“I wish you could have brought Caleb with you.”
Slade glanced up at Kaitlin, the longing of her comment hitting him in the gut. “Me, too. But he’s safe with Papa and Nanny Blanche. Not to mention the night nurse, Jasper. That man could split an oak with his bare hands.”
She leaned across the table, her slice of pizza half-eaten. “But Caleb could be in danger, too. I’m not judging you for bringing me dinner. Just suggesting that I’m an adult and I can take care of myself. He can’t.”
“And he’s surrounded by people who are aware of the situation,” Slade retorted. “Do you think I’d leave him if I didn’t believe that?”
“I know you,” she replied. “I trust your judgment. But I can’t help but worry, Slade. I’d never get over it if something happened to him while you’re here with me.”
Slade got up to get some more iced tea. “Are you trying to drive me nuts? I’ve thought of everything you just mentioned but I do this job every day. I’ve hired people trained to help my son and my father and I check on them all the time.”
“I didn’t mean to imply you don’t care,” she said, her eyes downcast. “I’m sorry.”
Slade sat back down and stared at the pizza, his appetite gone for now. “Sorry I got so defensive, but that’s a sore subject with me. I enjoy my job but the long hours and the midnight calls, plus me being a single dad takes its toll. I get a little hot under the collar when people ask me how I can leave my boy.” He tapped his fingers on the wooden table, wondering if he hadn’t jumped at an excuse to be with her tonight. Wondering and knowing he felt personally responsible for her attack the other day. “Let’s just say it’s not an easy decision and leave it at that.”
“Good idea.” She finished her meal, then sat staring out into the growing dusk. “I think I’m a little embarrassed, having all this security. I worked the beat for a little over a year, but then when the chance to become a trainer came up, I jumped at it. I sometimes wonder if I made the right decision.”
“You don’t like your job?”
“No, I mean, yes. I love my job. But did I change course because I wanted to work with animals...or did I do it because deep down inside, I’m a coward?”
“Did you like being a patrol officer?”
She glanced out the window. “I didn’t hate it. But I always felt like there was something else for me. My instincts told me I’d be better suited to the K-9 division, working as a trainer.”
“And you’re good at that job.”
She smiled at the compliment. “I do enjoy the work, but it also puts a filter between me and the hard stuff.”
“Training an animal from the time he’s a puppy till the time he makes his first find is nothing to sneeze at, Kaitlin. I think you’re right where you’re supposed to be.”
“Me, too,” she said, relief coloring her cute freckles. “That’s why it’s so odd, being someone’s target.”
“Yep. Odd and a pain for all of us. But we’re gonna crack this case.” He told her about what Valerie and the crime techs had decided regarding the paper. “If we can get a match, any match, we can narrow down how many people have purchased that particular paper recently. It’s a long shot, but it’s something.”
“Amazing,” she said. “And a good call. Valerie has moved from rookie to a good officer.”
“Well, she does have a Rottweiler for a partner. And Lexi is a good, solid apprehension dog that you helped to train. Maybe we should have let her bring Lexi last night. She could bring her when she comes over later.”
Kaitlin shrugged. “And let another officer dog get kidnapped or worse? I don’t think so. I worry about Warrior getting caught in the cross-fire.”
“I don’t think they’ll harm the animals unless they get frustrated and give up. They need them alive.”
“And then, they’d just...get rid of the animals?”
“Or let them go. I hope every day that Rio will show up at my door.”
She glanced over at where Warrior lay snoozing in his soft, square doggie bed. “I hope and pray for that, too. I won’t give up.”
Slade saw the determination in her eyes. She had something to prove, but he hoped she didn’t try to use this episode to show the world she was capable of facing down the enemy on her own. “You stick with what you know best. Train Warrior and let the rest work itself out.”
“I’ll give you and the team one week, Slade,” she replied. Getting up to clear away the empty pizza box, she pivoted at the counter. “After that, no more patrols or protection. I want my life back. I know the protocol, I know the rules. I know what to watch for now. And I mean what I say—you can’t camp out here the rest of your life.”
