Her Scream in the Silence (Carly Moore #2) - Denise Grover Swank Page 0,94

you, so be it. Otherwise, I’ll take her to Hank’s, after I gain even more strength from my meatloaf and mashed potato fortification.” He flashed a grin.

Propping my hands on my hips, I shot Wyatt a deadly glare. “I won’t be changing my mind.”

“Nevertheless,” Marco said in a reasonable tone, “he can wait outside while we speak, and he’s free to stay on my property until we’re done.”

Wyatt looked furious, but he spun around and headed out the front door, slamming it behind him.

“I’m not leavin’ with him, Marco,” I spat in fury. “Telling him he can stay is a waste of breath.”

“He thinks we’re doin’ something dangerous and he’s worried about you. I have to wonder if he’s right.” He shot me a cockeyed grin. “I’m tired of craning my neck to look up at you. Sit down so we’re eye level.”

I flopped on the chair, still furious. I suspected Marco might be right, but that still didn’t give Wyatt the right to treat me like a child.

“Let’s talk about the case for a minute,” he said. “Wyatt accused us of considering Max a person of interest. Do you consider him a person of interest?”

“It would explain some of his behavior,” I said, running my hand through my short hair. “But I can’t believe he would hurt her,” I added. “Either of them.”

“You know you’re not supposed to try to make the narrative fit the clues, right?” he asked gently. He paused and then said in a softer tone, “If this were an official investigation, I’d never be allowed to take part. They’d say I’m too close to a person of interest, and they’d be right. We’re both too close to the situation. I’ve known Max for nearly twenty-five years, and I can’t believe he’d do anything like this either.”

Tears burned my eyes. “So what do we do? Do we stop looking?”

“No, but we need to be extra careful about how we handle Max. Be aware of our bias.”

I saw the agony in his eyes. This was killing him. “You’re a good man, Marco Roland, and a damned good detective. They’re crazy for not taking you more seriously.”

Emotion washed over his face, and he took a second before he said, “You’re not so bad yourself. We make a good team.” He shot a glance toward the front door. “He’s not wrong that this is gettin’ dangerous for you. Shane Jones was watchin’ us at the garage, and it wouldn’t have been hard for him to find us at the café. He could have followed you to Ewing. Maybe he even saw you at the nursing home. If he thinks you’re gettin’ close, you might be the next woman to disappear.”

A lump of fear filled my gut. “I know.”

“A sheriff deputy on medical leave disappearin’ is gonna cause a stir, especially since I was shot in the Carson Purdy case and there are ties to Bart. But a waitress who’s been in town for a month? If she disappears, they won’t pay much attention. They’ll figure you left town just like you dropped in, which means you’re not safe.”

“You want me to stop lookin’ into this,” I said, surprised at how hurt I felt.

“No,” he said slowly. “I think it’s too late for that. You’re tied to it now, not to mention that I meant what I said—we make a good team.”

“But you want me to go with Wyatt. That’s why you told him to stay.”

“If someone shows up lookin’ for you, I’m not sure how much good I’ll be at protectin’ you.”

“Maybe I don’t need protecting,” I countered. “I’m a damned good shot. And let’s not forget that I was tryin’ to protect you from Carson.”

He flashed a tight grin. “True enough, but I still think you should go with him. Hank may be one-legged, but I suspect he won’t put up with bullshit on his property, which will make him one hell of a bulldog.”

Marco had no idea.

“And Wyatt would throw himself in front of a grenade to protect you.”

I suspected he was right. “I’m not sure if we’re going to get back together. If I leave with him for the sake of protection, then I’ll feel like I’m using him.”

“So tell him that up front.” He leaned closer. “Tell him you’re pissed about how he handled this, and you’re not sure it’s gonna work out. But I know Wyatt Drummond. He’s as loyal as the day is long. It’s one of his greatest strengths. It’s also his