Chapter Nineteen

Andrew's phone rang just as he shut off his car engine. He sat in Kyler's driveway while he took the call. He longed to go inside because that was where Kyler was, but he never knew when he'd have to go to another crime scene. And put the phone to his ear without bothering to see who it was. It wasn't going to be a pleasant call because of the lateness of the hour. It didn't matter who it was.

He saw Kyler watching him through the front window. The lamp from the living room gave him an ethereal quality, lighting the scene through the glass well enough Andrew could even see the color of Kyler's T-shirt and pajama pants. Kyler scowled as if he feared the phone call as much as Andrew did, although he probably couldn't see Andrew at all. He just saw the car.

Jaron didn't let him get in a hello before he started talking. "We can't find Robyn."

Andrew stiffened, but he kept his voice calm. "Who saw him last?"

"I did, I think. He had lunch with Beverly and me at the big house. When we finished, he said he was going for a walk in the fields. When he didn't show up for dinner with Leonard, I called you right away. And yes, we've looked in the fields. Twice. And I know it hasn't even been twenty-four hours, but he's only a kid, Andrew." Jaron's parental instinct was stronger toward Robyn than Andrew expected, although he should have known. Given his paternal personality, it made sense.

"Who went into the field looking?"

"Leonard, Neil, and Travis."

"Is one of them nearby?"

"Yeah, Travis is right here. Hang on."

It wasn't long before Travis spoke. "Hey."

"Did you see tracks of any kind? Like vehicle or shoe prints."

"Not that I noticed, but I didn't think to look for any."

"I'll be there in a few minutes." As soon as he said the words, a gunshot rang out. The sound was loud enough that Andrew knew it didn't come from far away. He ducked down. His gaze immediately went toward the window. When he didn't see Kyler, his stomach clenched. Images of Kyler lying bloody on his living room floor plagued him.

He concentrated on his breathing as he scanned the area. He shut down his phone without saying goodbye, putting it on vibrate and silencing it before pulling his gun from its holster. He opened the car door quietly, but then he saw Kyler's front door open. Kyler stood on his front stoop, staring Andrew's way as if he thought Andrew was the one who shot his gun.

A part of Andrew was relieved at seeing Kyler alive and well. His imagination wasn't reality. But the fact was, Kyler was a sitting duck just waiting for a bullet where he stood. Instinct ruled, and he forgot caution. He didn't bother closing his car door but rushed up the driveway.

Kyler spoke, but Andrew didn't register the words. All he heard was his own breathing.

It wasn't until he had Kyler backed into the house that he calmed a bit. Kyler ran his hand up and down Andrew's arm, trying to soothe him. "What's going on?"

Kyler eyed the gun in Andrew's hand as if it was the offender.

He pressed Kyler against the wall out of sight. Kyler's warmth and solid presence helped bring down his adrenaline, but it was by slow degrees. "I don't know, carino. Stay here."

Kyler nodded.

"Lock the door behind me." As soon as Andrew stepped outside, he heard flesh hitting flesh and someone sobbing. A scream echoed through the night, and then an eerie silence followed. All his training and experience drove his actions.

He grabbed his phone and dialed Olivia's number. When Olivia answered, he whispered, "Shots fired. Possible four-sixty in progress." Andrew rattled off Kyler's address because it was close enough to the crime for Olivia and Foley to find him. "Call Foley and get over here. I need back up."

He hung up without a word and rounded the backside of Kyler's house. From Kyler's property, he could see five backyards over, even in the dark. The moon was nearly full and illuminated the night sky just enough for Andrew to see moving shadows.

Andrew stayed close to the houses. One person lay on the ground while someone stood over them with a gun in hand.

"Police. Put down the gun." Andrew's voice rang out in the dark. Nothing else moved or made a sound, not even the victim.

The suspect jerked and then pointed his gun at Andrew.

"If you shoot a cop, that's gonna be bad for you, cabron." His phone vibrated in his pocket, but he ignored it.

The suspect stiffened as if he were either going to bolt or shoot. Andrew couldn't tell which.

"I'll shoot. Put the gun down and step away from the victim." Andrew still couldn't see the victim's face. He lay in shadows, but the moonlight lit up enough of the perpetrator for Andrew to tell he was probably related to Lincoln somehow. He had the same body type and wore similarly styled clothing.

The suspect lost his bravado. He threw the gun on the ground and stepped back.

"Put your hands on your head and get down." Andrew didn't move until the suspect complied. "Lay on your stomach."

