Page 117 of Holiday Hostage
“We’re not taking any chances. Once he’s behind bars, we can breathe easy. Until then, it’s just another mission.” Tarron gave me a look. “I know you can handle him. I’m more concerned he’ll say some bullshit that pushes you over the edge and you kill him on the police station steps.”
“I’m not that careless.” Laughing came easier as we climbed the concrete steps. “If I were going to kill him, I’d make sure no one ever found the body.”
Jack tensed beneath my hand and tried to make a break to the left.
I jammed my toe into the back of his knee, causing his leg to collapse.
“Take it easy, Jackie boy. You’re not going anywhere except in a dark hole where you belong.” Tarron opened the door, and a rush of cool air dried the perspiration on my forehead.
Five officers waited for us, each one taking in the situation with awed looks.
“Holy hell.” One stepped forward. “I thought for sure you were lying through your teeth, but that’s him. That’s really him.”
Mav’s expression held steady.
“You should have a few warrants for him already. You can add illegal arms dealing, kidnapping, and attempted murder to the list. We’ll provide statements to back up all those claims.”
“All right, show’s over.” A tall man with a handlebar mustache stepped out of the back office. “Officer Donnigan, take Mr. Wilson into holding.”
He turned to face us. “I’m Sergeant Booth. I’m in charge of the case against Jack Wilson.”
He looked us over, grinning a bit when I refused to release Jack until two other men closed in around him. “We’ll takegoodcare of him. Don’t you worry.”
The way he said it, the coldness in his eyes when he looked at Jack, was the only reason I managed to let go and allow them to take Jack out of sight.
The instant the weight of watching over Jack left me, I hurried to Payton’s side and rested a hand on her shoulder.
She patted my arm, then rested her cheek against my knuckles.
The worry that had clamped down on me took flight.
Whatever we faced going forward, we would do it with all four of us together.
“This way.” Sergeant Booth strode ahead of us, ducking through a wooden door and leading the way to a large conference room.
Leather seats sat around a circular table.
He took one and indicated we should take the others with a wave of one hand. “I’d normally separate you all out and take individual statements, but your reputations precede you.”
“Good, because there’s no way in hell we’re leaving Payton alone after what she endured.” I gave him a cold stare. “Not even in your police station.”
“Understood.” He withdrew a phone from his side pocket and showed us the screen. “I need to record your statements. You will also need to write them out and sign them.”
I’d been through this process before.
Payton stared at the wall with a wide-eyed kind of shock that rippled through all of us.
We scooted our chairs closer, surrounding her.
Each of us found a spot to touch her.
A hand on her thigh. Another on her shoulder. I stroked her back in slow, steady motions.
My attention needed to be on giving a fair and accurate statement, but all I wanted was to get Payton out of here.
After the shock of realizing we were alive wore off, she’d turned quiet.
I wasn’t used to a quiet Payton.
