ruin it and then whatever’s left standing when it’s all over with, you have to crush. And I can help you do that. How much proof do you have?”
It’s weird being so honest with someone other than Shepherd, so I feel hesitant about what I’m willing to hand over, but when I glance at Shepherd, he gives me a nod. “I have a flash drive with the pictures of the people he killed.”
“Is he in any of them?”
“No.”
“Then that’s not proof. That’s proof they’re dead. We need proof he killed them. It’s a start but we need more. We need to know how he did it, where he did it, who’s involved.”
“But where do we go with it? My father is the police. Even if we take it out of state and hand it over elsewhere, who are they going to believe? Us or a man who’s worked for the police for thirty-some years?”
“That’s why I think we just shoot him in the head,” Shepherd says nonchalantly, like that’s definitely the better option.
Dave shakes his head. “No, I will help you get enough information to make the police take action. I’m hoping that a friend of mine, a federal agent, will be able to help us out. And if they don’t, we hand it over to the media and that will ruin them. There’s enough tension in the world with the lack of trust in the police that they don’t want there to be more. This will work if we have so much that they can’t say no, got it?”
“Yeah.”
“And if that doesn’t work—”
“I’ll shoot him,” Shepherd says.
I snort. “Shut up,” I say, which makes him laugh. “You’re not going to prison for this. There is one more issue. My father supposedly has video of me helping him bury a body.”
“We hand it over to the police with the promise that in return you and Shepherd walk free. We’ll make it work. Now both of you get down and toss that blanket over you. There’ve been some cars around and I don’t need them seeing you both in there.”
So we get onto the floor in the back seat and pull the blanket over ourselves. Bear questions if we’ve lost our minds but thinks it’s just a fun game and paws at us.
Only once the garage door has slid shut does Dave let us up.
“Did I tell you guys Esther wants another date? This will be our sixth one now,” Dave says, practically beaming as he gets out of the truck. “She thinks I’m suave. Has Killian ever called you suave, Shepherd?”
“He told me I’m annoying and too loud in the morning,” Shepherd says.
“Well, you told me my food sucks.”
Dave stares at us for a moment while probably judging us. “You two are already like a married couple.”
I grin because that doesn’t sound half bad.
“Since it’s dark, I’m going to go get the flash drive and Killian is going to stay right here,” Shepherd says.
The moment that sinks in, all past happiness is pushed right out the window. “Wait, what?” I ask. “No, you’re not going by yourself.”
Shepherd sets a hand on my shoulder. “I’ll be fine. You told me where it’s at. I’ll be quick and back here in a few minutes. I might go the long way if I think someone might be watching, alright? We need it while it’s dark.”
I can’t stand the idea of letting him go alone. I know I’m not much help, but I want to be there if he needs me. “Let me at least go to the house with you,” I plead. “What if you get shot?”
“It’s easier for me to protect myself than both of us. Trust me.”
“Come on, Killian. Let’s get things ready here and let Shepherd do his job,” Dave urges from inside the house, but I don’t trust either of them. Not when Shepherd could get hurt.
“Shepherd.”
He gives me a quick hug then kisses my forehead. “I’ll be right back.”
I grab his shirt and drag him in closer, glad that Dave has disappeared into the house so I can kiss him. “Please be careful,” I whisper as I lean into him. I grab his face and pull him into me before kissing him. His lips move against mine as he guides me in for a deeper kiss. I just don’t want him to go without me. I know he has to go, and I know I would just hold him back if I went with him, since I’d only