ToServeAndProtect (30 page)

He flipped the picture around. “Look at the back.”

“Grand Caymans, Mr. and Mrs. Meadows. It’s dated three
months ago.” She handed the picture to Dustin. “I don’t understand.”

“I’ll be damned,” Robert said shaking his head. “The
son of a bitch married her.”

“Married?” McKenna gripped the picture tighter.

“He was sly, all right.” Robert pried the photo from
her fingers. “Up until someone double crossed him.”

“Roslyn’s probably on the run,” Dustin said. “She
knows something went down with Elliot. Maybe the Marinos had something to do
with it, maybe someone else.”

“I had nothing to do with his death. We were both
wrong.” Robert put away his gun and met McKenna’s stare. “At this point, I want
my money.”

“Well, are you finally convinced that I wasn’t
involved with stealing your money? Obviously, my father didn’t tell me
anything.” She pressed fingers to her temples and massages small circles. “When
are the lies going to end?”

Dustin stood and paced across the room. “I keep
thinking of the crime scene. So much didn’t make sense, which is why we easily
believed it was a professional hit. The more I roll over the facts, the less
I’m convinced we know what happened.” He turned to Robert. “Find Roslyn, and
you’ll have your money. We found records of offshore accounts, including the
account numbers. We also know where she is in Mexico. Take the information and
walk out of here. If you don’t, know that I have backup on a hairpin trigger.
They know we’re here, and they know you have guns. If you try to take either of
us with you, you’ll be dropped before you clear the lobby.”

Robert leaned back in the chair and crossed an ankle
over his opposite knee. “You can drop the formalities, Detective. I’ve been
chasing you for days. I think we can come to an understanding.” He puffed on
his cigar then spoke to McKenna. “If I find out you’re lying—”

“McKenna is out of this. You’re dealing with me now.
She hasn’t lied to you,” Dustin glanced at her, “or to me. Since the beginning,
she’s the only one who’s been completely honest.”

“I lied about having an alibi.”

“You’re not helping.” Dustin winked then positioned
himself between her and Robert. “So I give you the information I have on
Roslyn, and you walk out of here. I want your word that your dealings with
McKenna are over.”

“My word is good as long as your lead holds up.”
Robert buttoned his suit coat. “We’ll take our leave as soon as you give me her
location.”

“I have a request.” McKenna stood, stepped around
Dustin, and faced Robert.

Dustin put a hand on her back. She trembled beneath
his fingers. He understood her fear. Robert Marino was still a threat and
making demands from the man could place them in further jeopardy.

“Before you do whatever you’re going to do to Roslyn,
would you ask her about my father? And if you find out what really happened,
will you find a way to let me know?”

Robert nodded to his brother. The men gathered the
information on Roslyn and left. Dustin picked up his cell phone and called
Tyson. If the FBI wanted Robert Marino, they might want to wait until he hunted
down
Mrs.
Meadows. Let Robert flush her out, and then the proper
authorities could pick up Roslyn and the Marinos.

After he disconnected with Tyson, he sat on the edge
of the bed.

“Tyson wants to take a fresh look at the crime scene.”
He didn’t want to mislead McKenna, but until he was sure which direction to
take the investigation, ignorance seemed somehow more empathetic. Now that
she’d been exposed to the Marinos, he knew her original fears would be
compounded. Her father had unscrupulous associates. Who else had he defrauded?
Moreover, would they be looking at her for answers?

“Do you think it’ll help?” She sat beside him and
leaned her head on his shoulder. “What could he possibly find that wouldn’t now
be considered contaminated? I’ve been all over the house.”

Dustin wrapped his hands around the nape of her neck,
letting her silky hair rest against his rough hands. He stroked her delicate
skin. “I don’t know that he’ll find anything. We all want to feel like we’re
doing something. Let’s be optimistic, we’re due for a break.”

McKenna pulled a pillow close to her chest. “Elliot
must’ve taken her last name so they could escape together. After all the
planning, why do you suppose he’s dead? What went wrong? And if the Marino’s
didn’t kill him, who did?” Now that their only lead was on his way to Mexico to extract his own type of justice, where did it leave the investigation? Should she
start watching over her shoulder once again?

“I don’t want to stay here.” She turned her head and
stared into his eyes. Their lips were close. Breath mingled. “I want to go
home.” Suddenly she was tired. All the adrenaline she’d been running on washed
from her body and left her weak. Tension coiled in her muscles.

Many times throughout the ordeal, she wondered if
she’d seen her last sunrise. Now that the Marinos were gone, reflecting on the
night’s events made her stomach churn. Her life was a wreck.

“Where do we go from here?” she asked. Dustin had said
once the investigation was over they could think about a future—maybe work
toward one together. Now it appeared the investigation would have to start all
over again. Butterflies swarmed in her stomach when she thought of a future
with Dustin.

“We go home.”

“Then let’s leave right now.” She stood and gathered a
few items then crossed the room to her duffel bag. “I’ll be ready in fifteen
minutes. Why don’t you go down to the front desk and check us out. By the time
you come back, I’ll have our belongings packed and waiting by the door.”

Dustin nodded and left the room. Less than an hour
later, they were at LAX, they’d returned the rental car and their bags were
checked, including the small lock box for his gun.

“We’ll have to wait a couple of hours,” he said.
“We’re on the seven forty-five flight.” He looked at his watch. “Do you want to
get an early breakfast?”

“I can’t eat, but I’d love some coffee.” They walked
through the terminal to a grouping of eateries.

Two coffees in hand, he led her to a table in the
cafeteria. They were the only patrons at the unnatural hour of four a.m.

“Maybe we should’ve booked a room at one of the
airport hotels and taken a later flight after we’ve had some sleep.”

