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She shook her head.
Ski moved his hand onto her shoulder, squeezed it gently and repeated, "You did great." Then to the group in general, he said, "If he called from Houston--"
"He did," said Dodge emphatically.
"Then I'm going down there. Dodge, do you still have your pistol?"
"What do you think?"
"Will you stay with Berry?"
"I want to be there when they book this asshole," Dodge said.
"They don't have him yet."
"When they do."
"You're still hoping for a crack at him."
"That, too. That especially."
Ski shook his head. "Sorry, Dodge. You're unofficial. Besides, if Starks eludes capture again, I trust Berry with you more than I trust her with anybody else."
Dodge swore, looked at Caroline, then at Berry. "All right," he said to Ski. "I won't let her out of my sight."
"Thanks."
"But I'm still gonna shoot the bastard if I get a chance. I know an excellent defense attorney."
Ski grinned, then turned and started jogging away.
"And, Ski, something else." Ski stopped and turned back. Dodge said, "That number that Starks called her from?"
"I'm sure HPD is running down the records on it."
"No need to," Dodge said. "Didn't you recognize it? It's Sally Buckland's cell phone."
CHAPTER
18
IT DIDN'T AMOUNT TO ANYTHING," DODGE SAID AS HE POURED a shot of whiskey into a highball glass and passed it to Berry.
"No, thanks."
"Take a couple of sips. It'll help steady you."
"I can't drink. I'm leaving for Houston soon."
He pushed the glass into her shaking hand. "Couple of sips."
Dodge had followed Berry and Caroline back to the lake house, staying on Berry's bumper for the duration of the trip. When they reached the turnoff to the house, he lowered the window on his car and told the reserve deputy on guard that if he saw somebody on the property who didn't belong to shoot first and ask questions later.
"What's Ski say?"
"He says to shoot twice," Dodge lied. "Pass it on to your buddy on the pier."
Once inside the house and satisfied that its security hadn't been breached, he'd asked Caroline if she had any liquor. When she pointed him to a cabinet in the living room, he took out a bottle of bourbon and poured the shot for Berry, which she now sipped as advised.