Slade let the thought of spending the rest of his life around her settle over him before he brushed it away. That would be nice, but that was just a silly dream. This was reality, and he had no doubt that this woman would bolt in exactly one week. She seemed determined to show the world she was more than capable of doing things her way. Why was she so stubborn about accepting help?
“You sure drive a hard bargain. I don’t like working with a ticking clock over my head.”
“The clock was already ticking,” she retorted. “And time is running out.”
“You don’t pull any punches, do you?”
She shook her head. “I don’t have time to be wishy-washy.”
Slade understood that concept. “Neither do I. But I can’t promise you I’ll have this all wrapped up within a week.”
“I didn’t say that,” she replied, already heading toward the hallway, Warrior right behind her. “I said I won’t need any protection after a week.” She turned at the arched opening between the kitchen and den and the hallway. “After that, I’ll take matters into my own hands. I haven’t forgotten how to use a weapon.”
“Kaitlin?”
She waved off what she must have known would be a warning. “I’m going to take a shower.”
Slade didn’t call after her. But he didn’t intend to let her take anything into her own hands. She was brave. Too brave. That could be a good trait or that could get her killed.
He wouldn’t let that happen.
His cell buzzed. “McNeal.”
“Sir, it’s Valerie Salgado. I heard back about the stationery.”
“And?”
“I recognized one of the names on the list of people who’d purchased that type of paper in the last month or so.”
“What name?”
“Yvette Frears. I believe she’s the wife of your friend Dante?”
“Yes. Correct.” Slade rubbed his temple. “Thank you, Officer Salgado. Let’s keep this quiet for now. I need to see the other names on the list before I do some investigating.”
“I understand.”
Slade ended the call and sat staring out into the dusk. Could be coincidence. Could be a big break in this case. Had Dante taken a piece of his wife’s stationery? Or had Yvette herself left that note? But why would she?
He got up, then thought about the birthday party at Dante’s place this weekend. Kaitlin had no idea Dante might be behind all of this and right now, Slade wanted to keep things that way. But he wanted to keep an eye on her, too. Would he put her in even more danger by taking her inside Dante’s house?
Or would it be the perfect chance to see his friend’s reaction to Kaitlin Mathers?
* * *
Kaitlin emerged about thirty minutes later, freshly showered and wearing her old cut-off jean shorts and a scoop-necked T-shirt with her old broken-in pink flip-flops.
She found Slade pacing in front of the slightly drawn blinds in the den, talking on his phone.
“Well, that’s good that Nanny Blanche made you cupcakes. No, I won’t be home to read to you tonight. Papa can read a little bit maybe. Or maybe Jasper will help Papa read, okay?” He turned when he heard Warrior’s paws tapping against the wooden floors. “All right. Be good for Nanny Blanche, okay? I’ll come by and see you before preschool in the morning.”
Kaitlin smiled when he hung up. “How’s Caleb?”
“He seems in a fairly good mood today. I never know. If he has a bad dream, it tends to ruin his whole day.”
“And yours?” She shot him a sympathetic look. “I’m sorry I pushed you earlier. I know you’re a good dad.”
He gave her a skeptical glance. “I try, but I’m not sure it’s ever enough.” He put his phone away. “I know how it looks to some people, though, but I’ve got to work for a living.”
Not sure if that comment was directed at her, Kaitlin began cleaning up the den. “I’m not usually this messy. Last night was tough so I didn’t tidy up this morning.”
“My house is much worse than this,” he said, his gaze moving all around her. “I can’t remember the last time I saw you out of your training uniform.”
Kaitlin remembered, but she wouldn’t tell him that. He’d dropped Caleb by on a rare Saturday, apologizing because his dad was sick and the babysitter was out of town. Kaitlin had been happy to help out, and she and Caleb had spent part of the day in the park and the other part at a kiddie restaurant. Slade had found them in the backyard, playing catch. She’d been tired, sweaty and without makeup. That hadn’t mattered too much back then, and it burned her that it was beginning to matter now.
