Page 45 of Her Baby, Her Badge

“I’ve hired two bodyguards,” Ike quickly explained. “And Dutton’s canceled all deliveries and has posted one of the hands at the gate to make sure no one comes in. Another hand is monitoring the camera in case someone tries to sneak onto the ranch.”

Grace nodded. Those were all good security measures, but she could add one more. “I can also arrange for a reserve deputy to stay with you.”

Ike opened his mouth as if he might say something ugly about the offer. No doubt a knee-jerk reaction for him. But then he glanced at Jamie, and he must have seen the fear and weariness on the girl’s face. Jamie had been through way too much. Ike, too. And the man must have realized that.

“Thanks,” Ike muttered.

Grace muttered, “You’re welcome,” and texted Dispatch to send out a reserve deputy. She didn’t have a lot of personnel who weren’t already working the case. But there was a retired deputy, Mack Henderson, who would be able to fill in. Maybe, though, his services wouldn’t be needed and the killer wouldn’t go after Ike again.

Dutton held on to Jamie several more moments and brushed a kiss on the top of her head. “Text me when you make it home.”

Jamie stepped back and looked up at him. “I will. And you’ll stay safe?” she asked, glancing at both Dutton and Grace.

“We will,” Dutton assured her. And they would indeed try to do that, but the killer was definitely hell-bent on killing them.

Well, maybe.

So far, the attacks had been life-threatening, but either they’d gotten lucky or else the attempts hadn’t been designed to kill. They could be just ways of stringing out the torture. And that took Grace to the theory of Wilson being the killer. If the town was being terrorized, and made people believe she wasn’t doing her job, then that would perhaps get the town council to vote for a recall election.

A recall that could cost her the badge.

The thought of that added a sickening dread to the rest of what she was feeling. All her life, she’d only wanted to be a cop, and now that might be taken from her.

Jamie said her goodbyes to Dutton and Grace, and the girl left with Rory and Ike. Grace started to turn back to the reports, but then Livvy tapped on the still open door.

“We might have something,” Livvy said, and while she wasn’t exactly smiling, she did look hopeful. “The church has two security cameras. Apparently, after some break-ins at other churches in the county, the pastor had them installed less than a month ago, so a lot of people don’t even know they’re there. Neither of the cameras face the cemetery,” she quickly added. “But they cover both the front and back doors so they might have captured the attacker coming and going.”

Grace felt some hope over that, too. “Please tell me the cameras save footage.”

“They do,” Livvy confirmed. “They’re motion-activated so if a vehicle or anyone moved within their range, the cameras would have kicked in, and that would have been sent to the company that monitors it. We should be getting copies of that feed within the next hour or so.”

“Good,” Grace muttered. “When you get it, go through it, and if you need help, just let me know.” She paused. “Are Wilson and Bailey still in the break room?” She hadn’t seen them leave, but considering Wilson was a suspect, Grace hadn’t wanted the man to try to sneak out with or without his fiancée.

“They are. I was just in there to get a cup of coffee, and they were on the sofa. Bailey said she’d come in here soon and give her statement. She just wanted a little more time to settle her nerves.”

Grace totally understood that, but she wondered just how settled Bailey’s nerves would be if she learned that her boyfriend was a murder suspect.

“One more thing,” Livvy said, and this time, there was no silver-lining look in her expression. “Brian’s lawyer is filing a harassment suit against you. I figure it won’t go anywhere. Wehad more than enough to bring him in what with him lying to us and his boss about his alibi.”

They had indeed had just cause. Still did. But Brian had likely wanted to do this in an attempt to make himself look innocent. It was too bad the SAPD cops hadn’t found anything incriminating when they’d conducted a search of his house and the yard. According to the report Grace had been trying to read, everything the cops had seen meshed with the story Brian had given them.

“I’ll let you know if I see anything on the church security cameras,” Livvy said, and she turned to leave. She stopped, though, and sighed when she looked at Grace and Dutton. “You two are in some serious need of rest. Want me to shut the door so you can catch a catnap?”

It was tempting, but Grace shook her head, and on another sigh, Livvy walked away.

A closed door would likely mean she’d end up in Dutton’s arms. And she might be the one to initiate it, too. Grace knew she’d find comfort there. But she’d find trouble as well. Because the barriers between the two of them no longer seemed to exist, and something as comforting as a hug could turn into a whole lot more.

“Security gate,” Dutton said, holding up one finger. “Ranch hand guarding the gate.” A second finger went up. “Cameras that are being monitored.” A third finger lifted. “And five other hands on the grounds who have licenses to carry and know how to use a firearm.”

She didn’t give him the flat look she would have doled out to him just twenty-four hours earlier. “My security system has been upgraded,” she reminded him, but then Grace immediately waved that off.

An upgrade and the gossip it’d cause if she stayed with him—and it would generate lots and lots of gossip—was paltrycompared to the security measures and backup that’d be available at Dutton’s ranch. They’d both be safer there and so would their baby.

“FYI, if we’re worried about us ending up in bed together, it could happen just as easily at my place as yours,” he said. Except he didn’t just say it. The words came out in that easy drawl that soothed and aroused.

Yes, even now he could remind her of the heat.

“Alright,” she said. “We’ll go to your ranch.”

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