coming now.”
The detective glanced around me into the house. “You bringing Barrett too?”
“No. I want him to stay here with Ava. My sister’s here too, and my mom. So are Joe and his little girl.”
“Shit.”
“Yeah.”
“Good plan though, keeping them all in one place.”
My appetite vanished. There would be no pecan pie for me. My senses heightened, just like they had during a conflict when I was deployed.
Already mentally retreating, I walked to the dining room. “I’m sorry guys. I’ve got a work emergency.”
Ava pushed her chair back. Alarm was written all over her face. “Is it…” She didn’t finish.
I held up one hand. “No. It’s not.” I didn’t want her to worry, and I didn’t want to ruin her perfect Thanksgiving Day. Hopefully we could apprehend this guy and I could let Ava know the details once it was over.
Barrett frowned. He got up from the table, but I didn’t stop him. “I’ll walk you out,” he said.
My sister also hopped up, and she hugged me. “Be careful,” she whispered.
I patted her back. “I always am.”
“I'm serious,” she said.
I don't know how she could tell that this wasn't my run of the mill issue with rowdy teenagers or vandalism on the side of the county courthouse, but she could.
She sat back down, casting a wary glance in my direction.
I didn't want to leave Ava, but I wasn't going to let this bastard get away. I turned and walked out of the room but just as I reached the front door, I heard footsteps behind me.
“Tyler, Wait,” Ava said. “It’s really not them?”
I wished I could tell her the truth, but I just couldn't, not about this. “No, but Barrett’s going to stay here with you and my mom and my sister. Don't let Miss Smith leave either.”
“What is going on exactly?”
“The detective from our department said there’s a disturbance on the edge of town. I don't have the details yet. He's going to catch me up on the way.”
“He's here? Is he going with you?”
“Yes, I'll have backup.”
Her eyes fell shut. “Please,” she said. “Please be careful. I couldn't stand it if something happened to you.”
I rested my chin on top of her head. “I'm pretty tough. I've seen combat.”
“I know you've been in war. But that doesn't make this any less scary to me.”
I hugged her tighter. This was the first time since she’d lived here that someone had showed up and pulled me away from our home. It was pretty alarming.
The detective knocked on my door again. I'm sure he was tired of waiting. He probably hadn't anticipated my lengthy goodbye. I certainly wasn't known for dragging them out. I usually just said bye and left the room without worrying about the etiquette, but Ava had changed that for me. Any Sheriff knew, just like any soldier, that each day could be our last. She deserved a decent goodbye from me.
“I'm coming,” I called out to the detective.
I kissed her forehead. “I'm going to go take care of this. You stay here and you stay with Barrett. Promise me. No sneaking out.”
“I promise.”
Her beautiful eyes were full of tears, but they didn't spill over. I kissed her forehead one more time, breathing in the scent of cherry pie that clung to her hair, and pulled away. As much as I didn't want to leave her it was necessary. I was not going to let this fucker get away. He was never going to have the chance to harm Ava.
The detective was in his police cruiser, so I got in the passenger seat.
“It sucks that you had to leave your fancy Thanksgiving meal,” he said.
“At least I got to have the turkey and dressing.” I said.
Thomas chuckled. “I bet she'll make it again at Christmas since you liked it so much.”
Now that was a nice thought. Christmas with Ava here. I didn't seem very likely. What would happen if I asked her to stay?
“Where are we headed?'' I asked Thomas. “You said you didn't think he'd leave for a while.”
“The motel over on the outskirts of town. Apparently the owner paid attention when you showed off those mugshots last month. Right before I came here, I got a call from the owner. He said one of the men from the mug shots was at the hotel. I went straight over. I looked in the window and I could see him lying on the bed. I hope maybe he passed out for a while and he’ll still be there.”
“Any backup?”
“Yeah,