Wednesday, December 6
Florida Panhandle
Maggie woke up and rolled over. The spot next to her was empty. She sat up, and in the dim light, looked around. She had fallen asleep in Ryder’s arms, but now she couldn’t see him anywhere in the loft apartment.
“Ryder?”
The only sound came from the floor next to the bed. Rufus was snoring. Another glance around, and she realized Grace was gone, too. Darkness filled the windows. She checked her wristwatch. One-thirty. They had fallen into bed just as the sun was setting. Both of them were exhausted. It was their first opportunity for sleep, after too many hours of piecing together the events of the last several days. After trying to answer the remaining questions.
But the most important question had been answered: Will Donahue was alive and safe. He was with his mother back home in her apartment above the marina, and if Sheriff Norwich got her way, the boy wouldn’t be returning to Dora Ramsey’s custody any time soon.
Maggie hadn’t bothered to drive all the way back to her hotel room on the beach, borrowing a T-shirt and boxer shorts from Ryder. She was chilly now as she padded barefoot around his place, looking for any sign of where he’d gone.
Her clothes were left on one end of the sofa, neatly folded. It made her smile. She hadn’t left them neatly folded. Her holstered weapon and cell phone were arranged on top of the nearby side table. Even her shoes were placed on the floor in front of the clothes, nowhere near where she had kicked them off.
As she passed a window that overlooked the property, lights caught her eye. Hannah’s house looked dark. So was Jason’s doublewide trailer. But every single light appeared to be on at the medical clinic.
Her first thought was an emergency with one of the dogs. She grabbed her cell phone and tapped Ryder’s number. Ringing came from the kitchen counter. He hadn’t taken his phone.
She changed quickly into her clothes and checked on Rufus. He was still snoring. Instead of rousing all the dogs downstairs in the kennel, she took the back exit. The night air was wet with the scent of pine trees. A breeze made her wish she had her jacket, but she wasn’t sure where it had ended up.
As she crossed the property to the clinic, her heart started to race. Why didn’t he wake her up? If one of the dogs was in trouble, she’d want to help.
She’d never been inside this building before. When she opened the door, she could already hear voices. She followed the sound down a long hallway, glancing inside the rooms she passed. The place was impressive. No surprise there. She couldn’t imagine Ryder cutting any corners for his dogs.
Finally, in the last room at the end, she found them. The area was large, with two walls lined with kennels. The light was low, so she had to squint to see that only three of the spaces were occupied.
They hadn’t heard her come in. Although Hank and Grace certainly had. Their eyes were already on the open doorway before she came into view. It wasn’t until tails thumped against the floor that Ryder and Brodie looked up. The two of them sat crossed-legged on the floor. Brodie had a book in her lap with a light attached.
“Hey!” Ryder kept his voice almost a whisper, but gestured for her to come in. “They’re finally resting.”
As she tiptoed closer, she got a better look at the three big dogs. Their heads were down. Only one squinted a look up at her without moving anything but the eyes. Soulful eyes that made her want to reach in and touch him. Instead, she sat down on the other side of Hank and gave him a rub on his chest. Grace snuggled back down beside Ryder.
“The Spaniel’s had a tough time settling,” Ryder explained. “He’s not sure yet if this is only a temporary reprieve.” She gathered he was the one with his eyes still open.
“I read to Hank,” Brodie said, nodding to the book. “After his surgery. He didn’t trust anyone either for a while.”
“Looks like it’s working again. What book is it?”
Brodie smiled. “One of Ryder’s favorites. The Princess Bride.”
Maggie raised an eyebrow at him.
He shrugged. “What’s not to like? It has pirates, giants, fire swamps and rodents of unusual size.”
“And true love,” Maggie added, but then was taken off guard by the intensity of Ryder’s eyes when they caught and held hers.
“So you’ve read it?” Brodie asked, not paying attention while she placed her marker between the pages and turned off the book light.
“No,” Maggie admitted. “But I saw the movie. I liked it a lot, too. Please keep reading. Don’t stop on my account.”
Brodie glanced at Ryder. He smiled and nodded. She turned the light back on and began again. Her voice was soothing like a warm blanket, the inflections and genuine emotion tucking up around her audience, lulling them with a sense of security.
Maggie continued petting Hank, missing her boys, all the while feeling at home right here. She’d never experienced this before, feeling suspended between two places, not wanting to give up either, but still searching for a balance.
She’d scheduled a flight for Wednesday afternoon. Alonzo and Kuszak continued to build a convincing case against Peter Gregory, despite his demise. The investigation into his death, if there was one, would be up to Sheriff Norwich.
Maggie still needed to get back. There were too many obligations and responsibilities. The powerful U.S. senator who owed her a favor, the one Maggie had called on Monday—gosh, Monday felt like a week ago—had agreed to a private meeting at her D.C. residence. Maggie couldn’t miss that meeting. She wouldn’t miss it.
And there was the promise she’d made to her brother, Patrick, about building new traditions. They’d decorate that gorgeous tree he’d wrangled into her living room...their living room.
Alonzo had convinced Metro police that Nessie was an informant for the FBI and actually a hero. He said he told Detective Sheldon that the woman had helped them catch an active serial killer by putting her life on the line. Despite Alonzo and Gwen stepping in and taking care of things, Maggie needed to see Nessie. She needed to thank her. And she needed to apologize.
As for Racine? She wasn’t taking Maggie’s calls. According to her partner, Rachel, she wasn’t talking much to anyone, basically pissed off that she was restricted to rest for the next four months. But Rachel also added, “Don’t worry, she’ll get over it.”
Now Maggie watched Ryder, his attention on his three new wards. He was ready to take care of them, protect them, and help them heal. But she knew these three only reminded him of the others. The ones still left behind. He had confided in her hours before they gave in to sleep, that he couldn’t stop thinking about them, worrying about what would happen to them.
She didn’t try to talk him out of the concern. She knew she couldn’t. He was a rescuer at heart. And deep down, she realized it was one of the reasons she loved him.