Betrayal of the Dove - By Capri Montgomery Page 0,42

my former commanding officer and the guy made sure he wasn’t seen on camera. The light near Rick’s car was busted, the camera lens was busted, and a tree was conveniently blocking the one camera that should have been able to get a clear shot—that of course was the hotel’s fault for not keeping the tree groomed. So the bastard got a free and clear pass on murder, but I can promise you he won’t enjoy it for long.”

“Shane,” she patted his hand. “Go home, deal with this. I’ll be fine here; I promise.”

“No,” he said clearly. “I’ll await the details before I make a move. Rule number one,” he stated. “Know your enemy before you go on the hunt. Otherwise you’re just hunting blind and hunting blind will get you killed.”

“Are you sure you want to do that? Legally; it’s not…well, it’s just you could get in a lot of trouble.” At least she assumed he could since this wouldn’t be a hunt that was government sanctioned.

“Better to be judged by twelve than carried by six, Alyssa. Beyond that, I don’t care. He was a team member, they both were, and I’m not letting this go.”

She nodded. She understood because Thomas had felt the same way—and he hadn’t let it go. More than ten years of hunting Sabian and he had finally got his man; he had finally delivered justice. She understood them both, even if she wished neither man had to pick up their guns for yet another fight. “Well,” she looked at him seriously hoping he would be okay. “If you need an alibi you have one.”

He chuckled half heartedly given the pain etched on his face. “I wouldn’t want to drag you into this.”

“You’re not dragging; I’m offering.”

“That’s not really legal.” He looked at her before reaching his hand out and gently stroking the contours of her cheek with his finger.

“Actually, it is. You see when you’re not here I’m thinking about you anyway, and the question they usually ask is if the person was with you. In my head you are, so therefore I am not lying if I say you were with me.”

He laughed and shook his head. “Women. You all find a way to fix anything don’t you?”

“I can’t speak for all women, but I’ve spent many of years having to create cover stories, mostly to keep the brothers McGregor at bay. I’ll alibi you in a heartbeat.” She patted his arm. “Now, I really do want you to take some time; okay? Losing a friend isn’t easy.”

“Later,” he restated once again. “Besides, we have a date tonight.”

“We can do it some other time. There will be other meteor showers…eventually.”

“No,” he shook his head. “I want tonight with you, under the stars, surrounded by the mountains watching the heavens rain down from above. I want that. I need that. Will you allow me that?”

“Yes,” she stood and wrapped her arms around him. “I’m here if you need to talk.” He wrapped his arms tightly around her, lowering his head to rest atop hers. She could tell he was hurting, but trying to hold it in, trying to control the anger and sorrow within him. It was probably his nature to keep it together, grieve later, after things were finalized, and right now it sounded as if there were new revelations that could make the one murder case turn into two. She could only imagine what he was going through, the war his emotions were fighting against each other within him. She wanted to be his compass; that anchor that kept him rooted on stable ground; that guiding factor that showed him his way back home if ever he deviated off his course.

“Am I interrupting?”

She pulled away slowly and turned her attention to the voice that beckoned her out of her present utopia. “Officer Davis,” she smiled. “How are you?” He had told her before not to call him by his last name. “You can use my first name,” he had said, but still, she tried to do that as little as possible.

“Fine,” he said with an edge to his voice. “Didn’t realize the two of you were together.”

She didn’t know what to say. Technically they weren’t really together. They were going to have one official date tonight, but that did not a couple make. Although she wasn’t sure she should advise Craig of that either. She wanted him to back off; maybe this was the way to get him to do it.

“Did you