Chapter 18

18

The warrant crossed his desk early the next morning. Dale read the paperwork in front of him and saw the addresses listed. "Now?"

"We are at the stage where it is necessary. Past that stage," the county prosecutor said. "I told Masterson that I'd get him the warrants as soon as feasible. No one understands why there has been so much delay in getting them issued. No one. I certainly don't. It's been months, Your Honor."

The fury was in the young man's eyes. Dale remembered being that passionate about the law once. When he was no older than this man. What was Connor Dixon, thirty?

So young. He had his whole life ahead of him—and a stupid naivete that was going to get him in trouble someday. He was one of the ones Dale knew couldn't be bought. He admired the younger man for that. Somewhat. He still thought Dixon was a fool in a lot of ways.

It had been months since Preston's arrest. It had been delayed a bit too long. Any longer and more eyebrows would be raised.

He had to do what he had to do—Dale reached out and signed the warrants. "Tell the boys in blue to just make sure nothing is missed. I'd hate to see all of this be for nothing."

As soon as the prosecutor was gone, Dale pulled out his private cell phone. As expected, Kelby found his way inside his chambers before he'd finished dialing.

Dale held up a hand to the younger man to wait. To keep his mouth shut. As he filled the young man on the other end of the line in on what had happened now. And listened while Kelby tried to figure out what to do next.

Core of honor? Kelby Londell didn't have one of those at all.