Page 21 of Her Baby, Her Badge

“Eden and I are at the station,” Livvy immediately said. “And we have Tyler and his nanny here in the break room,” she added, no doubt for Rory’s benefit. “But someone just walked in and demanded to see you.”

“Who?” Grace asked.

“Brian Waterman,” Livvy replied. “And judging from his appearance, he’s got a story to tell.”

Grace was already getting to her feet. “What about his appearance?”

“There’s blood all over the front of his shirt and on his hands,” Livvy explained. “Lots and lots of blood.”

CHAPTER SEVEN

With Rory in a second cruiser right behind her, Grace pulled into the parking lot of the police station. The reserve deputy was no longer with them and wouldn’t return until night if needed.

Grace was very much hoping that it wouldn’t be needed.

But she steeled herself for that possibility, just in case.

She silently sighed because she’d already spent the last ten hours of her life in steeling-herself mode. First, for having Dutton so close to her at every waking moment—as he was at this very moment. Then, for dealing with the aftermath of the attack and murders. But now, the bracing herself and mental prep was for the man she was about to question.

Brian Waterman.

After Livvy had called to tell her that Brian had arrived at the police station, and that he was covered in blood, Grace hadn’t pressed for any details other than to make sure Brian hadn’t needed medical attention. Livvy had informed her that he had refused and had insisted on talking to her. Now that talk was about to happen, and it was possible she’d soon be making an arrest for the murders.

If Brian was here to confess, that is.

Grace hoped that was the reason for this impromptu visit and that his confession would explain why he had the blood on his clothes and hands. Maybe the explanation would include a lot of things, so it would put an end to the danger and thisinvestigation. Then, there’d be a lot lesssteeling uprequired. For the threat of more murders.

For Dutton being around her.

Since threats included him, though, Grace intended to keep him in this pseudoprotective custody until the danger had passed. Of course, he was likely thinking the same thing about her. She knew he wanted her close so he could protect the baby and her, and at the moment, Grace had no intention of trying to talk him out of that.

“You could deputize me,” Dutton said out of the blue.

She’d already reached for the handle of the cruiser door, but that stopped her. And for some reason, it made her smile. “Despite what I said about you sounding like a cop, you’re not really cop material.”

He smiled as well, causing dimples to flash in his cheeks. Yes, dimples. And somehow, they only managed to make that hot face of his even hotter. “True, but I could be in on the interviews if I had a badge. I could play bad cop and maybe get Brian to own up to the murders.”

“I play bad cop.” Or rather she had often taken on the tougher role in interviews before she’d gotten pregnant. The baby bump, though, had reduced any menacing presence she could bring into the room. “And I can’t let you in interview. Everything I do has to hold up in case this goes to trial.”

Dutton sighed, then nodded. And she saw the frustration in both actions. Frustration she understood because he wanted a quick end to this.

“I can let you observe,” she conceded. “I can justify that by putting in my report that I wanted you to listen for anything that would connect you to the victims. Something that could explain why you were named as a target in the threatening note left on Elaine Sneed’s body.”

He nodded, accepting the compromise, and they got out of the cruiser and entered the building through the side entrance that led directly into her office. Rory was right behind them and went straight to his desk, where he no doubt had plenty of work waiting for him.

Grace immediately glanced around the bullpen and saw Livvy already making her way toward her. No sign of Brian, but Jamie, Eden and a woman whom Grace assumed was the sketch artist were huddled together around Eden’s desk.

Jamie spotted them, too, and the girl gave a perky wave and smiled. Grace attempted a friendlier expression as well, but was sure she failed big-time. That’s because of the somber look on Livvy’s face.

“Where’s Brian?” Grace asked the moment Livvy stepped into the office, and Grace noticed that the deputy looked both tired and wired. A common combination when an investigation was heating up.

“Interview roomA,” Livvy answered. “I stashed him there when I saw Jamie coming in to work with the sketch artist. I figured the kid didn’t need to see someone in that state.”

That was a good call. Jamie seemed much older than her years, but she was still just a child. A child who’d hopefully be able to give them a good enough likeness that they could use to identify the killer. If the sketch matched Brian, then that was even more evidence they’d have for an arrest.

“Brian refused medical treatment when I offered it again,” Livvy went on, “but once I had him in the interview room and had read him his rights, he decided to do a little talking after all. He claimed he blacked out after drinking too much, and he woke up in a ditch. He let me take samples of the blood on his clothes, so I’m guessing it’s actually his.”

Dutton muttered some profanity, and Grace knew it was from disappointment. She was feeling it, too, because Livvy wasright. Brian likely wouldn’t have offered the sample if it had the potential to incriminate him.

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