A Broken Bone (Widow's Island #6) - Melinda Leigh Page 0,29

asked.

“Almost noon.” Logan got up and poured her a cup of coffee.

“What!” She hurried back into the bedroom and began collecting her clothes. “I have to go to the mainland. Where’s my phone?”

“Right here.” Logan held up her cell phone. “I didn’t want it to wake you.”

“But I have to go to the sheriff’s office on the mainland.”

“The paperwork can wait, Tessa. We needed sleep.”

“When did you wake up?”

“About an hour ago.” Logan went to the counter and put bacon on a plate. “Here. Eat something.”

He was right.

Tessa sank into a chair. They’d caught their killer. Everything else could wait, including the sheriff. Carl’s phone had photos of Ian dragging Gavin’s dead body. Ian wasn’t going to be released. Tessa exhaled, letting her tension go with the air.

She accepted the coffee and drank. For the first time in weeks, she relaxed.

10

Later that day, Tessa closed her eyes and let the evening sea breeze wash over her face. At her side, Logan leaned on the railing of the ferry.

She opened her eyes and watched the sunset reflect on the water. “Well, that was anticlimactic.”

Logan took her hand in his and interlocked their fingers. “I’m not surprised Ian isn’t talking. He isn’t stupid. If Carl hadn’t been squatting in that vacant house, Ian would have gotten away with Gavin’s murder.”

“I’m glad Mark and Trevor had plenty to say and that they’re both back with the Waldens.” Warmth spread in Tessa’s belly. The Waldens had brought the two boys to the mainland to give statements. They’d been supportive and understanding. They’d even felt guilty for not knowing what had been going on under their own roof. “Nancy told me they’re going to adopt the boys. They need stability.”

“That’s great,” Logan said. “Those poor kids deserve a break after Ian tormented them for months.”

“Gavin stood up for them. Ian had beaten up Mark several times. He was good at not leaving bruises anywhere the Waldens would notice. Gavin said he was telling the Waldens.”

“Ian didn’t want to get caught,” Tessa said.

“According to the former neighbors, he also enjoyed inflicting pain,” Logan added. “They weren’t surprised to hear he’d been charged with murder.”

Ian had refused to talk, but the sheriff had tracked down a family who had lived next to Ian’s family before his parents had died. According to their interview, Ian had been a bad seed. They had claimed he’d killed their pets and tormented them for years. They’d had no evidence, but they had been positive Ian was responsible.

He’d been an only child to an older couple, and they hadn’t been able to control him from a young age. The neighbor had even stated that Ian’s parents had been afraid of their son. Had he been born a sociopath?

Logan’s voice tightened. “Now we know why friends and family refused to take him in after his parents died. He was such a nasty piece of work.”

“How did no one know this kid had a gun?” Tessa shook her head.

“The weapon was unregistered.” Logan shrugged. “He won’t say where he got it.”

Widow’s Island came into view.

“There’s home.” Logan squeezed her fingers.

Tessa’s heart was happy as the boat docked. The island really was home.

They got into her SUV and drove to her house. Cate was on the porch, drinking iced tea and playing checkers with Patience. Her mom hung a basket over her arm and headed for the chicken coop. She was smiling and humming an old Beatles song. Tessa ran inside to lock up her gun and change her clothes. When she emerged, Logan handed her a glass of iced tea.

She took it. “Kurt is back on duty tomorrow. I am officially off all day.”

A car drove up. Sam, Mickey, and Sam’s mom got out. Marsha carried three pizza boxes. “We brought dinner to thank you for helping us.”

Mickey ran up to Tessa’s mom. “Can I help get the eggs?”

Tessa held her breath, but her mom was having a good day. She handed the little boy the basket, and they headed into the coop, with Marsha right behind them to supervise.

Tessa dropped onto the top porch step. Logan sat at her side.

Sam leaned on the porch post.

“Are you okay?” Tessa asked. She worried how Sam would handle the break-in.

“Yeah. That man didn’t want to harm us,” Sam said. “Though we do lock all the doors now.”

Carl had admitted to breaking in to replace his wires and tools, but he hadn’t wanted to hurt anyone. He’d run the second he’d been caught.

“The parts are on order