Neither of us responded.
But yeah, my boss was on the right track.
Owen sighed, shaking his head. “Today’s really the first time you heard Woodson’s name? Are you sure? Did Phelan tell youanythingabout what happened the night you were shot?”
Chills raced along my skin. Dean and I glanced at one another.
Owen cursed. “No answer, once again. What the hell are you up to? That was a rhetorical question, by the way. Since I can’t imagine you’ll tell me.” He picked up a pen from his desk, fidgeting with it between his fingers. “Here’s another interesting little detail. Something else I need to keep out of my official report. I found a tracker on Nox Woodson’s vehicle. Exact same kind of GPS tracker we use at Last Refuge. Do either of you know anything aboutthat?”
Shit. The tracker.
When Dean and I had been shopping on Main Street, Nox Woodson had been one of the last things on my mind. We hadn’t checked it during our meeting with Phelan either.
But it did make me wonder how Woodson had known Phelan’s location. Phelan had worried about his bodyguards tracking his Porsche. Maybe they’d bugged his phone, too.Woodson must’ve realized Phelan had tried to slip away. Then he followed. Spotted Phelan talking to us.
If Woodson hadn’t aimed that first shot at Phelan instead of us? If Dean hadn’t pulled me down with his lightning-quick reflexes, and I hadn’t returned fire with my concealed Glock?
All of us would probably be dead right now, not just Donny.
And Woodson… I hadn’t wanted to show him mercy. But I hadn’t wanted Dean to be responsible for his death, either.
“Not sure what you want us to say, Tex,” Dean said.
“Look, I’m ashamed of how little progress I’ve made on bringing your attackers to justice, Keira. Based on the demon mask, I would bet Woodson was one of them. But there’s a second one out there, and if Phelan wasn’t behind it, we have no clue why they went after you. Unless you’ve learned anything to enlighten me?”
I felt Dean’s eyes on me now. But I wasn’t about to tell Owen everything we’d learned about Ryan Garrett. And what I’d realized.
Not yet. Maybe not ever.
Owen sat back and tossed the pen onto the desktop. “I’m not trying to be a hardass here. We’re in my office, but I’m not speaking to either of you as the sheriff. I’m your friend. Just tell me, all right? Is all this part of a secret Protectors op that I don’t know about?”
“I’m not a Protector,” I said tightly. “Dean isn’t either.”
“But the moment Dean got back to town, he was demanding answers about my investigation into your attack. I thought you’d both backed off, but now I see I was wrong. Iknowyou’re still trying to find the attackers. And the truth is, I can’t blame you. River’s involved, right? He provided the GPS tracker?”
I crossed my legs. “No comment at this time.”
Owen snorted. “Fine. Keep it to yourself for now. But for the love of all that’s holy, bring in the rest of the Protectors. Let Trace and the others help you. Especially if this involves Crosshairs Security or Harris Medina.”
Dean tensed. “What do you know about Medina?”
Owen gave him a look. “Enough that I’m extremely concerned to hear his company surface in relation to Keira’s attack. If you want to know about Crosshairs, go talk to Trace and the Protectors.”
Ugh, Owen was really getting on my nerves with that constant refrain.
“Better yet,” he added. “Go stay up at Last Refuge for a while until this blows over.”
“I’ll think about it,” I said, intending the exact opposite. But Owen looked relieved.
“If anything happens to either of you, I won’t be able to forgive myself.”
Owen walked us out of his office, and we headed toward the exit.
Outside, the night air was cool and clean. I took a deep breath, trying to clear my head. My bag was slung over my shoulder, holding my belongings.
Before we got to my car, I reached for Dean’s hand. The parking lot of the station was brightly lit, and there was no one else here.
“Dean, I’m sorry,” I said softly.
