“No. There are no buts. You didn’t do anything wrong. You are blameless. I know you have guests at the cabin, and I have work, but we’ll figure something out.”
She shook her head. “I don’t need a babysitter.”
“I know, but I’ll worry about you.”
“I’ll be fine. That guy won’t get out, and if he does, he won’t come around again.”
Griz’s lips thinned, and he shook his head. “If he does get out, I’ll make sure someone is on his ass all the time.”
She laughed. “How?”
“I’m in the Navy. There are a bunch of retired Navy people all over the country. I’m sure there are a few in the area, and if there aren’t, I’m sure I could scrounge up a few retired Marines who would be willing to help. I’ll make sure you’re protected.”
She reached out and touched his arm. “Thank you. You don’t have to.”
“But I will because I care about you.”
“Thank you.”
The nurse finally came around and had her sign stuff. Getting out of the hospital seemed to take forever, but it was only another hour before she was allowed to leave. She was tired and closed her eyes a few times on the drive home. When she arrived home, she was surprised how good her cabin looked. It was like nothing had happened.
Griz would spend another night with her, but then he had to go home. She hated that he had to leave, but shewouldn’t voice that. He still had to work. His being able to come here at the drop of a hat had been great.
Thario stopped by close to two. His dog, Frog, came over and put his head on her lap. She reached down and scratched him behind his ears.
“Hey, Frog, how are you doing?” Frog answered by licking her cheek. Laughter bubbled up, and honestly, it felt great to laugh.
“He likes you,” Thario said.
“I like him.”
“Hear that, Frog? She likes you.”
Frog wagged his tail and then spun around before moving to sit next to her. Thario sat across from them, and Griz pulled up a chair to sit next to her.
“You going to be okay up here alone?” Thario asked.
She nodded. “I’ll be fine.” Her gaze slid to the floor. Thario was quiet, and Griz didn’t fill in the silence. She finally looked up, seeing the doubt in his eyes. “What?”
“Are you sure?” Thario asked.
She blew out a breath. “It was a weird experience. I don’t know what happened. I was drugged for most of it.”
“I should have shot him,” Thario said.
“Oh, I… Could you live with yourself if you did?”
Thario let out a bark of laughter. “Totally. You forget I was a Navy SEAL.”
Griz patted her knee. “The only reason that guy isn’t dead is because we’re not deployed on a mission.”
She looked from Thario to Griz. “Yeah, I did forget. I guess that is normal for you both on missions.”
Thario nodded, and Griz answered. “It is. But we are here, and laws apply. But if that jerk comes after you again, he’s dead.”
“He’s not getting out, is he?”
Thario shook his head. “I talked to the detective andthe prosecutor. They are going to try to deny bail. He tried to kill his mother, he kidnapped you at gunpoint, and he held you. Also, there is evidence he killed at least two more people. So it isn’t likely that the judge would grant him bail.”