He kept his gun trained on the guy, all while closing on him. He pulled his handcuffs from his coat pocket. He was lucky he had them. If he'd been home at that time of night, he wouldn't have grabbed them. Because he had a late night at the station, he still carried them.

He holstered his gun as he pulled the suspect's arm around, handcuffing one behind his back before grabbing the other. Once he had the suspect under control, he went over to the victim, who hadn't moved at all the whole time Andrew had eyes on him.

As Andrew drew closer to the victim, he realized it was an unconscious Robyn. Andrew held his breath as he felt for a pulse. He let it out when he felt one.

A light turned on the house, and he heard a door open. He turned and saw a middle-aged man in pajamas holding a baseball bat. "I'm the police. Go back inside and call an ambulance."

The man nodded, and the door closed.

"Andy?" Kyler whispered from somewhere behind him.

"Shit." Andrew's heart rate sped up. His instinct was to get Kyler as close as possible. He'd yell at him for not listening later. Andrew fell to his knees beside Robyn without looking Kyler's way. "Come here, carino."

It wasn't but a few seconds before he felt Kyler's hand on his back, and his body pressed against his side. "Oh my god. That's Robyn."

"Get my phone out of my pocket and called Jaron. His number is programmed."

Kyler did as Andrew ordered, digging in Andrew's back pocket. He heard Kyler talking, but he didn't pay attention to the conversation. Instead, he assessed Robyn as best as he could. He was no paramedic, but he knew enough to stabilize Robyn until they got there.

Robyn looked as if he'd gone to hell and barely made it back. Andrew didn't recognize him past the blood and broken skin. He had a hole in his pant leg and blood surrounding it.

The gunshot made sense. At least he knew where the bullet had hit.

He took off his coat and then his shirt. His clothing was the only thing he could think to use. He stretched his T-shirt out and then moved it under Robyn's leg, working it up to his thigh and then tying it as tight as he could around his wound.

Andrew turned when he heard footsteps behind him.

Olivia and Foley came around the corner with their guns at the ready. Olivia was the first to assess the scene and holster her gun, Foley quickly following her lead. She met Andrew's gaze. "Ambulance is on the way. What do you need, boss?"

"Bag up the weapon. And then take the suspect back to the station and sit on him." Andrew would need to calm down before he could listen to the guy. Nothing he said could justify beating and shooting Robyn. The need to kick the shit out of the guy rode him hard enough. He didn't care that he was handcuffed and couldn't hurt anyone. "I'm going to the hospital with the victim."

He heard the ambulance. The sirens sounded louder and louder. It wasn't until the paramedics arrived that Andrew moved away, grabbing his coat as he stood. He had almost forgotten it, even with the cold seeping under his skin.

Andrew pulled Kyler next to him. "Stay right beside me, carino."

"Okay."

He looked around the area for anything he might have missed in all the action, letting his nerves calm a bit.

"Jaron said they were going to the hospital." Kyler held onto Andrew's arm. "The guy you handcuffed is Brett Lincoln's brother. His name is Dominic. He's older by three years and just as much of a fuck-up as Brett."

Andrew appreciated the confirmation, although he suspected as much. He nodded but otherwise didn't speak.

"I'm going to the hospital with you." Kyler lifted his chin as if he thought Andrew would argue.

Andrew sat in the waiting room with Kyler leaning into his side. Kyler's body was heavy and warm from sleep. His breath fanned across Andrew's neck. At some point, he had wrapped his arm around Andrew's abdomen. The hold had loosened the further he got into sleep. Since then, his arm lay across Andrew's lap.

The entire Heath clan, minus Beverly and Carter, sat facing Andrew and Kyler. Just a walking space separated them. Travis slumped in his chair with his hat over his face. Leonard on one side of him and Jaron on the other.

Leonard looked more tired and worried than any of them. Neil had his arm around Leonard's shoulders. Neil had cried when they first arrived but had since calmed down.

Andrew had seen a lot during his time as a cop, so he recognized when someone blamed themselves. However misplaced the guilty, Leonard was a man who felt every one of Robyn's injuries right along with him. Andrew had a few things to say, and he would eventually, but he chose to put his mental energy into what he'd witnessed.

Did Robyn's beat down have anything to do with any of the rapes?

His gut told him it did. How wasn't such a stretch, but it was all speculation.

Dominic had hurt Robyn because he snitched. That much was obvious. Andrew's impatience was wholly inappropriate. Robyn had most of the information Andrew needed, but he couldn't tell Andrew anything from his prone position on an operating table. Waiting sucked. And, of course, Andrew wanted the kid to be okay. That was first and foremost.

