Be With Me(73)

The phone rang, but she ignored it. Wasn’t her phone. Plus Cam would get it.

She dug around in the fridge and latched onto a beer. Been a while since she’d enjoyed one. But then she frowned and put it back. Hutch wasn’t comfortable around alcohol. Then she gritted her teeth and snatched it back up.

It wasn’t as though she was going to tie one on, for God’s sake.

She closed the fridge, popped the cap on the bottle and took a long drink. Cam walked into the kitchen a second later, phone in hand.

“It’s for you,” he said, holding it out to her. “Your chief.”

“Oh, thanks.”

She put her beer down, wiped her hands on her jeans and took the phone.

“Regina, we’ve made an arrest,” the chief said with no preamble.

Her pulse surged. “You have? What happened?

Who made the arrest? Did you get a confession?”

“Slow down,” the chief said. “One thing at a time.

No one made an arrest. Son of a bitch turned himself in. Damnedest thing. Just walked into the station and told Greta that he was who we were looking for.

Damn near gave her a heart attack. I wanted to cal you so you didn’t worry about having the guys in for questioning tomorrow. Looks like we won’t need them. At least, not yet.”

“Is the evidence solid?” She wanted to ask what the ass**le’s beef was with her or Hutch, and which one of them he’d been after, but she didn’t want to bring it up while the guys were al standing around, hanging on her every word.

“Wel , nothing’s for certain, but it looks pretty airtight. We got a confession for Misty Thompson’s murder. He’s been tight-lipped about everything else, but we’l lean on him some more.”

“That’s great,” she murmured. “I can come back to work then, right?”

“I didn’t say that,” he said dryly. “But yes, when you’re feeling better, you can come off leave.”

“Sir, I feel just fine.”

He made a sound of impatience. “Give it a few more days, Fal on. Let’s see how this case shakes out. If everything works out, you can come in on Monday and we’l discuss it.”

“That’s great. I’l see you on Monday then.” She hung up with a surge of elation. When she glanced up, she saw Cam, Sawyer and Hutch al eyeing her, their postures stiff.

“They made an arrest,” she said.

“And?” Cam asked cautiously.

“And what? It means we can breathe easier now.” She shrugged even as their scrutiny made her uneasy.

“Don’t you think going back Monday is pushing things a bit?” Hutch said.

“I feel fine. Besides, the chief wants me to take it easy, go in on Monday and we’l assess things then. I need to get back anyway. They’l have cleared out the scene at my house, hopeful y, and maybe I can start getting cleaned up.”

Sawyer’s jaw ticked ominously. He bristled and swel ed up, his cheeks reddening.

“Tel me you didn’t expect that I’d quit my job or hide out forever,” she said quietly.

Sawyer stepped forward, his right eye ticking. His lips were pressed so tight together that he looked ready to explode.

“You tel me, Reggie. Are you blowing us off now that you don’t need us anymore? Is it going back to the way it’s been for the last year where we don’t ever see you and you spend al your time hiding behind your job?”

Her mouth fel open. “What’s with you? I thought you’d be happy that the freak who’s been trying to kil me is behind bars and that maybe we can get on with our lives without worrying that one of us wil be blown to hel the next time we get in our car.” Cam moved quickly, ever the calm one, but even he had a hint of anger, of frustration set in the lines around his mouth. He put his hands on her shoulders, and she could feel the tension in his fingers.

“We’re very happy that you’re safe now, Reggie.

You should know that, if nothing else. I think what Sawyer was trying so delicately to ascertain was whether or not you’re going to stay with us.” Her eyes narrowed. “I think that depends on what you’re expecting from me. It’s not a matter of me blowing you off now that I no longer need you . I’l point out that I didn’t cal you. I didn’t ask you to swoop in and play the protector. You did that on your own. So don’t make this about me asking for something and then shoving you away when I don’t need what I asked for anymore.”

Hutch swore rather crudely, and Sawyer turned and stalked away.

Cam released her arm. “What have we asked you for, Reggie? What have we ever asked you for other than to be with us, to stop running from us?”

“I won’t quit my job,” she said stubbornly. “Not even for you.”

Cam relaxed then dragged a hand through his hair. “No one’s asked you to quit, love. You’re jumping the gun, don’t you think?”

She shifted uncomfortably.

“We were focusing on the part where you said you wanted to get back to your house, get back to your job. Now, to us that sounds a lot like you don’t need us or want to be with us now that there’s no reason to be.”

“I—I said I would stay.”

“Yes, but for how long?” Hutch spoke up. He moved toward her for the first time, his green eyes sparking like firecrackers.