“You guys taking off?” Megan had apparently heard Dani’s answer.
Dani produced a sheepish smile. “We are. Is that okay? Do you need us for anything?”
Megan got up from her seat. “I’m as good as I’m going to get at this point. Thank you for suggesting this. It was nice. Now we just need to catch that bastard Rich. I need to put this all behind me.”
Dani hugged Megan, and they said their goodbyes, but Dani was haunted by what her best friend had said.I need to put this all behind me.
* * *
“Ready?” Cole asked after Megan walked away.
“Yes. I’m wiped out,” Dani said.
“Me, too.” This small gathering for Jason made Cole’s charge feel all the more urgent. He had to get this case resolved as quickly as possible. Everyone had suffered too much at the hands of Rich, and every day that went by was another chance for Rich to get away.
They headed into the foyer. Will was on the phone. He held up his finger, presumably to asking them to wait.
“Well, Case, don’t worry too much about me,” Will said. He had to be speaking to TCC president, Case Baxter. “I’ve just been busy with work. You know how it goes. I appreciate the call, though. Thanks.” He hung up his phone and cast Cole a look. “That was Case Baxter asking if I was okay. He said I seemed out of sorts when he saw me leaving my office at the TCC. Less than an hour ago.”
The blood in Cole’s veins went to ice. “Rich.”
“It has to be.”
Dani covered her mouth. “Oh my God.”
“You didn’t tip Case off that it might be Rich, did you?”
Will shook his head. “No. I think I covered pretty well.”
“Good. I guess I’m glad that he’s still around, because that means his stash is likely still somewhere in the county. We just need to find it. That’s the key to catching him. And I need to get my hands on the security tape from the TCC. Maybe it’ll tell me something about what he’s up to.”
“Do you think I should tell Megan?” Will asked.
Cole thought on that. Sheriff Battle had a deputy regularly patrolling her street, making sure she was safe. Plus, Megan was so independent and pissed off, knowing her, she’d probably go looking for Rich herself. “Let’s keep this between us for now.”
Will nodded, seeming distracted. “I don’t like knowing that Rich is around. I worry for Megan’s safety.” He looked off toward the other room. “I just want to protect her.”
“Of course you do,” Dani said. “You said some lovely things about Jason today. I know it meant a lot to her.”
“It’s literally the least I can do,” Will said. “I’m sure you’ve struggled with wanting to help, too.”
Dani nodded. “I absolutely know what you mean.”
Cole could see how much this was weighing on Will. “Okay, buddy. I’ll catch up with you tomorrow, okay? And don’t worry. We’ll get him. I promise.”
“I know we will. I know.”
Dani and Cole said their goodbyes and headed outside. Cole was trying to tamp down his frustration over not having caught Rich yet. He really wanted to think about something fun like spending time with Dani, although he was fairly sure she’d turn him down. After all, he’d been the one to stop things the other night.
“Cole.” Dani stopped with a hand on his shoulder just as they got to the car. “Slow down a second. You’re walking a million miles a minute.”
“I am?”
She cocked both eyebrows at him. “You are. Which means that you’re just as worked up about all this as I am.”
“Well, of course I’m worked up about it. This case means a lot to a lot of people.”
“It does. Including my best friend. Megan needs justice, Cole. You have to let me do it. You have to let me go with you on the sting.”
