ToServeAndProtect (15 page)

“You’re thinking double-cross?” Tyson asked.

“Where is she?” Captain Baird rubbed his chin as he
mentally compiled the information his detectives had gathered thus far.

“Los Angeles. I have an address.”

“Then I guess that’s where you are.” He stood. “Good
job, keep at it.”

“There’s more. Someone broke into the Porter’s house
yesterday. She didn’t report it.”

“Do you want someone posted outside the residence?”

“No, it might be an isolated incident.” He couldn’t
risk having his interest in McKenna getting back to the captain. “If I’m going
to Los Angeles, I’m taking her with me.” Several heads turned at once. Dustin
only noticed the big smile on Tyson’s face.

“Listen,” he tried to reason. “All we know at this
point is that Roslyn Meadows was Dr. Porter’s lover. His daughter ought to be
the one bearing bad news.”

“Your call,” Captain Baird said as he left the room.
“And your dime.” He pointed at Tyson. “I’ll expect a report from you every day.
And watch her. She’s still a person of interest in this case. Until you bring
me evidence to the contrary, she’s under suspicion.”

“Richard, keep trying to locate the black car the
neighbor saw.” Dustin ran his hands through his hair. “Kendall, just try and
buy us some time with Butler. I know he’s biting at the bit.”

“Keep the evidence coming, and I’ll do what I can.”

Finally, Dustin was alone with Tyson. “What’s this
bullshit about the grieving daughter going to the girlfriend as the bearer of
bad news?”

Dustin spoke in hushed tones. “My gut tells me the
Marino brother’s are at the heart of this. I can’t protect her if I’m in Los Angeles. Dawn’s with her now.” They walked out to the parking lot. “I need you to back
me up on this.”

“What are you saying? Want me to keep an eye on her?”

No way. Once he proved McKenna’s innocence, he
intended to take their relationship to the next level. As Tyson once said, you
don’t park where your partner’s been. “I want that job.”

“You like the princess?” He didn’t look pleased.

Dustin shrugged. “Maybe. I know she didn’t kill her
father.” Dustin stopped with his hand on the door handle. “I need to trust my
partner has my back.”

“Don’t pull that shit on me,” Tyson countered. “I’ve
got your back. Think with your head, not your dick.”

“It isn’t like that.” Dustin pulled the door open. “I
know what I’m doing.” He climbed into the truck and slammed the door. The
engine roared to life and then backfired as loud as a shot from his weapon.

* * * * *

McKenna watched out the window for Dawn. When she
pulled into the driveway, McKenna hurried to the door and pulled it open.

“Out with it,” Dawn said as she came into the house.

McKenna peered up and down the street and then quickly
closed the door. Her fingers shook as she twisted the deadbolt, locking the
door. Then she reset the alarm.

“Christ, Mickey, what the hell is going on?”

“I’ll tell you everything.” She put her arms around
Dawn and held tightly. “He kissed me. He’s amazing and I’m in trouble. My tummy
quivers and my heart pounds. He makes me wet and frustrated, and I should be
concerned with the case, the murder, and the mounting shit that is my life.”

“Oh, my god.”

“Exactly. What am I doing?” McKenna bowed her head.
“When you make a mistake like I did with Scott, you don’t get a second chance.”
Heavy tears collected in the corners of her eyes and spilled onto her cheeks.

Dawn pushed her away. “Bullshit.”

“Don’t get angry with me. I’m already angry with
myself.”

Dawn pulled McKenna back into her arms. “I said flirt
with him, not fall in love with him.”

McKenna wiped her eyes. “I can’t fall in love with
him. When Scott died, I promised myself never again.”

“Good grief, now you’re a martyr. I’m not buying it.”
Dawn kicked off her shoes. “How was the kiss?”

McKenna followed Dawn into the kitchen. “Amazing.”

“I knew it. Maybe now that Detective Pearce is making
the moves on you, I can get into Detective Jones’ pants.” She opened the
refrigerator.

“You’re interested in Detective Jones?”

“What is that smell?” She crinkled her nose. “Get the
garbage can.”

