AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Connelly gave the older deputy a hard stare, but said nothing. Veronica could see the threadbare patience in his gaze. He looked at her, his eyes softer now. “Vee, are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine,” she muttered, even though she knew she was far from okay. Connelly looked like he wanted to argue but the female officer spoke up again.
“You said the intruder ran into the woods?”
Veronica nodded.
Delgado reached for her radio. “I’ll call in backup to search for him and the forensics team to dust for prints, take samples of that blood.”
Turney grumbled something under his breath and stepped out onto the porch.
Delgado ignored him and stayed focused on Veronica, her gaze sympathetic. “In the meantime, you should go to the hospital?—”
“No.” The suggestion had her throat closing up with panic. “No, I can’t.”
Connelly put a soothing hand on her back. “I was a medic in the Air Force. I’ll make sure she’s okay, and if she’s not, I’ll drive her to the hospital myself.”
Delgado eyed him, then gave a curt nod. “I’m afraid you won’t be able to stay here until after the forensics team is finished.”
“We’ll be over at Veronica’s,” Connelly said. “Would if be okay if I grabbed some fresh clothes from the bedroom closet?”
Delgado hesitated for a moment, glancing toward the hallway that led to the bedrooms. “Just a minute,” she said, then reached for her radio again, murmuring something into it. A moment later she nodded at Connelly. “Alright, make it quick.”
Connelly disappeared down the hallway, sidestepping the streaks of blood. Veronica watched him go, and found herself grabbing onto Alfie for support. The little dog whined anxiously and pressed up against her, obviously distraught by the lingering tension in the room. While he was gone, Deputy Delgado snapped some photos of Rebel’s bloodied muzzle. “Looks like this good girl took a chunk out of the guy?”
Veronica nodded and tried to speak but found her throat had seized up. She cleared it and tried again. “She bit his arm and his leg.”
“Good girl,” Delgado said again and stoked an admiring hand over Rebel’s head. Rebel’s tail thunked against the floor and she gave the deputy a sloppy doggie smile. “That should help us identify him.”
Connelly returned a few moments later with a duffel bag slung over one shoulder and exchanged a few murmured words with the deputy. He showed her what was in his bag, and she nodded.
“Okay,” she said. “We will get this sorted out as fast as we can, but I recommend you two find somewhere else to stay for the night.”
Staying anywhere but at home was out of the question.
“We’ll stay at Veronica’s.”
“If you insist, I’ll personally make sure the sheriff assigns someone...” She trailed off and glanced toward her partner, then lowered her voice. “Competent to the protection detail.”
“Thank you.” Connelly nodded and turned to Veronica. “Ready?”
chapter eighteen
Veronica didn’t say a word during the walk back to her cabin. She walked with single-minded purpose, eyes focused on the path ahead like a horse with blinders on.
Connelly let her have the silence until the door shut behind them. He opened his mouth to say… he didn’t know what. But he didn’t get the chance to utter a sound. She held up a hand, stopping him, and went into her bedroom. Alfie trotted after her without a backward glance. The bedroom door shut behind them.
Rebel, still bloodstained, sat down next to him and stared up, a look of confusion in her eyes.
He met the dog’s gaze until she looked toward the bedroom.
“I know. I don’t like being shut out either.” He rubbed her soft ear. “Let’s get cleaned up and give her some time. Alfie will take care of her for us.”
In the bathroom, he took a moment to dial Ash. The sheriff needed to know what happened at his place, and he didn’t trust the deputies to do it.
When he finished explaining, Ash sighed. “I’m sorry about that. Delgado is still green, but she’s one of the good ones. Turney… is not.”
“Then why not get rid of him?”
