Page 8 of The Veteran

I voiced my fear. “Do you think they might have done this?”

Lee looked grim. “We’ll get to that soon. For now, can you tell me what contact you’ve had with any of the men convicted of killing your father since they were sentenced?”

“None.” I knew hate was an ugly emotion, and I’d done my best to forgive their past actions, but I’d be happy if I never saw any of them again.

“Have any of their friends given you grief?” Hanson asked.

“No. I had run-ins with a couple during the trial, but nothing since then.”

Lee pursed her lips. “Did Jessica know much about your past?”

I hesitated, the question taking me by surprise. “No, I don’t think so. We never talked about it, but if she’d looked me up, it wouldn’t have been hard to find the details.”

“I could be off track,” Lee said, exchanging a glance with Hanson, “but do you think Getty and Baker could have mistaken Jessica for you?”

My throat closed over, and I clutched at it.

No, surely not.

I understood why she was asking, but that couldn’t be the case. I’d been a part of too many deaths already. Mom, Dad, and Craig, the U.S. Marshal who’d died protecting me from Getty. I couldn’t have another death on my conscience.

“Hey. Whoa.” Hanson leaped to his feet and hurried around the table to rub his palm on my upper back. His hand stayed in neutral territory but I still didn’t like it. Instead, I wanted Kade to wrap me in one of his comforting hugs, or for Willow’s familiar scent to envelop me. This guy wasn’t doing anything to stem my panic. Fortunately, I’d had years to develop coping mechanisms. I took a few meditative breaths and focused on picturing a golden light surrounding me. It brightened and grew, and the pressure in my chest and throat lessened. “I’m okay,” I choked out. “Sorry about that.”

“Are you sure?” Hanson sounded concerned.

“Yeah.” I met Lee’s eyes across the table. “Yes, it’s possible that someone could have mistaken Jessica for me.”

She nodded, and I thought I saw a flicker of approval. “At the time of the robbery, you were asked about the money. As far as I know, it was never recovered, and you claimed not to know where it was.”

“I didn’t,” I said defensively. “I don’t know why anyone would think otherwise. I was a kid. Dad wouldn’t have told me something like that. I didn’t even know he’d been involved in a bank robbery until after he was dead.”

“I understand.” Her tone was patient. “But you’d know better than most people how his thought patterns worked. You might be able to guess where he’d put it. And if I consider that a possibility, it’s likely Getty and Baker do too. For guys like them, it’s always about money. They might think you can find the money they believe they’re owed.”

A shiver rippled through me that had nothing to do with the temperature. Detective Lee’s words made sense. It was only too easy to imagine that the greedy, brutal men who’d killed my father would be willing to do the same to me in order to get their hands on a prize they’d lost years of their life in prison for.

“That’s enough questions for now,” Lee said. She announced the end of the interview for the video recorder and switched it off. “I need to speak to Ronan.”

I shakily got to my feet and followed Detective Lee from the interview room. Hanson stayed behind to sort out the recording. I watched Lee walk, noticing how graceful her steps were despite them being brisk. There was a fluidity about her movements that made me think she had a background in yoga or dance.

As we entered the area where the others were seated, Kade rose from his chair. He scanned me and his forehead crinkled with concern. “Is everything okay?”

I resisted the urge to fall into his arms. I was a tactile person and had never been ashamed of seeking comfort through touch, but I probably should be careful how much I relied on him when he’d disappointed me once before. I’d already leaned on him enough for one day. Instead, I schooled my features.

“Not so much right now,” I said. “But it will be.”

He cleared his throat. “We’ve agreed that you should be guarded at a safe house until the threat to your life is eliminated.”

My breath stuttered but my response was surprisingly firm. “No.”

He crossed his arms. “It’s not up for discussion. Your safety is important to all of us, and we have the resources so we might as well use them.”

I glared. “It’s nice that you care, but I’ll have to disagree. I don’t want anyone else to be put at risk for my sake. You’re welcome to investigate all you like and I don’t mind staying at a safe house, but I won’t accept a bodyguard.”

KADE

I pinched the bridge of my nose and tried to quell my frustration. Sage must see that she needed protection. We couldn’t let her wander into trouble like a lamb to the slaughter.

“Sage,” I said more gently. “I know you like to think the best of people, but whoever did this to Jessica is violent and dangerous. If they’re looking for you, you need someone watching your back.”