lock before her body stopped freaking out and returned to normal—seminormal, at least. Her hands still shook slightly, and her stomach felt raw and sore, as if she were recovering from the flu. The sweating had stopped, though, and her heartbeat, although elevated, had slowed from its initial hummingbird speed.
With her hands pressed to the floor, she shifted to her hands and knees. When that didn’t bring any waves of dizziness, she pushed herself to an upright kneeling position. Her vision blurred a little around the edges, so she waited until she was seeing clearly again before climbing to her feet.
Once she was up, she focused on the open lock again. It looked wrong, hanging there when the door was closed, and her fingers itched to secure it. Daisy resisted, though, turning to face the kitchen. She found it was easier when she wasn’t looking at the chain, so she took a step away from the door and then another.
When she reached the study, Daisy lowered herself to sit in the chair. There was an anxious buzz in the back of her mind, telling her that something wasn’t right. She could ignore it, though. She wasn’t fainting or sweating or hyperventilating, so she could handle the slight uneasiness that urged her to run to the door and fasten the lock.
“I did it,” she said quietly to the demon doll with teeth. A laugh bubbled out of her, unexpected and loud. “I did it!” Reaching for the doll, she almost grabbed it and hugged it, but then she pulled back her hand. It probably wouldn’t be wise to let the toy of the devil that close to her jugular. The thought made her laugh again, and she spun her chair in a circle.
It was a single lock on a single door, but for today, it was enough.