Dead Heat by Kathleen Brooks Page A

take her home, blah blah blah. In my naïveté, I believed him. At graduation two months later, Bill pulls me aside and confesses to an affair with Kandi. He tells me he wants to stay together and work things out. I forgive him and agree to it before he finishes his confession. Kandi was two months pregnant and he wanted her to live near us in Lexington until she had the baby so he could ‘do the right thing’ and look after her.”
    “No. No man can be that stupid.”
    Paige smiled. Somehow it didn’t hurt anymore as she told Cole about her last and only relationship. “Yes, yes they can be. So, I immediately withdrew from UK and applied for school in Los Angeles. I headed out two weeks later and didn’t come back for three years. So, that’s my embarrassing relationship story.” Paige put down the napkin she had torn to shreds.
    “Well, what happened to Bill and Kandi?”
    “They got married right after their son was born. She didn’t want to be fat in her pictures. They are still married. I don’t really know more than that.”
    “If I am honest, I am glad it happened. It means you get to be my girlfriend now.” He winked and she laughed.

Chapter Six
     
    Paige couldn’t remember ever having such a great time on a date. She had been on a lot of first dates and none of them had been this relaxed and fun. Her high was brought down when she realized it didn’t matter. It wasn’t a real first date. It was all for show. Paige and Cole approached the shop in a peaceful silence. He took her key and opened the front door.
    She walked in and the hair on the back of her neck stood up. She looked around carefully. Nothing seemed to be missing. She looked closer and saw that all the displays were in order. She couldn’t figure it out, it just felt as if something was out of place. She slowly walked up the stairs behind Cole. Maybe it was just her imagination, but he seemed tense too.
    He opened her door and Chuck walked out with his tail slowly wagging. He approached the top of the steps ready for his nighttime walk. Cole walked through her apartment, checking each room before coming out with Chuck’s leash in his hand.
    “It’s all clear, but something seems off.”
    “I know.” She looked around the shop as she walked down the stairs. “But, nothing seems to be missing.”
    “Come on. Let’s take Chuck for his night time walk. Maybe things will be clearer in the morning.” Cole snapped Chuck’s flexi-leash in place and opened the door for her. Paige walked out with Chuck glued to her side. Cole shut the door and locked it before turning towards Paige.
    “Where do you normally walk him?”
    “We go around the block to the park behind the store. Then we just go up the stairs and into the apartment from the back,” she said as they headed down the sidewalk.
    “You know, I had a really good time tonight.”
    “You don’t have to say that. I know it wasn’t real for you.”
    “Was it real for you?” Cole asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
    Before she could answer, Chuck froze. She felt the vibration of his growl running up the leash before she could hear it. As soon as Cole heard the growl, a gun appeared in his right hand and he stepped in front of her to shield her from whatever was in the park. Chuck pulled on his leash and let out a deep bark. Paige looked around and didn’t see anyone. That didn’t stop Chuck from pulling at the end of his leash. He desperately wanted to get at whoever was behind the trees.
    Her first instinct was to run and hide behind Cole. But her curiosity won out and she edged her way out from behind him to stare into the unknown darkness of the park. Chuck’s growls grew more and more agitated as he lunged forward again. His chocolate brown hair stood on end down his back.
    “Come out with your hands up,” Cole called into the darkness. Silence echoed around them as they waited for the person to come out.
    She felt him tense and raise his gun when she heard the