I stared toward the podium, my mind already pulling in two directions.
“I don’t know,” I admitted. “Maybe we should update Cooper first.”
Chris nodded immediately. “Yeah. I was thinking the same thing.”
Once we were back inside our room, Chris unclipped Pampi’s lead and let her settle on the rug. He pulled out his phone, dialed Cooper, and put him on speakerphone.
The call connected after two rings.
Chris told Cooper that equipment tampering had been confirmed, the suspect apprehended, and the semis would resume tomorrow. I filled in a few specifics about the re-inspection and the option to withdraw.
There was a pause on the other end.
“I’m glad no dogs were seriously injured,” Cooper said evenly. “What are you two thinking?”
Chris looked at me. WhatwasI thinking?
We could leave. Pack up, drive back to Pecan Pines. The suspect had been caught and an official statement issued. Case closed. That should have been enough.
And yet, it didn’t feel settled. The faulty equipment was one thing, but what about the dogs that had gotten sick?
And the suspect they caught. Were they only charging him for the equipment tampering? What if it wasn’t even the same person behind everything?
I met Chris’s eyes. “We’ll stay,” I said before I even realized it. “At least through semis.”
Chris blinked. I surprised even myself.
There was a small pause on the line before Cooper answered. “Alright,” he said. “Just remember to keep your guard up. Report back to my office once you’re back in town.”
“We will,” Chris said and ended the call.
Chris turned to me slowly. “You sure?”
I leaned back against the edge of the desk and scrubbed a hand over my jaw. “I don’t know,” I admitted.
“They caught the guy,” he said gently. “So it’s over.”
“Maybe.” I exhaled slowly. “I just think it wrapped up too cleanly. Like they found something obvious and decided that was enough.”
He reached out and brushed his thumb lightly over my wrist. “You don’t have to stay because of me,” he said quietly.
I looked at him. “I’m not.”
For a moment, I wasn’t sure what to say. His concern made my chest tighten in a way I wasn’t ready to unpack.
Instead, I huffed out a breath and glanced down at Pampi, who was watching us as if she could read every unspoken thought between us.
“What do you think, girl?” I asked her. “Want another run? See if we can survive semis?”
Her ears perked instantly. She sprang to her feet and gave a sharp, excited yip, tail thumping hard against the carpet.
Chris laughed. I felt my mouth curve before I could stop it.
“Well,” I said. “That settles it.”
Chris was still looking at me like he wanted to say something, as if he was weighing whether to offer me an out. One more chance to walk away.
Instead, I pushed off the desk.
