Desperate Girls (Wolfe Security #1)(88)

“Excuse me, ma’am?”

She glanced up to see a marshal she recognized from several interviews ago. He was young and had a buzz cut, and he’d spent most of the interview staring at Brynn’s bloodstained blouse.

“Deputy Caldwell is ready for you now.”

“Who?”

“Deputy Caldwell. He’s in charge of the task force. He’s ready to hear your statement.”

“I already gave a statement. Twice.” She tried another button on the machine, to no avail. “I’m waiting for my friend to finish his statement, and then I’m going home.”

“Ma’am, Deputy Caldwell—”

“—can read the report,” Erik said, stepping up to them. He looked at Brynn. “You ready?”

“Yes.”

“But sir—”

“It’s after one,” Erik said, taking Brynn’s arm. “She’s done.”

They headed for the exit at the end of a long corridor. Brynn glanced around and noticed a woman in handcuffs being led from an interview room. She had frizzy brown hair and a marshal on each arm, and uniformed cops were moving aside to let her pass.

Erik pushed open the door, and they stepped into the humid night.

“Who was that?” Brynn asked.

“Ann Johnson.”

“They found her?”

“She has a house in Fort Worth. They think Corby’s been shacking up with her.”

“She talking?”

“Not yet, but she will. She needs to explain Mick McGowan’s truck in her garage.”

Brynn looked back at the door, a glowing rectangle against the dark backdrop of the police station. They were well into the graveyard shift now, and even the employee parking lot had mostly cleared out.

Erik led her to the Tahoe and opened the passenger door before she could do it herself. He helped her in and buckled the seat belt around her like she was a child. She must really look bad.

She tipped her head back against the seat as Erik went around and hitched himself behind the wheel. The SUV felt hot, and she buzzed the window down as Erik exited the parking lot. Warm air swept through the Tahoe, whipping her hair around her face as Erik picked up speed.

Brynn closed her eyes, and Corby’s face flashed into her mind—the instant before Keith’s bullet had missed him and Hayes had tackled her to the ground, saving her life. She thought of Hayes in the hospital with his head wrapped in gauze.

“You tired?”

She looked at Erik. “No.” She glanced out the window. “More like wired.”

She couldn’t even think of trying to sleep now. Each time her eyelids drifted shut, all she saw was Corby, with those cold, dead eyes. She shivered.

Erik glanced at her and buzzed up the window.

Brynn didn’t want to go home. She pictured the dining table in her apartment with all her trial notes from the Corby case spread out across it.

“Let’s get drunk.”

Erik looked at her. “What, now?”

“Why not? Oh, I forgot. No drinking on duty.”

“I’m not on duty.”

She stared at him. Nerves flitted to life in her stomach, and she had to look away. Of course, he wasn’t on duty. Not anymore. Not with James Corby safely in custody.

Tears burned her eyes, and she clenched her teeth with frustration. What the hell was wrong tonight? She was so damn emotional, it was embarrassing.

She felt Erik’s gaze on her, but she couldn’t look at him. He and his teammates had risked their lives today. Hayes was seriously injured, and Erik easily could have been, too.

Erik had gone way beyond the job Reggie had hired him to do. He’d not only protected her, but he’d eliminated the threat against her so she could feel safe again.

Well. As safe as it was possible to feel in a world where men like James Corby existed.

Erik had risked everything for her. He’d given her so much. But now the job was over, and he’d be leaving soon. And the mere thought of it put an ache in her chest.

“Brynn?”

She looked at him.

“I’d take you to a bar, but it’s last call by now. You want to go home?”

“No,” she said before she could think it through. “I mean, yeah, eventually. Not yet, though.”

He just looked at her.

“Corby’s mug shots are all over my dining table, and—”

“I get it.”

“I know it’s silly, but—”

“I get it, Brynn.”

Silence settled over them, and she stared out the window. He was off duty now. Soon he’d be leaving. A few minutes ago, she’d been dead on her feet, but now she felt a surge of energy. Or maybe it was nerves.

They neared the turn for the Atrium. But Erik didn’t put on his turn signal and sailed right past it.

She looked at him. “Where are we going?”

He hung a right on the next street.

“Do you trust me?”

“Yes.”

“Good.”

He pulled into the parking lot of the two-story business hotel. It was definitely nerves, not energy, making her jumpy now. Erik cut the engine, and Brynn slid out before he could say anything that would make an awkward moment even more so.

He came around and retrieved the attaché case from the back seat. She’d tossed it there hours ago on the way to the police station.