“We’re both idiots,” McKenna said, shaking her head.
“At least Dustin thinks I’m innocent. Detective Jones wants to see me fry.”

Dawn began taking foil wrapped dinners and dumping the
furry contents. “I’ll take Detective Jones for a test drive and keep him
distracted while you help Dustin solve the case. So fill me in. What have you
and Mr. Amazing uncovered about your dear old dad?”

“Elliot had a girlfriend, and he was involved with
criminals in California. Dustin thinks one of them might be responsible for his
death. He said the Marino brothers know how to make a body disappear.”

Dawn stopped dumping food. “The men from the funeral?”

McKenna nodded. “And someone was in the house.”

“That’s it, Mickey. You’re coming home with me.” Dawn
slammed the refrigerator door.

“No, Dawn. I just decided life is too uncertain. I
could be dead tomorrow. Let’s go out.”

“Are you crazy?”

“Not yet, but I feel like I’m slowly getting there. I
need to forget for a minute.” If it was even possible.

“What about Detective Pearce?”

McKenna shrugged. “Solving the murder needs to be his
only concern. Protecting me won’t be necessary once he puts the bad guys behind
bars.” She cinched up the top of the garbage bag. “Last night we shared a
bottle of wine.” She pulled the bag from the can. “And then he stayed over.”
She took two steps toward the garage.

“What? You slept with him,” Dawn screeched.

“I wish, but no, he hacked into Elliot’s files. He was
still here when I woke. And don’t sound so indignant. That was your plan if you
recall. Besides it was nothing.” McKenna took the trash to the garage. “Really,
it was nothing,” she said when she returned. She crossed to the sink and washed
her hands.

Dawn wasn’t convinced. “Get your purse. We’ll hit the
mall then go to the club tonight.” She slipped her shoes back on. “We have to
take your car. Mine’s on empty.”

McKenna grabbed her keys and purse, and they went out
the kitchen door. Dawn opened the passenger side of McKenna’s car.

“Where’s Elliot’s ride?”

“I sold it, and no, you can’t have the spot. I already
gave the clicker to Dustin.” She put the car in reverse and watched out the
back window, ignoring Dawn’s mischievous smile.

Later that night, Dawn and McKenna stepped into the
Black Jack Saloon. The latest country crooners inspired whiskey drinking,
cheating, and dancing with cowboys on the sawdust-covered floor.

“Isn’t that Steven?” The moment the words were out of
Dawn’s mouth, Steven stood and approached.

“Hi. It’s good to see you out.”

“Thanks.” The bar was crowded. McKenna glanced around
for a table.

“Do you want to sit with us?”

“Sounds good.”

Steven put his hand on her lower back and escorted her
to the table. “How are you doing? You look fantastic.”

McKenna wore tight, black pants and a red tank top
that scooped low in the front. The look seemed to be working for Steven. His
gaze roamed over her body. Finally he raised his eyes to her face and asked,
“What do you drink?”

McKenna glanced over at the bar. Pink neon lights
advertising hard liquor and classic signs for domestic beer hung above the
polished wood counter. Bottles of every size lined the mirrored wall. Two
twenty-something’s in black cowboy hats with white T-shirts clinging to their
muscular builds, mixed drinks and opened beers. “Tequila,” she said on a sigh.

“With beer chasers,” Dawn hollered over the noise of
the club.

Steven snaked his way through the crowd to the bar.
Dawn and McKenna introduced themselves to his friends.

“We’re getting drunk tonight,” Dawn said, and then
leaned toward McKenna. “Maybe you can check out the backseat of Steven’s car.”
She laughed at her own joke. “Come on, Mickey, remember this was your idea. We’re
supposed to be having fun.”

She smiled and took a deep breath. “Better get me
drinking.”

Dawn whistled, grabbing the attention of the shooter
girl. She held up two fingers. “Something sweet.” Dawn pulled money out of her
pocket. “Here’s to living.” They clinked the bottoms of their tubes together
and downed the shots.

