“You’ll never get anyone at this late hour,” Beeker said.
“Watch me,” Dakota replied.
Three hours later, every room in the home had been searched. The police took laptops, the vials of liquid nicotine, and the masks. But Providence’s stolen Glock had not been found.
Providence and Dakota stepped outside with Beeker.
“Thanks for everything,” Beeker said to Providence. “Let me know if you hear from your sister-in-law.” He shifted his attention to Dakota. “Mr. Luck, you are no longer a person of interest in the Matt Hastings homicide case.”
Dakota had a few choice words for Beeker, but opted for, “Good to know.”
A van rolled down the street and parked in front of the house, a locksmith decal displayed across the side of the vehicle. A guy got out and walked up the driveway. “You Mr. Luck?”
“You got him.”
“Looks like you got yourself a locksmith after all,” Beeker said.
Dakota wanted to tell Beeker that, once again, he was right, and Beeker was wrong, but he kept his mouth shut and showed the guy into the house. An hour later, the locks had been changed and Dakota handed the guy his credit card.
“You aren’t paying for this,” Providence said.
“You can pay me back,” he said with a wink.
When the locksmith left, they made sure all the windows were locked, changed the code on the garage door, and headed out. It was three in the damn morning. Dakota was running on adrenaline. When they got to the black site, they crashed in an empty bedroom.
Late morning, they woke. Once dressed, they headed down the hall toward the sound of Maverick’s booming voice and hearty laugh. Dakota smiled. Then, he heard Sammy giggling and his fury fell away. She was his cure-all.
They entered the rec room and stopped short. It did look like the best staycation he’d never planned on having. Sammy was holding Maverick’s hand while Whiskey appeared to be getting obedience training from a four-year-old.
“Good boy, Whiskey.” Sammy grinned up at Maverick.
“You got this,” Maverick said. “Tell him to stay and we’ll walk away from him.”
As they did this, Dakota shifted his attention to the other end of the spacious room. Sin was talking with Heather and Gordon Sharpe. Evangeline and Carly were at the table, working on a laptop together. Miranda was chatting with Nurse Baker.
“Daddy!” Sammy ran over to him. As he lifted her into his arms, the tension in his back loosened. His daughter wasn’t just safe, she was loved by a family he’d made from the lifelong bonds of friendship.
“Hi, Sammy,” Providence said. “Are you having the best time or what?”
She held her arms out to Providence, and Providence took her. When Sammy hugged her, Providence’s eyes misted and Dakota fought against the emotion. This was a special moment.
“I’m having so much fun!” Sammy said. “Uncle Lalla said this is a—.”
“A staycation?” Dakota asked.
“No, he said it’s a vacation on the inside!” She giggled. “I want a dog, Daddy.”
Oh, boy, here we go.
“Do you like dogs, Provi?”
“I love them.”
Maverick joined them, Whiskey heeling by his side. “What did Uncle Lalla and I tell you about a dog, Sammy?”
Sammy shook her head vehemently. “I don’t want to do that.”
Maverick pulled Dakota in for a hug. “Hey, bro.”
