Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 85228 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85228 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
My heart pounds as so many things I've struggled with in recent weeks are becoming crystal fucking clear.
Commotion swarms the house as the sheriff's department, finally having arrived after the scared young kid called in backup, arrives on the scene.
"Who shot him?" a big burly motherfucker asks as he grabs his utility belt before hiking it up a couple of inches.
"He shot hims-self," Caitlyn manages after pulling her head back from my chest.
I hold her a little tighter when it seems the trembling in her body shows no sign of stopping.
"Is that right?" he asks as he crouches beside the body.
I can sense the bravado in his tone, but the man looks like he's about to get sick all over the fucking crime scene.
"I have body-cam footage," Hemlock says as he steps forward and pulls his helmet off his head.
"I've heard about you guys," the cop says, pointing at my boss like he already has a bad taste in his mouth. "Did you make him shoot himself?"
"I have body-cam footage, including audio," Hemlock repeats. "Would you like to see it?"
The man pulls in a deep breath, his nose scrunching when it becomes clear that the scent of blood is getting to him, and then he dips his head before walking toward the front door.
"Don't touch anything in here," he says in my direction before disappearing.
I give all my attention back to Caitlyn, who is still clinging to me.
The nearness makes my heart soar, but I know better than to get comfortable with her in my arms. She's undoubtedly in shock, and we won't be able to stay like this forever.
"Kiva is outside with the guys," I whisper. "She was wandering around in the yard."
Another yet deeper sob rattles her entire frame, and all I can manage is to hold her a little tighter.
We sit like that for the longest time, and I can see the courage she's trying to display when she pulls her body back and swipes at the tears staining her cheeks.
"She's okay?"
"She's good. Out there enjoying all the attention she's getting," I tell her with a soft smile. I run my hand along her cheek, feeling like I've won an award when she leans her face into my touch. "We should probably get out of here."
"You won't believe the shit we found," Casper says, his voice coming through my earpiece.
"I think he hurt his kids," she whispers as if she can hear Casper through my mic but I know she can't.
"Miles Lee," Casper says as I pull Caitlyn back to my chest. "She worked with his family for a brief time last spring. He killed his two children. The youngest looks to have been gone for days. My guess would be around the time he was slinking around her backyard."
"Fuck," someone says, their voice traveling through the mic.
"The older one," Casper continues. "Looks to have been shot early this morning. He left a note on what to do with his and his wife's body when they were found."
"Is his wife there in the home?" another team member asks.
"Wife died by suicide a year ago today," Casper says. "The note named Caitlyn Rudd as his wife."
"What the actual fuck? She's married to the sick fuck?"
"No," Casper says with a sigh, as if he's a little annoyed someone isn't keeping up. "He's psycho and thinks he's married to her. His bedroom is like a fucking shrine to Caitlyn."
"Enough," I growl, unable to keep listening to this shit. "Can we debrief later?"
"Good idea," Hemlock says into the mic before giving Casper instructions on where to send hard copies of the information he has obtained for the police to have.
"What?" Caitlyn says as she pushes her palm to my chest to create a little distance between us.
"Not you, baby," I say as I point to my ear. "They're chattering in my mic."
"Baby?" someone whispers, but I know the entire team can hear the surprise in my voice.
"I think I missed something," Echo says, his gruff voice very distinguishable.
"Do you want to pack your own bag or do you want me to go to your room and grab some things for you?"
Confusion draws in her brows.
"You can't stay here, Caitlyn. The investigation will take forever, and then we'll have to have the body removed, and then biohazard cleanup crew."
"Where will I go?" she asks as if there's more than one option.
"Back home with me."
Her eyes search mine, and I can't tell if she's finding answers in them or not. We have so much to talk about, and I hate that it came to this for me to realize just how damned important this woman is to me.
"Can we go together?" she asks, and my heart rate doubles, knowing she doesn't want to be separated from me right now.
"Of course," I say as I stand and give her room to get her feet under her before taking a step back.