Page 5 of Colton Family Bodyguard (Coltons of Mustang Valley)

The detective with Kerry went to take photos of Hazel’s broken mirror while Hazel described the man who had almost run them down. Then she gave the detective his plate number.

“All right. We’re going to talk to neighbors and tenants of the commercial building to see if there are any other witnesses,” Kerry said. “Why don’t you stop by the station later so we can have a sketch artist draw the man you saw?”

Hazel nodded.

“Callum, you should come, too. You can probably help with the description.”

Callum nodded once.

Detective Wilder put away her notepad. “Meanwhile, we’ll have officers on the lookout for this car.”

And whatever he had done with the man in his trunk. Hazel warded off a shiver. If he could hurt someone like that, what would he do to Evie?

“You should be careful until we locate him. Are you or your husband armed?”

“I’m not married,” Hazel said, then saw Callum glance at her at that revelation.

“Maybe you should stay somewhere else,” Kerry said. Then to Callum, “I don’t think they should be alone tonight.”

Callum looked a little startled by the suggestion, or that Kerry had directed the declaration at him, as though he should be the one to take care of them for the night.

“Do you have any family you can stay with?” Kerry asked Hazel.

They were all far away except her brother, but he was a two hour drive from here. She shook her head.

“Friends?”

All out of state. She didn’t know anyone well e

nough here to impose on them like that. Again, she shook her head. “All my close friends are in Colorado and I haven’t had time to make any here.” She looked down at Evie, who consumed every spare moment she wasn’t working.

“That man could have gotten your plate number the same as you got his. He might have a way to find out where you live,” the detective said. “Maybe I’m being overly paranoid, but I’d rather you be safe.”

That certainly unsettled her.

Detective Wilder smiled. “I’ll let you be on your way. Think about staying somewhere other than your house tonight after we finish up with the sketch, okay? Maybe get a room at the Dales Inn.”

“Okay.”

“What about letting Evie go to the station with Kerry for her safety? In the meantime, I’ll take you home to pack bags for both of you,” Callum said.

Oh. Hazel hated being separated from Evie under such dire circumstances, but her daughter seemed entranced by Kerry’s shiny badge and getting her own detective shield sticker.

Hazel hesitated. “Detective Wilder is the one with the gun...”

Kerry chimed in, “Maybe Callum can help out. He’s an ex-Navy SEAL turned professional bodyguard.”

Evie looked at Callum. “Are you going to catch the bad man?”

Callum didn’t respond, just stared at Evie as though flustered. What about her question had caused such a reaction? He seemed to be frozen.

“What if he comes after us, like you said?” Evie asked.

“I shouldn’t have said that in front of you,” Callum said.

“Honey, Callum isn’t a policeman. He is a bodyguard,” Hazel said.

“What’s a bodyguard?” Evie asked.

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