He'd be even closer to solving the whole damn mess if he could find Brett, but even that felt like one warrant away. With a Lincoln caught in the act, the judge might issue one. He just had to talk to Robyn and his attacker. It felt measurable and not a pipedream like it did when they first started finding victims.

Kyler snuggled even closer to Andrew as if seeking his warmth.

Andrew wrapped his arm around him and pulled him closer. Thankfully they sat on a loveseat style couch and not two of the chairs with the wooden arms in their way. They were able to stay close.

"Shh, carino." Andrew took Kyler's hand and kissed the center of his palm.

Kyler mumbled something. Andrew couldn't tell what. But he thought it must have had something to do with his hand being uncomfortable because he pulled it out of Andrew's hold and put it back where it had been.

Andrew's attention was pulled toward Jaron when he chuckled. Andrew met his gaze and smiled.

"You should call your mom and tell her. Louisa will be upset if you don't."

"I know. She'll want to meet him. I need to talk to Kyler about it first. Make sure he's ready."

"'M okay with meeting your mom." Kyler's voice was husky from sleep but otherwise understandable. Kyler pressed his lips against Andrew's neck. "Love you."

"Me too, carino."

A doctor came into the waiting room, and all other thoughts disappeared. Leonard was up like a shot. For such an old man, he sure moved fast. "I'm the boy's guardian."

Everyone else gathered behind Leonard, waiting along with him, including Andrew.

He kept Kyler tucked up against his side.

"He's going to be just fine. The bullet didn't hit anything vital. It was a simple removal."

"Is he awake?" Andrew was the one who asked.

"Yes, sir. You can question him, but please go easy."

Andrew nodded before turning to Leonard. "Can I have five minutes? I'll make it quick. I promise."

Leonard nodded.

Andrew kissed Kyler on his temple before pulling away.

"He's in room 3041," the doctor said and talked to the family about all they had to do and the extent of Robyn's injuries.

Andrew headed out of the door and followed the signs in the hallway to Robyn's room. The door was open, and he could see the bed swallow Robyn's small body. The blanket covered his leg, concealing the injury. His face looked even more bruised than it had when Andrew had first found him.

Their gazes met for a full second before Robyn turned away, closing his eyes. Tears slid down his cheeks.

Andrew grabbed the small box of tissue and a chair, taking both with him. He held out the tissue box even before he set the chair down next to the bed and took a seat.

Robyn took one but didn't wipe his tears with it. Instead, he held it in his fist. "They told me you saved me."

Andrew shrugged. "It's my job."

Robyn turned to him, meeting his gaze. "Thank you." The words came out watery.

Andrew had a lot of questions, but he took Robyn's hand, giving him quiet comfort. It wasn't until Robyn drew a deep breath and let it out that Andrew started talking. "I have to question you as the chief. I want to know what happened, but no matter what you tell me, I have your back. It doesn't matter what it takes, mijo. I'll protect you. Get it?"

Robyn nodded and took another deep breath. "I went for a walk in the fields. The outdoors kinda helps me think. I…it's hard, not having the drugs. Don't tell Leonard. Please."

Andrew wouldn't make that promise. If it kept the kid from hurting himself, he'd blab. "Continue, Robyn."

"I like walking around the fence because one of the horses, Seneca, follows me when I do. I don't know why."

"The right side of the property?" That was the side that boarder the Nieves. There had to be something that drew the Lincoln brothers out there. He knew the Nieves said there wasn't anything on their property that should be of interest to anyone. Just forested acreage and not much else. But Andrew wasn't so sure.

"Yeah. Dominic came out of nowhere. He said…he knew I told the truth and he hit me with a gun. I must have passed out because when I woke up, I was in his truck, and it was dark." Robyn must have been out for a while.

"When did you start your walk?"

Robyn shrugged. "I don't know. Early afternoon."

"I found you on one of the side streets in town. How'd you get there?"

"He stopped at the four-way in town, and I ran. I tried to get to the police station, but he followed me in the truck and then on foot when I ran between houses." Robyn's story went as Andrew had thought it would.

He had enough to hold Dominic until the DNA report came back at the last scene.

"One more question." Andrew waited for Robyn to nod his consent. He could tell Robyn was fading fast with his eyes half-open and the way he turned on the pillow. "Do you know why Dominic Lincoln would be out on Nieves' property?"

Robyn shook his head. "No idea. Sorry."

Leonard came into the room and Robyn fell apart all over again.

Andrew left, giving them privacy.