“I wouldn’t be able to sleep,” she said. “Besides I’m
not going to get out of bed for a week when I get home.”

He watched her over the edge of his cup as he took a
sip of his coffee. “Sounds appealing.”

“Will you have to go to the station as soon as we get
back?”

“I might.” One of his eyebrows rose as he considered
the question. “I’ll call Tyson in a couple of hours. Find out what’s happening.
I know he’ll want to recanvas your neighborhood. My instincts tell me we’re
looking in the wrong place. I’m hoping the last couple of days will help give
me a new perspective.”

She rolled her cup between her palms. “When are you
going to make time for Janie?”

Dustin groaned and ran his fingers through his hair.
“It’s complicated.”

“It shouldn’t be. Don’t let her believe for one minute
that she isn’t on your mind. Trust me on this. Elliot wasn’t a good father.”
But Dustin could be, she thought, not having the courage to speak it.

“Ready to go?” he asked as he stood.

“Is this your way of saying, mind your own business?”

“Yes.”

A lump lodged in her throat. “I’m sorry I interfered.”

“You haven’t. But I also don’t think this is the time
or place to discuss my relationship with Janie.”

They walked back through the terminal, found their
gate, sat in hard plastic chairs and waited until they could board the plane.
Televisions throughout the terminal aired cable news. Dustin was quiet and
appeared absorbed in the national headlines. Her tummy knotted with all the
unknowns. After chasing leads, searching for evidence, and uncovering truths,
she still had more questions than answers. In addition, there was still a
murderer out there.

“I wish you could take your gun on the plane.”

He stiffened beside her. “Why?”

“It isn’t that I don’t think you could protect us,”
she stumbled.

“A gun is a great equalizer, but it doesn’t compensate
for being observant and knowing your surroundings. You’ll probably never be in
a situation where you need a gun. But if it gives you a sense of security, I’ll
teach you how to shoot.”

She perked up. “I’ve never thought of owning my own
piece. After what has happened, maybe it is a good idea.”

“Look at you, sounding like a cop. Tyson would be
proud.” Dustin pinched the bridge of his nose. He yawned, stretched and widened
his bloodshot eyes. “Before you score your own
piece
, you need to know
how to safely own a gun.”

McKenna glanced at Dustin. He was trying hard to fight
off fatigue, but she could see the night had been hard on him. A deep sigh
escaped her parted lips. She couldn’t help but wonder how their relationship
would change when they got home. And on the forefront was the sleeping
arrangement. “I’m tired, too.” She leaned her head on his shoulder.

“Get you home and take you to bed.” He wrapped his arm
around her shoulders and gave her a gentle squeeze.

“I like the sound of that.” Her eyelids grew heavy and
she closed her eyes. “I’m just going to rest my eyes.”

He pressed a kiss to her temple.

It felt as if her eyes had barely closed when Dustin
nudged her. “Come on Mickey, they’re ready to board.”

* * * * *

It was early. Too early in the morning for Dawn to be
out of bed, however, she was waiting for Tyson when he pulled into the driveway
of the Porter’s house a little before six in the morning. He’d called, and
she’d rushed over to help him go over the crime scene again. She’d stopped for
a couple of lattes and now waved from her perch on the porch. In her other hand,
she fingered McKenna’s spare house key. For years, the key had been hidden
under a decorative green rock in the flowerbed.

“Mickey called me a few minutes after you left,” she
said as he approached. “They’re getting a flight home.”

“Yeah, I got the same call from Dustin.”

She handed him a latte, and the house key. Tyson
unlocked the door, and Dawn followed him in. After she disarmed the alarm
system, they went to the kitchen where Tyson brought her up to date on what
happened with the Marinos.

“I don’t know where we’ll find it, but there’s
something we missed. I’ve been doing this shit for seven years. Most murders
aren’t committed by strangers. More than likely the good doctor was offed by
someone he knew. There’s a clue here, Dawn, you’ve spent a lot of time in this
house. Does anything strike you as out of place?”

She turned a three-sixty. “I’m telling you, Elliot
kept this place like a museum.”

Tyson hung his suit jacket over the back of a chair.
“It’s a big house. I’ll start upstairs.”

“What do you want me to do?”

“Search down here.” He took a sip of his latte.

“For what?”

“Baby, I wish I knew.

Chapter
Eighteen

McKenna breathed in the stifling stale air of Dustin’s
truck. The foul smell of brine shrimp was coming off the lake, and McKenna
didn’t care. They were home, and she felt rejuvenated from the lethargy of the
flight.

“I have butterflies in my stomach,” she said. “First,
I want a long bubble bath, and then I’m going to roll around in my silk
pajamas.”

Dustin briefly glanced in her direction. “I want cold
beer and a race on the television. Then I’m going to put my feet up for a long
while.”

She pictured him sitting on his dilapidated couch
without a shirt while the air conditioner fought to keep the small apartment
bearable. He’d have the top snap of his jeans undone. Her mouth went as dry as
the air around them. Whom was she kidding? She wanted him lying with her, under
the cool, cotton sheets of her bed with central air blowing over them. “Where
will your feet be, your couch or mine?”

A smile spread across his mouth. “Is that an offer to
let me put my feet on your couch?”

“Unless you’d rather I come to your house.”

“Let’s go to your place.” Dustin drove through town
and pulled into her neighborhood. Her heart pounded as the large house came
into view.

He took the clicker from the glove box, raised the
garage door, pulled in and parked next to her car.

“We’re home.”

“Leave the luggage,” she said. “I’m too tired to
unpack, and I don’t want it staring at me as a reminder that we’re not in Los Angeles and not alone anymore.” She slid out of the truck, unlocked the kitchen door
and waited for Dustin to follow her into the house.