Nettles’s gaze dropped to it. “Drugged?”
“Yes. I took my twenty to have a quick…momentwith Maggie.”
The captain’s eyebrow raised.
“And the next thing I know, she’s passed out on me. I followed like a sack of bricks.”
“So she drugged you both… like some sick Romeo and Juliet thing?”
“Christ, no.” I stood. “Hunter did it.”
“Hunter was there… with you and Maggie?” Somehow his eyebrow raised even further.
“Well, no. Not until the end. Right before I passed out. She might have given me the drink, but Hunter drugged it.”
“Locke, you know that without proof, the only person we can bring in would be Maggie.”
I ran my hand through my hair. “What if I took a test?”
“If youweredrugged, it was most likely GHB or some other roofie. That would be out of your system by now. A positive still wouldn’t prove Hunter did it.”
God, I hated when he was right.
“She probably knew that and was just wanting to experiment with you. Do you want me to send a unit for her?”
“What? God, no.” I dragged my hand down my face, gritting my teeth. “Cap, Hunter Devereaux is the guy.”
“The guy?”
“Yes. He’s the Pretty Girl Killer.”
“Locke, not this again.” He gripped the ball tight. “Just because he’s fucking your girl and you don’t like it doesn’t make him the guy.”
“What?!” I waved my hands. “This isn’t about that. Every time a new body appears, Hunter justhappensto be away on a ‘scouting’trip, a bike ride, something.”
“Do you hear yourself? You’re driving yourself mad.” Nettles set the ball back on its stand and rose, turning to look out the window at the harbor. “Pretty sure I’ve been away when a body has appeared… Does that make me a killer?” He pulled out a new toothpick from his pocket, unwrapped it, and placed it in the corner of his mouth.
“Cap, you’re not taking this seriously.”
“No. I’m taking this very seriously, Locke. County’s on it now, remember? My hands are tied here. They’re all up and down the coast watching and waiting. I can’t interfere and neither can you.”
“Fuck watching and waiting…” I paced behind my chair, rubbing the back of my neck. “You’re really going to just let us sit on the sidelines and wait for the next girl to show up on the pier? I’m not surprised.” My fists clenched. Everything inside of me wanted to take off and murder the guy before he had a chance to kill someone else. “I’mnotwrong. The next body’s gearing up to be her. I’m not letting that happen.”
Nettles put both hands on his desk and leaned in, looking at me fromunder his brows, the veins in his neck throbbing. “Locke, you get involved—I’ll be forced to suspend you again.”
I rolled my eyes and threw my hands in the air. “Then do what you fucking have to. I’m running out of options here.” I stormed out the door, slamming it behind me.
chapter 24
UNRESTRAINED
Graham
I’d madeit back to the cabin after a quick stop at the hospital for a piss test, just to have the evidence if anything came from this shitshow. When I pulled in, the Gremlin was parked next to my truck and Maggie was sitting on the porch steps.
I parked the SUV and got out.
She held my utility belt out at arm’s reach. “I think this is yours,” she said, her voice faint with shame. “Your vest and uniform shirt’s here too.” She looked down into her lap where a neat pile of my things rested.
