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“You look exhausted, but you’re safe.” The man strode toward her, towering over her. “We’re good to hang here as long as you’re inside. If this goes overnight, I’ll have to rotate my people out so they can get some sleep.”
Kenna nodded. “I’ll keep you apprised.” She pushed out a long breath, hardly believing this thing was over. “Thank you for coming so fast. I really appreciate how professional you guys have been.”
He nodded. “Client satisfaction is what we’re about.”
Kenna stuck her hand out. “Thank you.”
He shook it, thankfully not crushing the bones in her hand. “Take care of your girl. We’ll be here when you need us.”
Kenna headed inside and found the priest waiting in the lobby. He turned to her as she approached, even though she was only headed to the elevator so she could go check on Stairns.
“Ms. Kenna.”
She stopped in front of the priest.
“There are people in town who wish to express their gratitude for your ridding us of El Falcón. You must understand. My friend in Albuquerque who died, he…” His voice broke.
“I understand how hard it is to lose someone you care for a great deal.” Kenna took a deep breath. “I will pray for Cielo Ardiente that the town can be at peace, and the people here can be free of men like Navarro.”
His brows rose, and he gave her a short nod. “Thank you.”
Kenna squeezed his hand and went to find her family.
ChapterThirty-Three
Two weeks later
Kenna hit Send on the email to the CEO of the Miami private security company, thanking them for their help, even though she’d been generous with her tip. She planned to call them again if she ever needed a rescue like that. Or bodyguards.
Having them take care of making sure she—along with Stairns, Elizabeth, and Maizie—got back to Colorado had been worth every penny.
She set the phone on the arm of the plastic Adirondak chair. There might be a foot of snow on the ground, but she’d slept out here in front of the fire. Covered in blankets. Right now her dog lay curled up between her feet and the chair, though Cabot spent most of her time in the trailer with Maizie.
The old mutt had a dog door in the screen. Maizie had opened the door early, though Kenna hadn’t even caught sight of her, and Cabot had hopped outside. She’d been with Kenna since, but it wouldn’t be long before she went back to the teen’s side.
Stairns was on the mend, but still resting a lot. Elizabeth had been up giving Stairns medication, and she’d brought Kenna hot chocolate in the early hours of the morning. Then Kenna had spent half an hour web searching for tiny homes since one of those would be warmer than sleeping outside in November in the Colorado mountains.
She could put one next to the Airstream and be Maizie’s neighbor when she stopped by the Stairns’ residence between cases. Or just a new rig to park by Maizie.
Kenna hadn’t worked since she left Mexico, but she’d talked to the Rysons often the last couple of weeks.
Jax had called every day, asking for updates on Maizie and Stairns. His current assignment in San Diego was keeping him busy searching for the killer who had slipped by them. He was also living at his parents’ house while he found a condo and had his stuff shipped over. He’d invited her down for the holidays. She hadn’t answered about that yet.
No one had mentioned Ramon Santiago, and she hadn’t heard from him since he walked away that night after meeting with Elliot. She had no idea where he’d gone, or what he was doing.
Maybe she never would.
Her phone beeped. Maizie had sent her a news article about a gruesome murder in Scottsdale, Arizona.
The MO matched their killer.
Kenna should send the FBI everything she knew about Kart’s associate who had taken those girls north. They could find him and track him down, right? She could stay here for the holidays and make sure Maizie eventually emerged from the trailer.
Every day Elizabeth went inside for an hour.
When she came out, her face would be gray. Kenna wanted to know what they spoke about but wasn’t going to pry between a counselor and her patient. She just wanted to be here for both of them. For Maizie to know she was being watched over and protected, and sleep with the reassurance she was safe here.
Kenna needed a new home, an RV or motorhome of some kind that would give her a home base on the road since she’d have a tiny home in Colorado. And she needed a case to work…preferably somewhere nowhere near Jax’s mother’s Christmas dinner table.
