“Sir?” Will attempted.
“I should have known something was up,” the man chastised himself. He lifted his head, unmistakable grief and regret were strewn across his expression. “My own son,” he croaked. “A murderer!”
He swiped his hands across his desk, sending papers flying everywhere. Next thing we knew, he’d fisted his stapler, flinging it across the room, where it made a sizeable hole in the drywall.
Nancy, the receptionist, came barging in, a look of panic on her face. “Is everything–” she began, her eyes rounding when she witnessed the damage to the wall.
“I’m sorry, Nance,” Dodge said. “Everything’s fine here.”
The woman eyed me, then Will; next was James. She didn’t seem convinced but beat a retreat regardless.
“Cap–” I started.
“And you’re sure?” he whispered, eyeing James specifically.
“I ran the results three times, sir,” he explained. “There’s no doubt in my mind that your son was at the scene. Since he wasn’t on shift when the investigation took place, I can’t say that he’s guilty, but I can say that there’s cause for suspicion.”
“Bring him in,” the older man ordered.
Nodding to the captain, James was first to leave the office, followed by Will, then myself. “Peters…”
I turned at the door to find my troubled boss’s eyes filling with tears. “Yeah?”
“I wish I–”
“Boss, this isn’t on you.” My voice cracked, knowing all too well what he was hinting at.
“But–”
“No!” I argued. “If this is going down the way I think it will, you’re staying clear of this. This isn’t on you, Captain, it’s all on him.”
The man gave me a feeble nod.
Once I was assured that no other word would follow, I turned my back on my boss and walked out, grumbling, “Let’s go get the son of a bitch,” to Will as I passed by him.
Hindsight was twenty-twenty, as it always seemed to be. I should have known to warn dispatch to keep the APB on Casen on the down low, on the off chance that the fucktard was listening in on the radio.
By the time we got to Casen Dodge’s apartment, the bastard was nowhere to be found. A neighbor reported hearing all sorts of crashing noises coming from his place about ten minutes prior to our arrival. She’d seen him storm out of his apartment and head out like his pants were lit on fire.
Running my hands through my hair and pulling at the strands, my frustration came out in a loud roar as I kicked the cruiser’s tire.
“I want to use him for target practice,” I growled, “then rip him limb from limb, starting by shoving his dick down his throat, making him choke on it.”
“I’m sure the entire force will be wanting to get their licks in with the fucker before this is over,” Will attested.
“Let’s get out of here.” I opened the driver’s side door and got in. When Will was settled into his seat, I looked over at him. “Call the judge and get a warrant for his apartment. I want a trace on his phones. I want to know if he’s got anyone in his corner that can possibly cover for him. We already know that Cap can’t provide the manpower on this one, so I’m siccing Dalt on the case, red tape be damned.”
It wasn’t until we’d gotten back to the precinct that I could no longer ignore the vibrating coming from my phone. Still sitting in the driver’s seat, I pulled it out of my pocket, shocked to see that I had ten missed calls and five messages. All of them from Dalton.
What the fuck?
I hit the button that connected me to my voicemail.
“Shane, it’s Devolin, Stan called Dalton. Something’s up with Emberlyn. Dalt and I are heading over to check things out. Call us.”
My heart started palpitating.
“Peters, you need to check your messages. Call pronto.”
“Shane, it’s Devolin again. I think you really need to come to Emberlyn’s place when you get this.”
“Your woman needs you. Get your ass in gear, brother.”
“Shit.”
“Everything okay?” Will asked.
“No,” I mumbled, as I listened to the last message.
“Shane, man…” Dalton growled. “I’m about to lose my shit with your woman’s ex. Where the fuck are you?”
“What the fuck?” I punched to disconnect, threw my phone onto my dash, then rubbed my hands down my face on a sigh.
“What’s up?”
I shook my head. There were too many things happening at once. “I need to go,” I croaked, feeling every bit of my body slowing down with exhaustion but more so with frustration. “Talk to Cap. Find out if Casen’s got any other properties he may have access to. When that’s done, call Judge Mason and get the damn search warrants. Get whoever you need at the precinct on this to pitch in, if you have to. I don’t care how you do it, just do it by the book. I’ll talk to Dalton when I find a minute. I’m needed at home.”
Dropping my partner off at the precinct, I left him and our ongoing investigation in my rearview mirror with a panicked sensation coursing through me, filling me with dread for what I was going to happen onto next.
Chapter 20
Emberlyn
“Everything checks out on your property. I’ve made sure that your windows and doors are locked in your cottage,” Dalton said, announcing his arrival from making his rounds.
“Thank you.” I bowed my head, feeling helpless and discouraged that someone had to come to my aid instead of being able to help myself.
“Tell him, Ember,” Devolin urged me.
“Tell me what?” Dalton’s features darkened, as if he knew that what I’d have to say next wouldn’t be good.
“Something was delivered today, while Shane, Rosie, and I were out,” I whispered.
“What?” he asked.
I nodded toward the front door. “It’s on the table over there.”
Devolin was the first to leave my side and came back handling the small box, the scrap of lace hanging out from one side, with the lid tilted sideways. The disturbed look on her face said enough. “Some creep is sending you underwear?” she squeaked out.
