Chapter 33

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

Michael

Stretching my neck left to right, I pace the length of the cell. Daniel sits on one side, still on the cot, and the bikers still line the other, their backs propped on the bars.

It was a long and uncomfortable night for us all.

"Nervous?" Cooper taunts from his designated spot near my dad.

"Don't talk to my client," Edward instructs, not looking up from his phone.

"You need anything, son?" Dad queries.

I eye the bench he's been sitting on since yesterday afternoon. The wood slats look hard and uncomfortable. My body can't be the only one hurting.

"I'm okay, just stretching." A second round of sleep on that cot during the night just cemented that crick in my neck.

Daniel looks unbothered, like he could do this for a few more days without issue. He probably could. Hell, months.

I glance at the clock. Where the fuck are McCallister and Collins?

Edward checks the time, too. Is he thinking the same as me or just counting down until he can escape back to his comfy office? This might be the first time I've ever seen one of his overpriced suits anything but perfect.

"They should have started questioning him by now. It's nine in the morning," Dad says, showing his impatience.

"The clocks still running," Edward calls out, tapping his wrist. "If they spend it chasing their own tails somewhere instead of sweating you in the box, that's on them. They were out talking to people yesterday and got nothing. This is good for us."

"How do you know they have nothing?"

"They'd be here if they did. Plus, Cooper would be frothing at the mouth." He chuckles, pointing at the other bench where Cooper stews.

Dad and I stare at Edward, thrown by his choice of words. The man may be a criminal lawyer, but he works exclusively for my family. Most of his time is spent helping with corporate law or dealing with our truckers' fines .

Noticing the silence, he looks up. "Sorry, the wife's been on a Law and Order binge." He rolls his eyes.

Dad taps Edward's shoulder with a small chuckle.

It's another two hours before a haggard-looking McCallister and a gleeful Agent Collins storm into the station.

"Sir?" Jake panics, rushing to his feet.

"Call Sheriff Jenkins from Greenover and put him through to my line. We need his officers," McCallister orders, not stopping as he heads toward his office at the back of the room.

Greenover, that's the town over.

"How many staff?"

"All of them."

What the fuck's going on?

Collins goes to follow, but the sheriff closes his office door, forcing her to remain out. It doesn't slow her down. She simply pulls out her cell phone, typing furiously. Her grin can't be contained.

"What happened?" Jake asks for all of us.

Daniel and I move to the front of the cell. I lean my arms through and slouch like I don't care. I do.

"You found evidence? We got the Cromwells!" Cooper jumps up.

"Of course we didn't. I talked with Darrell's loser friends, and they both said the same thing. Last time they saw him, he was with Paul." She glances up from her phone long enough to glare at him. "Spiking drinks at a party on the Cromwell campground."

"That's not right!" Cooper rages .

"I assume they didn't have permission for the party?"

I clear my throat, and when Dad looks at me, I tilt my head. Kaleb and I were wearing masks, but Lara wasn't. People know she was there.

"They did." He nods. "But there was to be no alcohol. We were not there."

She shrugs. "Doesn't matter. Both Darrell and Paul are missing. Probably on the run."

I look at Daniel as covertly as I can, and he just blinks at me. Seems I wasn't the only one who had a fun Halloween. I knew he wouldn't let the spiking go. Collins is right. Paul and Darrell probably are together.

Cooper kicks the desk nearest him. The man has no self-control. That's his problem.

"No!"

Thankfully, Collins is only too happy to move on.

"There have been two actual murders," she informs the room. "Two locals, it's a bloodbath out in the woods near the train tracks."

"Then why are you grinning?" Jake cringes.

Fair.

"Because before he butchered them, he shot them with an arrow, then slit their throats."

Jake pales.

"It's the I-90 Killer," she continues, oblivious. "We only ever get called in days after his kills. By then, local cops have trod all over the scene and done everything they shouldn't." Collins pauses, seeming to remember who she is talking to. "No offense," she adds.

Jake shrugs, ignoring the insult or just not caring. Sitting forward in his seat, he's eager for more. "Who was it?"

"We'll need dentals to confirm, but your boss said it's a local mechanic and his wife. An Andrew and Sally Clarke."

Well, damn.

"What about Lulu?" my dad asks, jumping up.

"Who's that?"

"Their twenty-one-year-old daughter. She lives with them. She's a friend of my daughter's. We can help search for her. My sons are good trackers. No animal outruns Kaleb," Dad brags.

"Lulu's gone," McCallister says, re-entering the room. "Had one of the boys run to the house and check on her. Her bedroom has been cleared out. She left a note to her mom stating she couldn't put up with her stepfather putting his hands on her anymore. Looks like she left before the murders, thank God."

That piques Collins's interest. "He was abusive?"

Sheriff shrugs. "Everyone knew, but nothing I can do without a complaint."

"The Cromwells did it," Cooper throws out desperately. "They killed Paul and Darrell. Now this family."

"Enough, Cooper." It's McCallister who snaps at him. "Lulu isn't dead. Her note was clear. Michael and Daniel have been here all night. "

"What about the other one?"

"Oh, you mean the cute one who's been sitting on their porch with a knife all night?" Collins huffs. "McCallister's been fielding calls from the officers who sat out there all night."

