My arms came around Maddie’s waist from behind, and I rested my chin on her shoulder. “That smells amazing.”
“Gotta keep up your strength,” she said as she lifted a slice of the breakfast casserole onto a plate that already had a biscuit and fruit on it.
“Careful, I could get used to this.”
Maddie turned in my arms. “I want you to.”
I grinned down at her. “I like the sound of that.”
A knock sounded on the door.
“Whoever that is, they’d better not try to interrupt my breakfast.”
Maddie laughed, and God, that sound was everything I needed to hear. She seemed lighter after last night. I could feel it. It would take time for us to heal from everything that had happened, but we would get there.
I released her and moved to the door, opening it to reveal Lawson. “Whatever you have to say, it’d better not ruin my appetite.”
He chuckled as he strode inside. “Sounds like Nash is healing up just fine.”
Maddie shook her head. “I’ve got sausage and egg casserole. You want a plate?”
“Sure,” Lawson agreed.
I scowled at him. “Now you’re stealing the food right out of my mouth?”
Maddie let out an exasperated sigh. “There are only two of us, and I made a massive casserole. Not even you could eat the whole thing.”
“I might want it for leftovers,” I argued.
“I’ll make you another one.”
“You might not want to get in the habit of offering that,” Lawson said. “Nash will never let you out of the kitchen.”
“Whatever,” I mumbled, pouring a third glass of orange juice.
We moved to the table with our plates and drinks.
Lawson took a bite, his eyes widening. “This is amazing. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome to join us any time,” she said with a smile.
“No, he’s not,” I clipped.
Maddie threw a piece of biscuit at me. “Stop being rude.”
Lawson waved her off. “I’m used to it.”
Maddie turned her gaze to him as she picked at her biscuit. “Did Adam talk?”
“He wouldn’t shut up. Even after we read him his rights, he kept talking all the way to the station and as we processed him. It was only after he called his lawyer that he clammed up.”
“I guess there’s some self-protection under the crazy,” I muttered.
Lawson leaned back in his chair. “Before he called the lawyer, he told us where he put your father.”
Maddie swallowed hard. “Adam really killed him?”
I took her hand, squeezing gently, wanting to remind her that she wasn’t alone and never would be.
“I’m afraid so. The coroner confirmed identity this morning.”
Maddie nodded. “Did you tell my mom?”
“I went by there before I came here. She didn’t take it well.”
Maddie stared at her lap. “She loved him. Even after everything he put us through, she still loved him.”
My thumb swept back and forth across her hand. “That’s not love.”
She looked up at me. “No. It’s not, is it?” She held my gaze for another beat, the silence containing so much. “I’m relieved and refuse to feel guilty about that.”
“There’s no reason you should,” Lawson said, his voice strong and even. “That man put you through hell. We got the photographs from the P.I., and they confirm that Jimmy was the one who attacked you by the lake. I’d say this was Karma coming back for him.”
I grunted in agreement. “Tell me that investigation firm is getting dinged for their part in this.”
Lawson nodded. “We reported them, and I’d guess several of them will lose their licenses over this.”
It wasn’t enough, but it was a start.
“I do have some good news,” he added.
Maddie squeezed my hand and then released it. “We are ready for all the good news.”
“The town council removed Nash’s suspension.”
A smile spread across her face. “Thank God.”
“Looks like you can come back to work tomorrow,” Lawson said. “You’ll be on desk duty until those stitches come out—”
“I’m taking vacation, then.”
He snorted. “Thought you might say that.” A grin flickered on his lips.
“What?” I asked suspiciously.
Lawson pulled out his phone and tapped on the screen. “Clint was in The Brew this morning, and Dan McConnell was in there, too. He got the call from the mayor’s office that they were dismissing his charges while he was in line. Want to see a grown man have a tantrum?”
He tapped play. A red-faced Dan filled the screen. He cursed up a storm, called the mayor some very inventive names, and then stomped out of the café.
Maddie covered her mouth to hold in her laughter. “He is a very unhappy man.”
“That he is,” Lawson agreed. “But now he’s an unhappy man who knows he won’t be getting his way. Plus, he made a fool of himself in a public place.”
I shook my head. “What a piece of work.”
“That’s a kind term,” Lawson agreed.
We shifted into conversation about more pleasant subjects, talking about the diorama that Charlie was making for school, and Drew’s lacrosse game. Lawson studiously left out updates on Luke, and I knew it meant that my nephew was still giving him a hell of a hard time.
“Thank you for the delicious breakfast. I could get spoiled with you around,” Lawson said as we walked him to the door.
“Why don’t you and the boys come for dinner this weekend? It would be fun to spend a little more time with them,” Maddie offered.
“That would be great,” I agreed. I wanted to get some one-on-one time with Luke and see if I could figure out what was going on with him.
Lawson smiled as we followed him outside to his SUV. “We’d love that.”
The sound of crunching gravel had us all looking up. A truck barreled down the road, skidding to a stop. A man leapt from the cab, stalking toward us. It took a second for me to recognize Dan, but that twisting scowl gave him away.
“You think you can make a fool of me?” he bellowed.
“Now, Dan,” Lawson began.
“Shut up!” he barked. His gaze jumped from person to person in a manic staccato beat. “You all think you’re better than me. My boss. My girl.” His eyes landed on me. “But you’re the worst.”
The pure hatred in Dan’s expression had shock zipping through me. “I haven’t done a damn thing to you.”
A snarl twisted his lips. “Haven’t you? I saw the way Jane looked at you. How she wanted me to do everything you did. Apply to the force. Get on SAR. I was never good enough.”
Dan’s chest heaved as he glared at me. “You’re gonna know what it feels like. You take from me, and I’m going to take from you.”
Everything happened slowly and yet in the blink of an eye. Dan raised his hand, the metal of a gun glinting in the morning light. He aimed it straight at Maddie.
I didn’t think. I simply dove.
As the crack tore through the air, I collided with Maddie. Pain tore through my back like white-hot fire. All I could think was that Maddie had to be okay. That I wouldn’t be the cause of any more of her pain. And then the world went black.
