Page 150 of Rescued by the Single Dad

Clint stood up and reached into his back pocket. He handed his phone to Officer Jacobs.

Officer Jacobs put the phone to his ear. “Hello?” He stepped away to speak with Sergeant Fox, finding Inez’s gun on his little wander.

“What happened?” Officer Bruce asked. “Your face, Clint ...?”

Clint touched his cheeks. They stung like a bitch. “Yeah ... uh. I’ll be fine.”

“My assistant ... Inez, she ... I tried to save her. I swear I did,” Brooke said, the shock kicking in and causing her to tremble and stammer. “She brought me here and had me a—at gunpoint. Clint came. They fought. Then she and I fought. She lost her footing. I tried. I tried so hard.” Tears erupted in her eyes, and she crumpled to her knees, burying her face in her hands. “I didn’t want her to die.”

Officer Bruce took careful steps to the edge and peered over. “I don’t see anything.”

“Oh God,” Brooke gasped.

Clint went to her and sank to his knees, wrapping an arm around her and absorbing her pain. Her shock and her grief. Because even though Inez had just tried to kill her, up until a few moments ago, Brooke thought the two of them were friends.

“You’re sure you saw her go over?” Officer Bruce asked.

Clint nodded. “She went over. Trust me.”

Officer Bruce looked over again. “Oh, fuck.”

Brooke sobbed even harder.

Officer Jacobs returned with the gun and Clint’s phone. He handed the phone back to Clint. “Well, that was Sergeant Fox of Seattle PD. He heard everything that went on here. I’m going to call him again later and get more information. After we get your statements.”

“Need to call the coastguard to come and retrieve the body,” Officer Bruce said.

He leaned over and winced. “Shit. The Coast Guard will be jigging for that one.”

These cops were young. Late twenties maybe, possibly early thirties. But they lacked tact and decorum sometimes. They also had it really easy here on the island.

In addition to being one of the four island cops, Myla Bruce also co-owned the cidery with four other women. The other four had children, though, and seemed to be more mature. Myla had a bit more growing up to do.

Officer Bruce pulled out her phone and started making a call.

“If you don’t mind, Everett,” Clint started, “I think it’s probably better if we get home. You can come and take our statements there.”

Officer Jacobs nodded. “Yeah, yeah, of course. Want me to call Grayson and have him come take a look at your face?” He winced again. “It looks like you shaved with razor wire.”

Normally, Clint would decline, but based on the young cop’s cringing expression and crass description of his face, maybe having Grayson take a look wasn’t such a bad idea.

“Yeah, sure.”

Officer Jacobs got on the phone as well, which lent Clint a moment alone with Brooke. “You okay, baby?”

She shook her head.

Yeah, he’d be worried if she was.

“I’m going to get the truck, okay? Don’t move.”

She nodded and didn’t move.

He practically sprinted to his truck, then he drove to the parking lot, hopped out, and scooped up Brooke, carrying her to the passenger side.

Officer Jacobs said he’d meet them at Clint’s a little later. But they had to stay and wait for the coast guard. The area was also a crime scene, so no tourists or lookiloos could come for an Instagram photo.

Brooke stayed quiet on the drive home.

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