Page 53 of Bachelor Cop Finally Caught? (Hot off the Press! 2)

Dan wasn’t quite sure how that rumor had gotten out; he suspected some of Eddie’s classmates had started it—possibly someone who had reason to believe it was true. “I told Eddie I would listen to him—that I’d give him a chance to tell his side. Why wouldn’t he talk to me?”

Twisting her hands in front of her, Opal eyed him nervously. “Well, you can be sort of…”

Dan whirled toward her impatiently. “What?”

She took a step backward. “Intimidating.”

“That’s ridiculous,” he snapped, stamping to the other side of the room.

Even as he considered and rejected several possibilities for storming Eddie’s bedroom and rescuing Lindsey, he caught a glimpse of his reflection in a cheaply framed mirror hanging on a wall. The dark scowl he’d already been wearing deepened. Hell. He did look intimidating. Picturing Lindsey’s pretty, smiling face next to his own, he could definitely understand why Eddie had chosen to confide in her.

Which didn’t mean Dan had to like it. Or approve.

He couldn’t believe he’d let her go in there alone. What had he been thinking? How could he have allowed his professional judgment to be swayed by the look in her eyes, the tone of her voice? When it came to Lindsey, he lost all objectivity in his work—and that wasn’t good.

He glanced at his watch, noting that the second hand seemed to be hardly moving. He was giving her one more minute, he decided, and then he was going to figure out a way to get in there.

Forty-five seconds had passed when the bedroom door suddenly opened.

Lindsey stepped out first, carrying the .45 in her right hand as gingerly as if it might explode without warning. His homely face red and streaked with tears, Eddie shuffled out after her, hanging his head like a six-foot-tall kindergartener.

“He wants to talk,” Lindsey announced. “I think Serena should be present.”

Opal rushed toward the door. “I’ll get her.”

Dan took a step toward Lindsey and held out his hand—which, he noted, was not entirely steady. She placed the gun in his palm, looking greatly relieved to be rid of it.

He wanted to hold her, just to reassure himself that she was safe and unharmed. Instead, he stuck the gun in the back of his waistband and forced himself to turn away from her. “Let’s take a ride to the station where we can talk, Eddie,” he said, trying to keep his voice measured and even. As unintimidating as possible.

“I’d like to talk to him before anyone questions him,” Serena said from the doorway, giving Eddie an encouraging smile. “I’ll follow the patrol car to the police station, and we’ll talk there,” she assured him. “Your mother can join us, if you want, or we’ll talk in private. Whichever makes you more comfortable.”

Eddie nodded, cast a wary glance toward Dan, then sidled toward Serena.

Dan’s two officers moved into the doorway, stepping toward Eddie. Joe was reaching for the handcuffs on his belt.

“Oh, it really isn’t necessary to cuff him, is it, Dan?” Lindsey asked quickly.

Dan leveled a look at Eddie. “You going to give my officers any trouble?”

“N-no, sir,” he stammered.

“Then we’ll skip the cuffs. Go on, now. Do what the officers tell you.”

Nodding dejectedly, the young man allowed himself to be escorted out, Serena and Cameron following closely behind.

“I don’t know why you’ve got to arrest him,” Opal complained to Dan. “He didn’t hurt no one.”

“He had a gun, Mrs. Stamps.”

“But he wasn’t threatening to hurt anyone but himself.”

“We’re just taking him in for questioning at this point. Whatever he’s done—or hasn’t done—it’s obvious that your son needs help.”

She couldn’t argue with that. “I’ll get dressed,” she muttered, moving toward the hallway with dispirited steps.

“I’ll drive her to the station when she’s ready, Dan,” Dr. Frank volunteered.

Dan nodded, moving toward the doorway. “I suppose you’re going to the station, too?” he asked Lindsey as she fell into step at his side.

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