The drenched yellow crime-scene tape flapped in the rough wind, one edge breaking free to slap against the hunting lodge. “In fact, we gave statements to each of your officers.” The police had immediately separated them to get the facts.
“I heard,” the chief muttered. “I saw the SUV go by earlier when I grabbed coffee at Lulu’s Diner before heading out.” He looked at Locum. “Did you run the plates?”
“We did. SUV was stolen out of Charleston three nights ago.”
The chief’s shrewd eyes took in Millie. She didn’t mention that he’d been at her house around four that morning sneaking out of a window. “I figured. You okay?”
“No.” She huddled under a blanket, but she just couldn’t get warm. The dead body on the ground caught her eye and she quickly looked away, noting the river swelling with the storm runoff as if it, too, had come alive like a frenzied serpent. The water threw debris onto the banks, its angry tirade echoing back from the hills.
The chief turned his gaze to Scott. “I thought you were a lawyer.”
“I am,” Scott said, not wincing as Janet none too gently slapped a bandage over his bleeding wound. He had taken off his shirt, and despite her brain fog, Millie had to admire his compelling chest. Taut skin blanketed raw muscle, and the multitude of scars marring his torso only added to the aura of violence he’d managed to hide until now. Several knife wounds created an almost-star on his left shoulder, and yet another bullet wound scarred him low on his right hip.
The chief examined Scott’s torso. “Looks like the new scars will fit in with the rest. You were a marine, huh?”
Scott lifted one eyebrow. “I take it your officer reported everything.”
“Yeah. You could say that. I had them read your preliminary statements to me on the ride in,” the chief said. “Any ID on the bodies?” he called out.
A deputy near the entrance to the bunkhouse shook his head. He had introduced himself as Deputy Smise and he wasn’t anybody Millie had ever met, so he had to be a recent hire.
“No, I ran the fingerprints with the mobile biometric device but the thing has a glitch. I’m still waiting,” Smise said.
“Knock it against the wood a couple of times,” the chief suggested. “That always works for me.”
Amusement tilted Scott’s lips. Millie shook her head. How could he experience amusement right now? They might’ve died. She’d had no idea he could be that deadly. He most certainly had saved her life.
She scooted a little closer to him.
“Are you warming up?” he asked, looking at her. She nodded. “No, you’re not,” he said, reading her easily. “Chief, do you need us right now?”
“Not if we have your statements,” the chief said. “Real quick, any idea who would want to kill you?”
Scott slid an arm over her shoulders, tugging her into his good side. “No.”
“Me either,” Millie murmured, warmth enveloping her.
The chief studied the scene. “My guess is this would have something to do with the murder of Clay and you being found in his bed.”
She could feel the blood draining from her face. “You don’t think the Bakers sent an assassin team after me, do you?”
“I don’t know, but I’ll find out,” the chief said. “I’m bringing them in today.”
“I’d like to be there,” Scott said quickly.
The chief studied him. “I don’t think so.”
Scott leaned forward. “As her lawyer, I have a right to be there.”
“No, you don’t,” the chief said.
Millie thought through what she knew of the law. She couldn’t figure out how Scott could demand to attend the interview, but she appreciated that he wanted to stay involved.
“Please, Chief?” She looked up at him, holding her breath.
The chief paused. “Millie, don’t give me the eyes.”
“Chief, someone just tried to kill me.” Tears filled her eyes and they were not deliberate. She couldn’t hold them back.