So she decided to be practical. “I was worn out from the heat. That shower helped.” She pushed at her wet hair. “You’re welcome to use the bathroom.”
“I showered at the gym,” he said. “I brought a change of clothes just in case.” He pointed to a duffel bag by the door. “I try to prepare for anything.”
“Okay.”
The room went silent. Then she smiled to herself. He’d talked to her more during dinner than in all the times they’d been around each other in the past. Maybe the captain was warming up to her. Or maybe he was just doing his job.
He cleared his throat. “Kaitlin, you didn’t mean what you said earlier, did you?”
“About taking matters into my own hands?”
“That would be it, yes.”
“I need to brush up on my target practice,” she said with a matter-of-fact shrug.
“So you were serious.”
“I have to be, Slade. I won’t live in fear. It took me too long to get over what happened to my mother.”
She sank down in her favorite chair and motioned for him to join her. “Do you want something to drink?”
“I’m good.” He settled on the couch, facing the door. “And I’m sorry about your mom. But you don’t have to be a hero.”
“I’m no hero,” she retorted, tired of this conversation. “But I’ll do what I have to do to protect myself. Or anyone else those thugs try to hurt.”
His brow furrowed in worry. “Let us handle this.”
“I will, for now.”
He stared at her, let out a sigh, then shook his head. “Okay. Enough for now.” Then he leaned forward. “I have a better idea.”
Her heart pumped a warning at the questioning look in his eyes. What did the man have in mind?
“Uh, I’ve been invited to a birthday party at my friend Dante Frears’s house this weekend. I thought you might like to attend with me.”
Shocked, Kaitlin didn’t know what to say. “So you can keep an eye on me, Captain? Or as your date?”
He grinned, then rubbed a hand down his five o’clock shadow. “Well, I guess a little of both.”
A bold step for him, she decided. “Killing two birds with one stone?”
He looked confused, then his expression changed to reserved, almost cautious. “I’d like you to go with me, yes. But I’d also like to keep my eye on you, even when you’re there with me.”
Kaitlin picked up on the intensity of his eyes. “Why is this so important?”
He shifted on the couch, but never took his eyes off her. “Because I can’t be in two places at once. I promised Dante I’d be at his wife’s birthday party and...I want to keep you safe, too.”
She had to mess with him a little bit. “That does create a dilemma, doesn’t it?”
Another shift, then he settled back, one leg bent over the other knee. “You’re trying to make this way harder than it needs to be.”
“Am I? It just seems out of character for you to be going to a party in the middle of this investigation, and it also seems strange that you’d want me to go along.”
He leaned forward again. “I have my reasons, so I’d appreciate it if you’d cut me some slack and just say you’ll go with me.”
Kaitlin wondered what was behind this sudden need to have her with him at this particular party. Did he know something he wasn’t telling her? Did she want to know?
Deciding she’d be wise to keep her eye on him, too, she finally nodded. “Sounds good to me. I can’t turn down a party at the Frears penthouse. It’s all swag and swank.”
“It is that.” He breathed what looked like a big sigh of relief. “It should be interesting. And fun.”
“Fun? Do you actually ever have fun, Captain?”
He grinned at that. “I’ve been known to let my hair down, thank you very much.”
She didn’t see how his crisp, short hair could ever be let down, but it would be nice to see him in a relaxed atmosphere away from work and all the tension of this case.
“It’ll be worth the trouble to see you out of uniform.”
“Really?”
She put a hand to her mouth, realizing that hadn’t come out the way she meant. “You know what I mean. I meant—you’re always working.” She stopped, laughed. “I’ll stop digging that hole and agree to go.”
“Good. Dante has the means to throw lavish parties, so it should be not only fun but interesting.”
“Yes, it should be. I’ll look forward to going with you.”
But she had to wonder—if this was supposed to be such an enjoyable event, why wasn’t the man smiling?