Dalton pinched the bridge of his nose, taking a deep breath and releasing it with a long drawn out, “Fuck.”
“It’s from my ex,” I explained.
“This isn’t the first time, is it?” I shook my head to indicate the negative as an answer to the man’s question. “Where are the others?”
“Garage,” I rasped, my throat having gone dry. “Top shelf on the left wall. White storage bin.”
Dalton disappeared.
To have Dalton riffling through that bin of things I’d had delivered over the last few weeks had me feeling humiliated.
He wasn’t a friend.
He wasn’t really an acquaintance either.
I may have felt safe with him and Devolin here with me, but as he pulled one item out after another, albeit in a clinical and assessing way, what with his wearing rubber gloves, it only solidified the fact that by the time Shane got here, I’d be in a shitload of trouble.
The pounding on my front door had me jumping out of my skin, while Devolin soothingly rubbed at my upper back to calm me down.
Dalton sat what was one of the many letters I’d received on the table before righting himself. “I’ll get that.”
Beyond a door opening and shutting, I didn’t hear anything else for the next few minutes.
When Shane made his approach, our eyes connecting, I couldn’t hold it together anymore. I broke down, a sobbing mess collapsing into his chest just as soon as he’d kneeled in front of me.
“Shhh.” He tightened his hold on me. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here sooner, but I’m here now, Em. We’ll figure this all out. I promise.”
“You know?” I hiccupped, pulling away enough to tilt my head up to look him in the eyes.
“Dalton filled me in a little,” he growled.
“I don’t know how he got in,” I whispered.
“I’m scared, Shane. I did everything right. I changed my numbers, I moved…I don’t even use the same email address.”
He cupped my face, wiping at my tears with his thumbs as he stared at me intently. “We’ll get Brycen on the phone.”
“Already done,” Dalton said. “I couldn’t wait for you, so I put him on task.”
Shane nodded. “Send me the bill.”
“Family doesn’t pay,” he grunted. Shane and I turned to face the man, who met my gaze head on. “This one is personal.”
“But–” I protested.
Dalton’s gaze was unwavering and brokered no argument.
“Em, let him,” Shane whispered over my temple before kissing it.
I sighed in exasperation. “Oh, all right!” I turned to look at Devolin. “Are they always so…so–”
“Bossy?” the woman supplied with a grin.
“Yes!”
“Most of the time,” she answered breezily. “But they’re right on the money this time, hon. That jackass ex of yours will cease to exist once NSI is done with him.”
Dalton’s phone bleeped an incoming call warning. Hitting a button, he said, “You’ve got D, Dev, Peters, and Ember. This better be good news.”
“Out?” I felt as though an elephant had taken residence on my chest. I struggled to catch my breath with no avail. Having him know where I lived was one thing, but him being out changed things; made them more real.
Trevor Sykes was granted early parole due to overcrowding, it seemed. I knew that the judicial system was less than perfect, but I never expected to have it fail me.
“Why wasn’t she contacted?” Shane barked at the phone sitting between all of us on my coffee table.
“Seems like Emberlyn’s lawyer is currently on medical leave. Something has to be said about an active job and lifestyle. I guess sitting behind a desk, gobbling up rich foods, and drinking too much, is bound to catch you in the ticker at some point,” Brycen said. “The guy had a heart attack, leading him to a triple bypass. He’s currently at home and was none the wiser as to what’s happened with Ember’s case until I spoke to him.”
“How long?” I gulped, then cleared my throat. “How long has he been out?”
“Ten days,” Brycen confirmed over the line.
Ten days.
That explains the sudden escalation in deliveries. What it didn’t explain though, was why all of a sudden the letters. Most of his gifts always had short notes and those were still present. The solitary letters were new, however.
“What is it, sweetheart?” Shane urged me. “I can tell you’re holding something back.”
“The letters.” I shook my head. “They don’t sound like him.”
Shane turned to Dalton, leaving Devolin at my side.
Dalton spread out each and every letter in their respective baggies.
It took him about ten minutes of reading and rereading them before he came back to my side. “I can’t say whether it’s the same person or not. Both notes and letters are typed up, but I trust what you’re saying.” I nodded in appreciation of his faith in my analysis. “Can you give us a time frame as to when the gifts started, in comparison to when the letters did?”
“The gifts stopped after I sold, then moved out of our marital home. They started up about a month ago.” I gave a quick, cursory glance to all three of my companions. “The letters started over the last week.”
“Since there’s no postmark, Brycen, I’m going to send this in so we can see about getting some prints,” Dalton told us. “Bryce, I expect you to get in touch with either me or Shane whenever you dig something up on Sykes. I want to know where he’s at, who his parole officer is, if he’s got a job…”
“On it, boss. Out.” The discernible click of Brycen hanging up was followed by Dalton disconnecting the call on our end.
“Right…” Dalton’s eyes were trained on me. “I think we can agree that you’re not safe in this house by yourself. Until Stan can get your security system up and running, I want you to stay with someone.”
“She’ll stay with me.” Shane’s statement came out as if it was law.
“What?” I stared at him. “No! I-I can’t put you out like that.”
