Page 80 of Claimed By the Deputies

“Desperate times call for desperate measures,” Tyler replies, casually sitting by the window in one of the surviving chairs. He keeps looking out, cautious and suspicious of everything that moves. “I’m sure you understand why we couldn’t take him back to the station.”

“After what happened with Billy Jade? Can’t say that I blame you,” Patterson admits, then sucks in a deep breath.“Little worried his lawyer might scream kidnapping, false imprisonment, that kind of nonsense.”

“He’s not safe at the station, and we have Jade’s death to prove it,” Tyler reminds her.

She nods, then gives me a suspicious look. “What are you doing here?”

“Tassia helped me bring Dante in,” Tyler replies. “You’ve been looped in as a courtesy, Agent Patterson, though that courtesy can always be rescinded.”

“What is your game plan, exactly?” she asks.

“The rest of our department is strategically fanned out to cover multiple aspects of an increasingly complicated investigation,” Tyler says. “Tim’s death is yet another wrench thrown at our wheels, but it could also be a way into the organization. Dante will eventually start talking, once he realizes it’s in his best interest to do so.”

Dante is gagged with a handkerchief for the time being. I grew tired of his whining. The mere sight of him makes my blood boil, but Lucas was right—until we know for sure that he’s the one who pulled the trigger, there’s nothing we can charge him with.

“What we need is someone to take turns babysitting this schmuck while we push forward with the investigation,” Tyler adds. “And you, Agent Patterson, are looking at a potential link to the Silver Stallions’ drug dealings. I’m sure you might be able to come up with an interesting offer to compel Dante to cooperate in exchange for a certain degree of leniency.”

“That does sound like something I might be willing to work with.”

“And Tassia is remarkably good at reading people. She can help you navigate the terms based on Dante’s reactions,” Tyler says.

The agent’s interest is piqued as she glances at Tassia. “Is that so?”

“While he’s unable to speak, I can tell you for sure that Dante is most worried about covering his ass in the upcoming storm,” I say. “Appealing terms might make him open up.”

“I will leave you two ladies to discuss this further while I head back to the station. We need to get Sherry under control while Dante is here,” Tyler says, giving me a subtle nod. “I’m one phone call away. So are Lucas and Mitch.”

“Thank you.”

Once Tyler’s gone, a heavy silence falls between us. My sense of smell is overwhelmed by the remnants of the fire and my raging pregnancy hormones. It’s going to be increasingly harder for me to keep it to myself.

“I don’t want to fight you on the whole Trevor Callaghan issue,” I tell Patterson my truth. “I know you’ve got your mind made up about me, but my past isn’t part of this conversation. I just want to see Tim’s killer go to jail and this town cleaned of the drug plague that’s been eating away at it.”

“I’m not questioning your intentions. I’m mostly worried you’ll fall under Callaghan’s charms again,” she says. “I know how manipulative a man like him can be.”

I scoff. “He ruined my life. I would rather die than let him back into my world in any way, shape, or form. No one in this entire town is more upset that he’s out and here than me.”

“And you don’t find it odd that he picked Frost Valley to conduct whatever shady business he’s got going on?”

“Well, yes I do. But he also hasn’t made any attempt to contact me since he got here,” I reply. “I don’t know anything about his plans, Agent Patterson. All I know is that he’s clearly in violation of his parole and I want him back in prison where he belongs.”

“Truth be told, I’m still curious as to how he managed to get out early,” she says, narrowing her cold blue eyes at Dante. “I understand Mr. Jackson promised to look into that?”

I nod. “He was going to get in touch with Trevor’s parole officer. That’s what he told me the last time I met with him.” Tears threaten as my heart begins to ache again, but I push them down.

“And you didn’t hear from Mr. Jackson afterward?”

“No. But Tim would’ve reached out if he had any news. He knew I needed the peace of mind.”

Patterson takes a deep breath and walks over to Dante, removing his gag. “Alright, Mr. Brunswick. Give me a reason to let you go.”

“I didn’t do anything.”

She puts the gag back on. “We’ll try again later.”

That pisses him off, but his muffled curses fall on deaf ears. At least we’re on the same page, working toward the same goal.

“How did you end up chasing after Trevor?” I ask.

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