“Okay, have you got anyone you can stay with?” At his question she shot him a look that said are you kidding me? and he felt his mouth twitch at this hidden sassy side of her.
“I won’t be driven out of the rescue center, the animals need me, I can’t leave them, I won’t.” she said. He understood her loyalty, even admired her for it. He’d only had Penny a few weeks, but he would walk through fire for her. But staying there alone wouldn’t keep Rebelle safe.
“Give me this evening to organize for someone to drive by each night. I’ll get them to patrol the area late at night, maybe do some surveillance on the property for a few hours until early morning. I can’t trust our officers if they were all loyal to Black. It could even be one of them doing this. I’ll ask the sheriff in the next county if she can spare someone.”
Rebelle nodded and relief flooded her features. God, she was so like Katie. But instead of feeling any romantic attachment, he just wanted to protect her. Like he should have protected Katie. Keeping Rebelle safe was his way of making up for not giving Katie the attention she needed, attention that could have kept her from taking her own life.
“Thank you, I appreciate that,” she said.
“You have my number. If anything happens at all, call me. I’ll let you know who will be coming by each night. And if someone else ever turns up, call me immediately.”
Rebelle got up, heading towards the door and he picked up the phone to make the arrangements. She stopped and turned back to him.
“You were right, you are different,” she said softly, and then left before he could respond. His throat tightened at her words; they were like a healing balm to his wounded pride. Ever since the suicide he’d questioned whether this should even be his job, but Rebelle made him remember this was why he loved his work. Because he cared. He should never have tried to shut the town out, too afraid to let them in. It was his connection to the town that made him so good at what he did.
He spent the next hour sorting out her security detail and wondering which of the officers that he trusted to guard his back was threatening one of their own.