Allison Brennan - Fear No Evil

Even a few in San Diego where Dillon lived.

And if she didn’t want to be a cop anymore, she could go into computer security.

For the first time in five years, she saw hope in her future.

Dillon walked in and came straight to her.

“How are you doing?” he asked, taking her hands.

“I’m going stir-crazy.”

He gave her a half-smile.

“What happened with Morton?”

“He’s willing to deal.”

“Are you serious?”

“Absolutely. Quinn’s putting it together with the U.S. attorney right now.”

“Wow. Does he know where Adam Scott is?”

Dillon shook his head. “He didn’t say one way or the other, but my guess is no. He was agitated when Quinn started pushing him about Scott getting off completely and leaving Roger holding the bag. If he knew anything for certain, I think he would have said something. But maybe there’s something he knows that will lead us to him.”

He motioned for her to sit down. “What’s wrong?” she asked as she sat.

He sat next to her, squeezed her hands, leaned in for a kiss. She pulled back, knowing something was happening.

“What’s wrong?” she repeated.

“The OPR set the hearing for next Monday.”

“Tomorrow?”

“A week from tomorrow.”

“That’s good.”

“Are you sure?”

She nodded. “Absolutely. I need to tell them everything.”

“You’re in custody until then.”

“Custody?”

He took a deep breath. “Merritt wants to transport you to the local jail until you fly to Washington, D.C.”

She started shaking. “And?”

“Quinn is battling it out now. He’s taking personal responsibility for your actions.”

“Meaning I run and he gets screwed.”

“Something like that.”

“That’s okay. I’m not going to run.” She held Dillon’s face in her hands. “I’m tired of running. I’m going to face the OPR and tell them everything. Then whatever happens, I’ll know that I told the truth.”

He leaned forward and kissed her. “I’m not leaving you, Kate.”

“I could be in prison.”

“I’ll wait.”

She stared into his intense green eyes. “You would, wouldn’t you?”

He nodded, kissed her again. “You’re not alone, Kate. And you’ll never be alone again.”

A knock on the door interrupted a more passionate kiss, then it opened.

Quinn walked in, sat down across from Dillon and Kate. “You’re in my custody, Kate. I’ve sworn up and down to the director of the OPR that you’re not a flight risk.”

“I’m not.”

He nodded, turned to Dillon. “I have some news.”

“About Scott?”

“Not exactly. I’m going to San Diego tomorrow morning. To interview Lucy.”

Dillon shook his head. “Why? You have enough evidence, you don’t need to make her go through that again.”

“We’ve been analyzing her messages to and from Adam Scott. He said some cryptic things that we think she might have the answers to. In addition, we need to find out what she heard or saw while on the island. She may know what his plans are without knowing she knows. I shouldn’t have to tell you that interviewing the victim is crucial in an investigation like this.”

“You have plenty of evidence without Lucy!” Dillon slammed his hand on the table, displaying a rare burst of anger. “She’s been through Hell. Just yesterday she was raped. I can’t-”

“You don’t have a choice, Dillon. I’m going down there and I’m going to ask her to talk to us. She doesn’t have to, I know that, but it would help. We have to stop Adam Scott. If we don’t, Lucy will never be safe again. Neither will Kate. He’s not going to rest until they’re dead. You know that, Dillon. You told me that.”

Dillon knew Quinn was right, but he hated the thought of Lucy having to recount her abduction and rapes. Kate squeezed his hand.

“I’m going,” he said.

Quinn nodded. “I expected you would.”

“And so is Kate.”

Quinn raised an eyebrow.

“She’s in your custody, isn’t she?” Dillon said. “And I’m not leaving her up here where Jeff Merritt can get at her, or where Adam Scott might find her.”

Quinn looked at Kate. “Okay?” he asked her.

Kate smiled seriously, nodded. “When?” she asked.

“Tomorrow morning. Early. Until then, you need to stay here.”

“I’ll stay with you,” Dillon said.

Quinn shook his head. “I’ve given you both as much latitude as I can. I wish I could do more, but please don’t push this.”

“It’s okay,” Kate told Dillon. “Really.”

Dillon didn’t want to leave her. But at least she was coming to San Diego. He’d show her what a family was, how they stuck together, how good a family could be. Show her the family she’d never had, a family that maybe she’d like to be part of. With him.

“Are you sure?” he whispered.

She nodded. “It’s only a few hours. I’ll see you in the morning, okay?”

He kissed her lightly on the lips, wished he could keep her with him all night. “Tomorrow morning.”

IT WAS AFTER MIDNIGHT when Dillon spoke to Jack on the phone. “How’s Lucy?”

“She’ll be okay.”

“That’s not telling me anything.”

“She knows about Patrick. She became hysterical, insisted she had to see him. Carina didn’t think that was wise. She ended up giving Lucy a sedative to get her to sleep.”

Dillon frowned. “I think you should let her see Patrick.”

“What good will that do?” Jack asked. “She’s already beating herself up over what happened. Seeing him like that will make it worse.”

“I don’t think so. She needs to focus on someone other than herself. Her imagination over what might have happened to Patrick will be far worse than letting her sit with him for a while.”

“He’s in a coma, Dillon.” Jack stated the obvious.

“Seeing Patrick, sitting with him will help Lucy. Taking care of Patrick will give her mind a chance to stop thinking about what happened to her. It’ll give her a break. Keeping her locked in the house on sedatives, under what can be the stifling love and concern of the family, where all she can think about is the rape, is emotionally exhausting.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. Look into Mama’s eyes. You’ll see a reflection of pain and suffering. Lucy sees the same thing, and that fuels her guilt and anguish. If she wants to see Patrick tomorrow morning, take her.”

“All right. But I’m telling Carina it’s your idea. She’s damn protective of Lucy. She’s acting more like the bodyguard than me.”

“That’s Carina.” Dillon paused. “I’ll be coming home tomorrow.”

“I thought you were staying up there with Kate?”

“She’s coming with me.”

“Really.”

“So is Quinn Peterson. He needs to talk to Lucy.”

“Debrief her.”

“Essentially.”

“Do you want me to prepare her for it?”

“No. I don’t want her imagining the questions or trying to think up what she’s going to say. I’ll meet you at the hospital at noon. That’ll give Lucy time with Patrick, which should calm her.”

“You’re the boss,” Jack said.

“How’s it going with Mom and Dad?”

“You’re not talking about Lucy, are you?”

“No.”

Jack paused. “With Mama, it’s like I never left. Dad…you’re the shrink, you figure it out.”

“He’s acting like you betrayed the family and him, personally.”

“Bingo.”

“Can you hang on a couple more days?”

“Think you’ll find Scott by then?”

“I think Scott will find us. Be diligent, Jack. He wants Lucy and he’ll kill to get to her.”