Page 18 of Maverick Detective Dad
Everly swiveled her chair around so they were face-to-face, eye to eye. “Bait with backup. When we go to the interviews, you could bring a deputy or another detective with us. One who’ll stay out of sight, maybe like laying low on the backseat or something. We could wear Kevlar,” she added.
It still twisted at her stomach to consider doing this, but the fear and worry were only going to skyrocket until the danger to Ainsley was over. The way to end that danger fast was to catch the killer and put him away.
Noah stayed quiet, obviously considering all of that, and he cursed under his breath. “I’ll think about it,” he finally said but didn’t get a chance to add more because his phone rang, and Everly saw a familiar name on the screen.
River Parnell.
“Detective Ryland,” River snapped the moment Noah answered. “I just got a call from Megan. Why the hell would you scare her like that?”
Noah gathered his breath before he spoke. “I scared her because I told her the truth. That a serial killer murdered her mother, and they might be connected to Peace Seekers.”
River certainly didn’t jump to deny that. “You want the membership list for the group,” he finally said.
“I do,” Noah verified, “and if you don’t have an actual list, I’ll need any names you know.”
River’s groan was low but still plenty loud enough for Everly to hear. “Let me talk to Daisy about that, and I’ll get back to you.”
Again, Noah didn’t spill about Daisy being dead, but if River was their killer, he already knew that. “We’ll talk,” Noah insisted. “For an official interview. I’ll get in touch with you to give you a specific time. And FYI, it’s your right to have an attorney present during that.”
Now River cursed. “Am I a suspect?”
“What do you think?” Noah countered, and he hung up. He looked at Everly again as he put his phone away. “Tomorrow morning, you and I—and a backup lawman—will pay River a visit.”
Some of the tightness eased inside her, but it was quickly replaced by the realization that Noah and she were about to put themselves in the direct path of a killer.
Chapter Six
While Noah loaded the breakfast dishes into the dishwasher, he refused to keep dwelling on how much of a mistake it was to set Everly and himself up as bait. That’s because he’d already spent most of the night doing just that, and since he couldn’t figure out a faster way to draw out a killer, he’d chosen to focus on the logistics of making this trip to see River as safe as possible.
He hoped he’d succeeded.
In addition to bringing along his cousin, Deputy Theo Sheldon, who’d stay out of sight, Noah had made sure they were both armed with backup weapons and extra ammo. He’d gone with Everly’s idea, too, of them wearing Kevlar. Even though the killer had never shot any of his victims, that didn’t mean they wouldn’t do just that if the opportunity came up.
Noah had to make sure an opportunity didn’t happen.
That meant getting Everly inside with River after Noah had checked to make sure the man wasn’t armed and ready to gun them down. After all, River was a prime suspect with means and motive. If the man didn’t have alibis for the murders, then Noah could add opportunity to the mix. Means, motive and opportunity were the law enforcement trifecta when it came to suspects.
Noah was hoping this interview would give them lots of info, including the names of the others in the Peace Seekers, but that might not even be necessary if River let something slip that could lead to his arrest. Then, Noah could get Everly back to her daughter.
Back to her life, too.
He silently cursed the gut punch that gave him. Part of him, a big part, didn’t want to let go of the connection they had again. A connection forged by danger and fresh attraction, but he also didn’t want to be the reason for more nightmares for her. He’d certainly be a reminder of the past, and he was going to have to accept that might never change.
His mental pep talk took a nosedive when Everly came in. Yeah, there was fresh attraction all right, and Noah couldn’t stop himself from noticing the way her blue pants and a loose top were nearly the same color as her eyes. It was an outfit that one of the ranch hands had gotten from her house the night before after Grayson and the CSIs had given them the all clear for someone to go over and get some of Ainsley’s and her things. Two suitcases full, but Noah was betting that Everly was hoping the items wouldn’t be needed, that she would soon be able to go home.
But he rethought that, too.
He wondered if she’d ever think of the place as a safe haven again. After all, a murdered woman had been dumped in her yard. Would she ever be able to look at the yard, or the porch, and not remember the grisly things the killer had left for her in those spots?
“You’d better not be changing your mind about this,” Everly said, obviously noting his expression. She tugged at the Kevlar beneath her top. “Because it’s taken everything inside me to leave my daughter with your folks and Ava while we try to put an end to this. It’s the right thing to do,” she tacked on to that.
“It is,” he agreed. Yes, he had doubts, plenty of them, but he had even greater doubts about them doing nothing to stop more killings.
“How’s Ainsley?” he asked though Noah was certain he already knew the answer.
He’d seen her at breakfast, had listened to her babble and giggle about her new toys. The babbling and giggling had continued when his parents and Ava had arrived, and the little girl obviously thought of this as a great adventure.
“She’s reading a book with your mom,” Everly answered.
