smell of his hot breath as he whispered to her. You did this. You killed Luke with your meddling.
What had he meant by that? All she’d done was try to help Luke. He’d wanted out of the drug business and she’d encouraged him. Had he heeded her advice and told his dealers that he didn’t want to peddle their drugs anymore? Had they killed him because of it?
She stumbled as Matt led her toward the office. Her hip was stiff and sore after her ordeal, and she wished it didn’t bother her so much. Other people might not even notice the residual slight limp, but Matt would notice. Matt was not just any other person. Thankfully, he said nothing as he led her to the office and Claire fell onto the couch, not certain her legs would carry her any farther. Matt walked out, then returned a moment later with a bottle of water. Her hands shook as she tried to lift it to her lips. Finally, he poured some into a paper cup and gave it to her.
The cool liquid felt soothing over her raw throat. She’d hardly been able to scream but still her throat was raw as if she had. She’d struggled against the force of that man’s hand against her face, struggled for air to breathe. She didn’t think he’d been trying to smother her, but his hand had essentially cut off her air supply.
Matt pulled up a chair and straddled it, his hazel eyes probing hers. “I need you to tell me exactly what happened.”
“Shouldn’t we call the police? I dialed 9-1-1 before that man grabbed me, but I don’t know if the call went through.”
“I am the police.”
He pulled out his badge and she saw he now worked for the Drug Enforcement Administration. She knew he’d left the army, but she hadn’t heard about this new position. Now his presence at the school made more sense. Luke was involved in drugs. Had Matt been here to arrest him?
“Tell me everything you remember. Why were you here at the school on a Sunday?”
Her hands shook as she outlined her morning, trying to remember every detail. “I received a text message from Luke an hour ago asking me to meet him at the school, so I came. The lights were out and even my classroom overhead light didn’t work, but I had the flashlight on my phone. I found him lying on the floor. Before I could call for help, someone grabbed me.”
“Did you see the man who grabbed you?”
“No. It was dark and he was behind me.”
“Did you recognize his voice? Was there anything about him that was familiar?”
She shook her head. “It all happened so fast. He kept his hand over my mouth so I couldn’t scream. I struggled, but I couldn’t break free. When he heard you coming, he dragged me to the corner. The next thing I knew, he had shoved me toward you and we were on the floor.”
“Did you let Luke into the building?”
“No. But everyone knows the door by the cafeteria doesn’t latch well. He probably got in that way.”
“Why did Luke ask to meet you today?”
His message hadn’t said, but she’d hoped for some good news from him. “His message only said he had something important he needed to tell me.”
“Were you aware he was selling drugs?”
“Yes. Luke came to me a few weeks ago and told me he’d been selling drugs, but that he wanted out. He gave his life to the Lord and didn’t want to do it anymore, but he was afraid to tell his supplier. He said he was trying to find a safe way out of the business. When I saw his text, I thought he was going to tell me he’d finally done it.”
“Did he ever tell you the name of his supplier or let something slip that could lead us to him?”
“No, he thought if I knew it would put me in danger.” It seemed that had happened anyway. “I need to call his parents and tell them what happened.”
“We’ll have someone take care of that.”
She looked at him. “He was a good kid. He was trying to get his life together.”
She heard the sound of sirens growing closer. Matt stood and peeked out the window. “I guess the police did receive your call.”
A moment later, the doors opened and the school was flooded with uniformed police officers.
She spotted her friend Preston, a detective with the Lakeshore Police Department, directing several of the officers to secure the school. When he spotted her through the window separating the office from the foyer, his face paled and he rushed to her.
“Claire! We received an emergency call from this location. What are you doing here?” He grabbed her and pulled her into a hug.
“Preston, it’s Luke Thompson. He’s dead.”
“The kid you’ve been ministering to? What happened?”
“He sent me a text message asking me to meet him, but when I arrived, he was on the floor and someone else was in the room. He grabbed me. If Matt hadn’t arrived when he did...” She turned to look at him, suddenly realizing she owed her life to Matt. She also realized she hadn’t introduced the two men. “Matt, this is my friend Detective Preston Ware. He’s with the Lakeshore PD. Preston, this is Matt Ross. He’s with the DEA.”
Preston’s look of surprise was obvious. “Matt Ross? As in...”
She knew exactly what he was referring to. Preston was aware of her history with Matt.
Matt responded with a chagrined look. “Yes, that Matt Ross.” He held out his hand to shake Preston’s. “Nice to meet you.”
Preston reluctantly took the hand he offered.
“Whoever grabbed Claire got away before I could stop him. The body is in Claire’s classroom. It’s the fourth—”
“I know where her classroom is.” Preston turned back to Claire. “Stay here. I’ll need to ask you some questions after I see the crime scene.”
She nodded, expecting it would be the same questions Matt had asked her. And she would have the same answers she’d given him. She didn’t know who’d killed Luke and she hadn’t seen her attacker’s face.
“I’ve already secured the scene,” Matt assured him.
Preston shot him a cautious smile. “You don’t mind if we double-check that, do you?”
She sensed a simmering dislike between the two men. It was more than their cautious smiles and easygoing manners. Beneath the surface, there seemed to be a palpable desire in both of them to strike out against the other. Matt’s folded arms as he informed Preston about the details of the case. Preston’s defensive stance.
She was glad when they both walked out. She wasn’t surprised that Preston was leery of Matt. After all, she’d cried on his shoulder numerous times through the years about her ordeal.
But what possible reason could Matt have against Preston?
* * *
He didn’t like it. Nope, he didn’t like it one bit.
Who was this guy who’d claimed Claire as his own with one call of her name?
A feeling of satisfaction had washed over him as he reached out to shake Preston’s hand. Claire had called him a friend and everyone knew what that meant—platonic, non-boyfriend friend. And Preston’s grip as they shook was firmer than it needed to be, an obvious acknowledgment of territory. His stance was clear—back off! Apparently, he hadn’t caught on to Claire’s reference to him as her “friend.” He was still clinging hopelessly to the delusion that they could one day be more.
It wouldn’t happen. If Matt knew one thing about Claire, it was that she believed love should be passionate and overwhelming...the way they’d once been. If there was no passion, in her mind, there was no romance.
“Claire said you were DEA. May I ask what you were doing