Her Eyes
Chapter 47: THE LONG GRIFT
A feeling of dread washed over Alex as he stepped into the station. There was so much going on he wasn't really sure how to deal with it. The Bradley Martin case wasn't just going to go away. It had only been a few days since they discovered her body; it was too soon to call it a cold case. But there wasn't any evidence and Alex sure wasn't going to go look for some. It was unlike him not to going searching for answers, but he had the answer. Norman killed Bradley—there was no denying it.
Alex was finishing up some paperwork when Babbit walked in. She stood in front of his desk, crossing her arms. "Where is he?" she demanded.
He glanced up from the desk. "Who?"
She rolled her eyes impatiently. "Bob Paris. We've been searching for him for over a month. I know you know where he is. And I'm not afraid to take the necessary measures to find him. I hope I'm making myself very clear." She sent him a glare.
Which he gladly returned. "You're not getting anywhere by trying to intimidate me. I told you before I don't know where Bob is."
"What were you doing at the boatyard?" He furrowed his brow at her question. "You were at the boatyard the night Bob disappeared. Why were you there?"
His heart began to beat ferociously in its cage. He was trapped. He didn't know who he was anymore. Years ago, Alex would have never let a woman control his life this much. She changed him from the moment they met. They didn't just meet. This was fate. And now here he was spiraling down in disaster. This is what she does. She doesn't mean to hurt the ones she loves. She doesn't mean to hurt herself. She's trapped. We're all trapped.
"Sheriff?" She unfolded her arms and pressed her palms into the desk, leaning closer to him. "Why were you there?"
Why was he there? He was there because he needed to prove that he was still himself—that he was still Sheriff Romero the big daddy of White Pine Bay. He was there because he can't control himself—because he doesn't control himself. Everything he does—every decision he makes revolves around her. It was always only her. He was there because she silently asked him to. Because she knew that he'd do anything for her. Because he had to have her. Because he'd die without her. But in the back of his head he knew that the main reason he was there was because her son was a murderer, and no one else in the world could know that but them. "I was looking for someone else."
Confusion filled her face. He'd given her something new. "Someone else?"
He sighed, looking back down at the desk. It was story time. "My friend's son ran away that night. She gets really worried about him. He has some medical issues. I left to go find him."
She stood straight up, looking down at him. He was unreadable. "Then how do you explain the gun shots?"
He stared back at her calmly. "White Pine Bay isn't exactly the safest town. Gun shots ring out…people normally don't think twice about it."
She nodded and moved towards the window, gazing out at the scene. "And you thought finding the boy was more important than finding a criminal? One that you claimed killed two women?"
Alex gritted his teeth. She'd never give up. She'd die fighting. "Like I said he has some medical issues."
"What kind of medical issues?" She moved behind the seat across from his desk, placing her hands lightly on the frame.
He leaned back in his chair. "I don't know. His mother's pretty adamant on keeping things in the family."
She raised an eyebrow. "Then why did she tell you he ran away?"
He stared at her for a moment. She needed to know everything, didn't she? "She's very concerned about her son. I'm the sheriff. I protect people. I look after people. It's my job."
"Yeah, but finding and arresting criminals also fits your job description." She shrugged indifferently. "I just want to know why she's so important to you."
"She's not." He said it a little too quickly. She laughed in response, causing his glare to return. "You had a whole team of investigators searching for Bob Paris. You didn't really need me there."
She stood still, unaffected. "Why didn't you tell me that you left?"
He shot her a stern look. "What I do is none of your business."
"It is when you've committed a crime," she shot back.
He furrowed his brow. She was ridiculous. "I hardly think that searching for a mentally ill boy is a crime."
"So he's mentally ill?" He was slipping. He swallowed hard. She took in the look on his face. She'd hit something. "I'd like to speak to the boy's mother. Just to confirm your alibi."
He looked at her with all seriousness. "Now's not really a good time to be questioning her. She's been through a lot recently."
She smiled smugly before leaving. "Convenient."