“Em,” Shane began softly, “sweetheart, what makes you think you’d be putting me out?”
“What will your mother think? And what about Rosie?” I asked. “I’m not safe, and Trevor clearly knows where I’m at. I don’t want to bring this trouble to you and your family.” I shook my head, then looked at Dalton. “Is there another option? Can’t I stay in a hotel for the next few nights? Something kind of like a witness protection thing? I have a gun…And what about my business? I have clients…obligations I need to meet.”
“She can stay with us,” Devolin blurted, while rubbing her large belly, “can’t she, Dalt?”
“I’m not bringing this shitstorm your way, either,” I argued. “I appreciate everything you’re all doing for me, I do, but I can’t have you guys in the crossfire either.”
“You’re not going to a fucking hotel, Em, not unless I’m with you,” Shane argued. “We can pack your bags, then head over to mine so I can pack some necessities, then we’ll go to a hotel if you’re that worried about Mom and Rosie. And about work, if you’d agree to stay at mine, then you’d still be able to work out of Mom’s kitchen until Stan’s done his work. There’s no way I want you here alone. We’ll talk about you having a gun later.” He grabbed my chin gently, making sure to look me in the eyes. “So what’s it gonna be, sweetheart?”
Chapter 21
Shane
The silence of the night was broken, waking me from sleep. Laying in the dark, I allowed myself to concentrate on what it was I had heard.
Footsteps.
The creaking of a door.
More footsteps, fading as they moved away from my bedroom.
A light switch.
A cabinet door shutting.
Running water.
The scraping of a chair.
Rolling over toward my alarm clock, I saw that it was just after two o’clock in the morning. Only one person could be awake at this time of night: our new houseguest.
Pushing back my covers, I quickly slipped into a pair of jogging shorts and headed toward the kitchen, finding Emberlyn seated at the table, staring into a full glass of water.
The floor creaked beneath my feet as I moved toward her, gaining her attention. Emberlyn’s eyes were sunken and red-rimmed. Seeing her like this broke my heart.
“Can’t sleep?” I asked the obvious.
She shook her head. “I can’t seem to settle.” I turned her chair so I could crouch down between her legs, my hands smoothing over her bare thighs. “My mind won’t stop whirling with everything that’s going on.”
“Anything I can do?”
Her eyes softened as her hand reached out and cupped my face. “You’re doing it right now. Just being here, Shane, it’s more than I deserve.”
“Sweetheart…” My words hung as I regained my feet and pulled her up to hers so we stood chest-to-chest. I wrapped my arms around her the moment she cuddled into me. “Come to bed.”
Her head snapped back so she could look up at me. “I can’t do that. Your mom and Rosie are here.”
“I don’t care.” I pecked her forehead. “You need your sleep, and I don’t think you’ll find it unless you feel safe.” She didn’t answer, which told me I was right. “If it’ll make you feel better, I’ll set my alarm to make sure that we’re awake before everyone else. They’ll never know you didn’t spend the night in the spare room.”
After pondering my words for a short moment, she brushed her lips tenderly against mine and whispered, “Okay.” As she led me toward the stairs, allowing me to turn the lights off as we went, she paused and turned toward me. “Tomorrow, we’ll have to have a chat about your bossiness. I’m still not happy about your strong-arming me to stay here, you know.”
I let out a low chuckle. “Sure thing
, sweetheart. Sure thing. And while we’re at it, we’ll cover how you’ve been packin’.”
“Shane!” she whisper-scolded.
“Get that fine ass of yours to bed, woman, or I’ll carry you there myself.”
On a huffed, “Boneheaded caveman,” she preceded me up the stairs.
You know you’re exhausted when your alarm goes off, you heard it, but turned the damn thing off, rolled over, and drifted off again.
That’s exactly what happened later that morning; at least until I heard the door to my bedroom creak open, revealing my daughter. Her eyes widened when she spotted Emberlyn lying curled up with her back to my chest.
I lifted my index finger to my lips, in indication for her to be quiet, and motioned for her to come closer.
“Daddy, what’s Ember doing here?” she whispered.
“I asked her to come and stay with us because her house is getting some work done, and it’s not safe for her to be there right now,” I explained. She didn’t need to know the details. Being the daughter of a detective—the kid of any cop really—I noticed that our offspring seemed to age beyond their years far too quickly. I was already seeing this effect on my girl, and if I could shield her from unnecessary troubles, I damn well would.
“Why are you holding her? You only do that when I have bad dreams.” Her eyes rounded at her nine-year-old realization. “Did she have a bad dream?”
Thank you, Rosie. Her statement provided me with an out on my fuck up. One I doubted that Emberlyn would be impressed with, seeing as I’d failed to wake her up for her bed switch like I’d promised her last night.
“She did,” I said softly.
“Can I help chase her bad dream away?” She bit her lip, evidently thinking I’d refuse her the sweet gesture. “Please?”
This had me smiling. I fucking loved my little girl and her thoughtfulness. “I think she’d like that, Princess.” I pulled her head toward me so I could press my lips against her forehead. “Very much. Now, climb on up here.”
Night Shift (Nightshade Book 2) Page 8