“Levi shielded me from Brad on his drunken nights. He’d bring Brad home and put him to bed. Then sit and talk with me.”
“Did Brad hurt you during drinking binges?” David wasn’t sure he wanted to know but asked anyway.
“No. Never. I think Levi didn’t want me to see Brad at his worst.” Jennie lifted a shoulder. She traced the rim of her coffee mug with her finger. “Adam was quieter. He’d go drinking with Brad and Levi, but unlike Levi he seemed angry at Brad afterward.”
“And after Brad died?” Brandon asked.
“Levi was around a lot, hanging out with Kenny. Adam, not as much, but when he did come over, he paid attention to me and helped with Zoey.”
Those two just jumped to the top of David’s suspect list. “Anyone else?”
Her mouth twisted to the side. “Tina told me a while back that according to Levi, Kenny’s new girlfriend hated me.”
David met Brandon’s gaze and gestured to the door.
“I’m on it.” Brandon stood and strode from the room.
He wrapped Jennie’s cold fingers in his hand. “We think you and Zoey should go to a safe house until we can locate the person responsible.”
She looked at him like he’d lost his mind. “As if PSPD has the funds for that.”
“You’re right. We don’t have the funds. But I talked with the captain a little while ago. He agrees you need to lie low until we put the pieces together. Brandon’s sister has a secluded cabinby the lake she said we could use. And the guys at the station volunteered to stand watch on their off hours.”
Her eyes softened. “You all would do that for us?”
“Of course. Why wouldn’t we?” He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it. “Please. If nothing else, do this for me. I want you safe.”
She seemed torn with what to do. “I don’t like asking for help.”
“Tell me something I don’t know,” he muttered.
“Excuse me?” Jennie raised a brow.
“Nothing. So, are you willing to let us protect you?”
She pinched the bridge of her nose. “I suppose. How would this work?”
He exhaled. “We’d sneak you out of the house and drive you to the cabin. We’ll park a cruiser in the driveway so people will think we’re still watching your house.”
“What about Aunt Emily? I don’t want her in danger.”
“We’ll have random patrols go by the house. I don’t think whoever this is wants anything to do with her. I promise we’ll keep an eye on her.”
She peered at him. “When would all this happen?”
“The sooner the better. I’m guessing this guy is out there regrouping after we stopped him. So, we should have a little bit of breathing room, but not much.”
“I should go pack a few things then.”
He nodded.
Jennie left the kitchen. A few moments later, Zoey stumbled in, sleepy from her nap.
“Hey, Zoey.”
The young girl padded over, crawled into his lap, and rested her head on his shoulder. His heart melted.
“I heard you talking.”