Alex headed home early. He couldn't stand being at work anymore…not with Babbit around. He walked into his bedroom and stared at the clothes Norma had left lying in heap on his bedroom floor. They were his only excuse to see her. He packed them neatly in the suitcase and headed out to his SUV, climbing in and driving off in the direction of the Bates' house. He knocked on the door shyly. He didn't know why he was so nervous—it's not like they hadn't spend the last few days together.
She opened the door with a sad smile. "Hi, Alex."
He looked down at the suitcase awkwardly. "You left your stuff at my house, so I thought I'd bring it back for you." He handed her the suitcase and quickly turned to leave.
"Alex?" He stopped. This was what he wanted. "Do you wanna stay for dinner? I'm all alone. Dylan's at the farm, and Norman's still at Pine View."
He turned around to face her, his face painted with concern. "He's still there? Did they say what was wrong—"
"I don't really wanna talk about it," she interrupted. He nodded and followed her inside.
They had a silent dinner. They didn't really have much to talk about. He thanked her for dinner and headed towards the door. She followed after him. "Alex. Do you wanna stay the night?" Her voice caught him, stopping him—speeding up the beating of his heart.
He stared at the door. He was afraid to be alone with her. He never knew what she was looking for. But a part of him knew that she only wanted him there because she was lonely—she was desperate…for anyone. He sighed. "I don't know."
She scoffed, staying put. She wouldn't force him. "What do you mean you don't know? Either you do or you don't."
He still wouldn't look at her. She didn't deserve that. Not that she'd done anything wrong, but he needed to know her motive. "Do you want me to stay?"
She paused. She wasn't expecting this. "I don't know."
He smiled at this. "Either you do or you don't."
"Would I have asked if I didn't?" she shot back.
He turned around to face her. Taking the look of her in. She seemed more relaxed than usual, but there was still a sadness about her. "I don't have a change of clothes."
"You can borrow something of mine?" They grinned at each other. She led him upstairs to her bedroom and closed the door behind them. She smiled at him as she sauntered back to him, placing her hands on his chest. His hands found her waist as they stared at each other briefly. She leaned in to kiss him.
But he stopped her. "Why do you want me to stay?"
She pulled back a bit, concern filling her eyes. "I—"
"Don't tell me you don't know," he cut her off. He could feel her breathe deeply. She looked liked she wanted to run, but he continued on. "Is it because you're lonely? Or is it something else?" She didn't say anything. She didn't move. "Tell me the truth, Norma. I wanna know why you want me here."
She shook her head lightly. "Why—"
"It matters. It matters to me." He wished she'd open up to him—that she felt free enough to tell him anything and everything. "We both know why I'm here. I need to know why you want me here." She bit her lip, trying to decide what to do. His eyes were lost in her sea of blue. "I lied to this woman who works for the DEA. She knows I killed Bob Paris and she keeps questioning me about it. And now she wants to question you."
She looked at him in shock. "What do I have to do with the death of Bob Paris?"
He shook his head at her. "Nothing. They have a witness that knows where I was that night. And I told her I was there looking for Norman."
She pulled away from him. "Why would you do that?"
He sighed. He knew this wouldn't ever end well. "I panicked. I didn't know what else to say. I couldn't confess. I'd lose my job. Probably go to jail. I wouldn't be able to protect you anymore." He brought his eyes to hers. "I was stupid. It was stupid. I shouldn't have said it. I shouldn't have dragged you into this." He made his way towards the door. "Just be careful."
She grabbed his arm as he reached the door. "I like you."
He furrowed his brow, turning to face her. "What?"
She rolled her eyes, taking his face in her hands. "You heard me the first time." She pressed her lips to his, bringing him towards the bed. He fell on top of her as they hit the mattress. After a few moments, her hand drifted south causing him to pull away from her.
He hasn't been with anyone in a while. Years perhaps. He didn't want to reject her. But he wanted everything with her to be perfect. "I wanna wait." His breath was ragged. She stared at him in confusion. His body showed the opposite of his request.
She nodded as he pulled himself off of her. "Okay." As much as he wanted her, he still wasn't sure of her motive. He knew she was lonely, even if she wouldn't admit it. But a part of slept a little sounder knowing that she liked him.