Page 91 of Keeping Guard
Chapter Twenty-Nine
“So, what happens now?” Peyton asked after she signed her statement. She’d never been in a police interrogation room before. It was intimidating, and she wasn’t even the one in trouble.
Deke slid her statement into a folder. “Now you and Lucky are free to go.”
“I mean with Dalton.” She curled her fingers in the fur on Lucky’s head. She’d wanted Noah with her, but he hadn’t been allowed. Another detective had taken him into a different room to go over his statement. Deke had let Lucky stay with her, and for that, she was grateful.
It was over, and she should be relieved. She was, really, but she was...unsettled or something. What if Dalton went free? Would he come after her again? If he did, what if she wasn’t as clever the next time?
“He’ll spend another night in jail at least. Tomorrow he’ll go before a judge. I’m sure he’ll plead not guilty. He’s making noises, trying to blame you for everything, but the evidence doesn’t support that. Not even close, Peyton, so you don’t have anything to worry about.”
“Will you keep him in jail?”
“The DA will try to get no bail on him. He’ll argue that Dalton is an ongoing threat to you. I think there’s a good chance bail will be denied, especially since he confessed to you that he killed his wife.”
“Do you think he really did, or was he just trying to scare me?” She almost wished for the latter because what woman wanted to think she’d come close to marrying a murderer? But if that confession kept him locked away, that was a good thing.
“All I can tell you is that I’ve talked to a detective in Dalton’s hometown, and she’s going to take a closer look at his wife’s death. At the time, it was ruled a suicide.”
“I think he did it. If you could have seen his face, looked into his eyes when he said it, you’d think so, too.”
“That’s not something you just make up off the top of your head. I think he’s guilty as hell. We just have to prove it.”
“What about Thomas Guillain?”
“We’ve passed his name and what little we know on to the FBI. It’s in their hands now.” He leaned back in his chair. “We’re finished here unless you have more questions.”
“No, I just want to...” What did she want to do? Not go to work. Her father had already told her to take the day off. She wanted to spend the day with Noah, even if it was at Operation K-9 Brothers loving on some puppies. Her first choice, though, would be at home with Noah, doors locked to the outside world, where she could have her way with him.
When they walked out of the interrogation room, Noah was leaning against the wall, waiting for her. Gosh, he was beautiful. He smiled, and she walked right into his arms.
“You okay, princess?”
She nodded against his chest. She was now.
Nichole had arrived at Operation K-9 Brothers with a large picnic basket in tow, and the four of them were having another picnic. Dakota and Lucky were already here, and she’d brought Rambo and Maggie May with her.
Noah had needed to come here after they left the police station, and although Peyton’s first choice was for both of them to be naked in her bed, she’d been okay with getting some puppy love. She’d gotten a good hour of puppies licking her, tugging on her clothes, and smelling their milk-sweet breath before Nichole had shown up.
Rambo and Maggie May were playing tug of war with a rope Jack had tossed them. Peyton smiled at their antics. Dakota and Lucky had positioned themselves at her end of the picnic bench, their alert gazes sweeping the area. They reminded her of sentries.
“What’s up with these two?” she said.
Jack glanced at the two dogs. “They’re picking up on your tension, so they’re guarding your six.”
“My six?”
Noah wrapped his arm around her waist and tugged her against him. “Means they’re watching your back.”
“I’m not tense.”
“Yeah, princess, you are. But you’ve earned being tense. I get Dakota picking up on that, but I’m surprised about Lucky.” He glanced at Jack. “Wish I could take that dog home with me.”
Jack chuckled. “The dog you didn’t want any part of?”
“Yeah, that one, you sly bastard.” His gaze still on Lucky, he shook his head. “But deployments.”
Peyton was sure her heart seized when Noah talked about going home. She knew that was coming, and sooner rather than later. But even thinking she was prepared, tears burned her eyes. And deployments? Where he might be killed? She couldn’t...she just couldn’t.