Sheriff shrugs. "It creeped them out." He tries defending his men.

"See, they're violent," Cooper spits.

"No, they're worried. That man has sat outside all night, awake, to secure half of his family while the other half sit in here." The woman sounds impressed.

I expected no less. Kaleb's a good brother.

Collin's phone pings. "We have backup coming. My boss is sending out a full team."

"What about the Cromwells?" McCallister questions.

"Let them go." She waves off.

"What?" Cooper screeches.

"There's no evidence Darrell Cooper is dead. There is, however, evidence that your nephew had a tendency to spike drinks with his friend Paul, who also happens to be missing. Maybe he and Paul are on the run. Maybe they're lovers gone to start a new life. Who knows. Who cares," she says sarcastically, shrugging into her jacket. "What I do know is that the I-90 Killer struck in this town last night. A real serial killer we've been chasing for years. This may be the closest I ever get to catching a big fish. I'm not wasting it because you hold a grudge against a family who, as far as this town's police force and I can tell, have never broken the law."

"I'll be taking this up with your superiors, Agent," Cooper threatens.

"You do that. But something tells me you'll be too busy fighting the numerous lawsuits the Cromwells bring against you and this department."

"Starting with a restraining order." My dad smiles, raising a brow at McCallister.

The sheriff nods stiffly. He ruined his career for nothing. "Jake will start you on the paperwork. I just need to walk Agent Collins out. We'll be swamped with the FBI soon. Let the boys out," McCallister grimaces, motioning to my brother and me.

Thank fuck for that. Time to go home and see my girl.

I remember that Lara should be my wife by now, and if it hadn't been for Cooper's insistence and Agent Collins's need to make a name for herself, Lara would be a Cromwell now. Suddenly, I'm not so grateful as Jake unlocks the cell door.

I hope Collins doesn't find her man. Lulu‘s earned a new life. He clearly adores his daughter; Lulu deserves someone who will care for her as only a killer can.

Wholly. An all-encompassing and breathtaking kind of love.

Jake holds up a finger to my dad and Edward, saying he'll be one minute. Cooper stands by the benches, looking bewildered. He really thought he could wing it when it came to having someone arrested for murder.

Jake peers at his boss when Daniel steps out of the cell, uncertainty written all over his face.

"You owe him a new car window," Agent Collins negotiates.

"That should do it," Sheriff McCallister concedes quickly, eager for this whole mess to go away.

Daniel looks over at Cooper, calling out to the sheriff, "Let me hit him again, and I'll buy you a whole cruiser."

McCallister laughs. "Duke tells everyone you have a great sense of humor. Just make sure it doesn't come with that temper again."

"See, and just like that, you're all friends again." Collins gestures to us with her hands.

Dumbfounded, Cooper watches the scene unfold.

I almost feel bad for him but not quite. Darrell deserved whatever shallow grave he ended up in, him and his shitty friend. The world's a better place.

Besides, the way Cooper's been behaving, it seemed like he was more concerned about evening the score with my family than finding or getting justice for his nephew.

McCallister and Collins step out of the station.

More than ready to leave, I wave my arm, then point at the door when I have Dad's attention.

Nodding, our dad starts over to us. We move to meet him, but as we pass Cooper, Daniel pauses. I stop with him. A second murder charge is not what we need.

"You ever address my wife again, and they'll never find you," Daniel warns, his words low, not reaching past Cooper and me.

The man pales, a loud swallow the only sound he makes.

"If we're half the men you think we are, you'd know better than to keep pushing us. This is your last warning."

"Boys," Dad calls over, watching our interaction with Cooper from where he stopped a few feet away. "Why don't you take my car and head home? I'll call your mom now." He waves his cell. "Have her bring Sammy, and I'll treat my two girls to breakfast."

I smile at his words.

"You two and your girls want to come?" Dad invites us.

My girl. I never imagined claiming someone as my own. Now, I can't imagine life without my princess.

"I need my girl and then bed, Dad. But next time, it's on me," I promise.

Daniel grunts his agreement, already headed for the door.

"You might want the keys to my car, kid." He points at us. "I better see everyone at our house tomorrow for dinner."

Holding out my hand, I walk the rest of the way. "Thank you, Dad," I say sincerely .

His tired eyes lock with mine. "I'd hug you if I could."

I swallow hard. "I know." Clasping the keys, I start to turn. "I love you."

A smile spreads across his face. "I love you too, son."

I blink quickly as I head out but pause when a thought occurs. Turning, I call out, "Hey, Dad." I expected him to join Edward, but he still stands where I left him. His eyes follow me to the door. "Lowe's restaurant, have Edward get the team on it. I want it . . . that and anything else the owner has."

My dad raises a brow, but I don't elaborate.

"Make it ugly," I request.

He doesn't respond for a minute but eventually nods with a quick shrug. Smiling, I give a final wave.

Standing by the door, I want to say more. To thank him for being here, for staying. One look at his face and I know no words are needed.

We're his babies. We just happen to be bigger than he is. With a nod, I exit the building, passing Sheriff McCallister on his way back into the station.

Daniel waits impatiently by Dad's car. Seeing me exit, he taps the roof.