Protection Detail

Three deaths connected to the same family?

It seemed a stretch to think it was coincidence.

He’d have to bring it up to the team. First, he had to interview Cassie’s kids. He understood her need to protect them, he even admired it, but he wasn’t going to let it get in the way his job.

“It’s all yours,” he responded, his focus on Cassie.

She looked scared, but she also looked determined.

Hopefully that determination wasn’t going to be a problem. He didn’t want to waste time fighting her for access to the kids.

The officer nodded. Just like Dane Winthrop, Paul Anderson was someone Gavin had worked with during his days with the DC police force. Serious and hardworking, he had a reputation for following leads to the end, never giving up, never backing down. “Looks like you’ve got quite a bruise on your cheek,” he said, and Cassie touched the swollen spot.

“Yeah. The guy with the knife wasn’t real happy to see me.”

“Guy with a knife?” Paul asked. “Ms. Johnson didn’t mention that.”

“Virginia didn’t know about him,” Cassie explained quickly, giving Paul the same story she’d given Gavin. That was good. Her memories seemed clear, the details she offered matching the ones she’d provided before.

When she finished, Paul opened the door that led onto the back porch. “You say you heard him?”

“I heard a thump. I thought it was one of the kids playing around.” She frowned. Probably remembering that one of them had wandered to Harland’s property and possibly witnessed a murder.

“Is that why you didn’t call the police before you went outside?” Paul’s partner asked. Young with dark hair and an almost too-pretty face, he looked like a rookie who was desperate to prove his merit. “Because it seems to me—”

“Yes.” She cut him off. “That’s why.”

She followed Paul outside, her dark red hair spilling down her back, bits of pine needle and dead leaves sticking out of it. She was still barefoot, the cuffs of her jeans dragging the floor, her dusty toes peeking out from under them.

“It still smells like gasoline out here,” she commented.

Gavin didn’t know who she was directing it at, but he doubted anyone needed it pointed out. The acrid scent stung his nose, made his eyes water.

He crouched. The fumes were thicker there, the scent so strong, he could have lit a match and caused an explosion.

“We need to get a hazmat crew out here,” he said.

“You want to call that in, Shane?” Paul said to his partner. “And walk around to the front? See if there’s gasoline anywhere else. Looks like someone was trying to burn the place down.”

It’s what Gavin had been afraid of, and he wasn’t surprised to have it confirmed.

“Who would do something like that? Kill a bunch of children?” Cassie whispered, her freckles standing out against pale skin.

“Someone who would kill a well-known and well-liked attorney,” he responded. “Someone who wanted to protect his identity and stay out of jail. Someone who saw a child running away from the crime scene, but likely didn’t get a good enough look to know which child it was.”

“You think this is connected to the murder at the congressman’s place?” Paul asked.

“We found a mitten near the scene. It belongs to one of the kids who live here,” he responded, scanning the empty yard. Beside him, Glory paced restlessly.

“So the guy thought he’d kill them all?” Paul shook his head. “Every time I think I’ve seen it all, I’m proven wrong. You got a good look at the guy?” he asked Cassie.

“Yes,” she responded.

“Think you could identify him if you saw him again?”

She nodded, her face so pale, Gavin thought she might pass out.

“Maybe you should go back inside, Cassie. Get some tea, sit down,” he suggested. He needed her focused and calm. Not panicked...or unconscious.

“And give the guy more time to get away? I’d rather help hunt him down.”

“Your time would be better spent giving us a good description,” Paul said.

“I’ll take Glory out after we get you back inside,” Gavin cut in.

“I’m fine,” she insisted, stepping to the edge of the porch and pointing to the east. “That’s the direction I ran. He wasn’t far behind me. Your dog can probably—”

“Cassie,” he interrupted. “I appreciate your help, but the guy could still be hanging out in the woods. If he’s the same guy who shot Michael and Harland, he has a gun. It wouldn’t be that hard for him to take a potshot from those trees.”

“If you’re trying to scare me,” she said. “You’ve succeeded.”

“All I’m trying to do is—”

“Keep me safe?” She walked inside, moving deeper into the kitchen.

He followed, wanting to remind her a dozen times that she was in danger and that she needed to play by his rules. She knew it, though. There was no sense beating her over the head with it. “Yes.”

“Thanks.” Cassie shivered, dropping into one of the kitchen chairs. The bruise on her cheek looked darker, her oversize pink sweater and bare feet making her look young and vulnerable. “But, I’m pretty good at keeping myself safe.” She brushed a hand over her hair, frowned as she pulled a few leaves out of the wild curls.

“Not from this kind of creep,” Paul said as he stepped inside. “You saw him. He’s going to want to take you out. You’re going to need more than yourself to stay safe.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” she responded, tapping her fingers on the table. She had short nails. No polish. It looked as though she’d gotten a couple of cuts and scrapes climbing out of Glory’s reach. Gavin was tempted to tell her she should wash the wounds out, put some bandages on.

“Can you give me a description of the perp?” he asked instead. He needed to get out into the woods, see if he and Glory could track the guy.

“Blond, short hair. Kind of a military cut. Not very tall. Lots of muscle, though.” She shivered and Gavin shrugged out of his jacket and dropped it around her shoulders.

“I think you’re going to need this more than I do,” she said, but she made no move to remove it. Just scratched at a spot on the tabletop, her brow furrowed. “He was wearing black. Pants. Shirt. I’m not sure about his shoes.”

“Eye color?” Paul interrupted.

“Blue. And his face...” She shook her head. “He looked dead inside.”

Glory shifted, the movement subtle, her head turning toward the still-open door. Beyond it, Gavin could see the porch, the yard, a glimpse of the woods beyond.

Glory sniffed at the air, the fur on her scruff standing on end. She growled, the deep low grumbling making the room go silent.

“She see something?” Paul asked.