“Wow.” McKenna licked her lips. “That was good.”

Steven returned with their drinks and a beer for
himself. “My only drink tonight,” he said. “Everyone goes home with me.”

“Aren’t we lucky,” Dawn cooed and slammed her shot of
Tequila.

A popular song with a good beat pumped through the
speakers, and the dance floor quickly filled up with line dancers. “Come on.”
She grabbed McKenna’s arm and dragged her into the crowd.

They stomped their feet and spun around, trying to
keep up without actually knowing any of the patterns. Dawn smiled at the cowboy
next to her. “Howdy,” she drawled. He slid in a little closer and looked very
tall next to her.

McKenna backed herself off the dance floor leaving Dawn
to move into a slow dance.

“You look like you’re having a good time,” Steven said
when she sat back down.

She was, but she was also thinking about the
detective. Glancing at Dawn, she realized she didn’t know how to let loose and
have fun. What if Dustin couldn’t prove her innocence? What if the Marino’s
murdered Elliot and she was next on their hit list?

“Another drink?”

She turned to Steven. Suddenly she couldn’t remember
why she’d put him off for months. He waved to the cocktail waitress making
rounds and ordered two shots of tequila. He scooted closer, put his hand on her
thigh, and handed her the tequila. “Ready for body shots?”

She raised her eyebrow. “Confession time.” She smiled.
“I’ve never done a body shot.”

He took the salt. “I’ll go first.” Bending his head,
he placed his mouth on her neck. His tongue flickered across her skin until he
was kissing her collarbone. Leaving it wet, he sprinkled some salt. “Now you
have to hold the lime.” He placed the rind of the lime between her teeth. He
licked the salt, slammed the tequila, and kissed her taking the lime with his
mouth. He bit off the fruit and kissed her again.

McKenna licked her lip. “My turn.” She picked up the
saltshaker. “Where do I put the salt?”

“I wouldn’t care if you put it in an open wound.” He
unbuttoned his shirt giving her better access to his neck.

She had seen him in yoga class many times. He never
left her mouth dry before. Suddenly, she didn’t have enough spit to swallow.
Grabbing her beer off the table, she finished it off. “Okay, I’m ready.”
Hesitantly at first, she put her mouth against his neck. Her lids fluttered
closed as she trailed kisses to his ear.

“McKenna, the salt.” He chuckled, and she pulled her
mouth away.

“Oh, yeah.” She sprinkled, licked, slammed, and
kissed. A chill raced up her spine when she sucked the lime. A giggle slipped
past her lips. “That was fun.” She raked her bangs back out of her eyes with
her fingers.

“Time to dance.” She stood from the table. “Are you
coming?” Alcohol hit her equilibrium. She grasped the edge of the table.

“I’ll watch you.”

McKenna sauntered away and found Dawn with the cowboy
on the dance floor. She was wearing his hat now and grinding pelvis to pelvis.

“Mickey.” Dawn wrapped an arm around McKenna’s neck.
“I call him Tex.” The tall cowboy winked. “Steven looks happy.” She waved
across the room. Steven smiled then returned to his conversation with the
couple at the table.

“I think I might check out his backseat.” She took a
deep breath. “Because I might be dead tomorrow.”

“Don’t spoil our good time.”

“Swing?” Someone tapped McKenna on the shoulder. The
music had picked up speed and several couples were twirling and spinning around
the dance floor.

“Okay, but I’m a little dizzy and a bit unstable.”

He laughed and took her hands. “We’ll take it easy.”

Slowly at first, he showed her the steps and then
picked up pace to match the rhythm of the music. McKenna’s head fell back and
she laughed. The walls were a blur, and her heart raced. Feet barely touched
the floor as she was whipped to and fro and spun into his arms.

She excused herself when the music slowed and went
back to the table where Steven waited. The hour grew later, and she was having
a good time. Laughing, dancing…almost forgetting.

Steven picked up his beer. “If you drink that, I’m not
going to let you drive me home,” she whispered against his neck.

“Take it.” He handed her the beer. “Not another drop.”
He held up his hands.