“Seems…worse than the others.”
I didn’t want to put voice to the path my thoughts had taken, but it seemed the obvious deduction given the destruction.
Sutton joined us as Johns nodded.
“The other scenes weren’t anywhere near this level of damage.”
“Are you saying…?” Sutton asked.
Johns nodded bleakly. “I think the sheriff will agree with my assessment that it looks like you’ve been targeted specifically. And we have to consider the possibility that this isn’t related to the other break-ins, unless those were just trial runs for this one.”
I grinned. Johns was a few years younger than me—had graduated with Crew—but when he’d joined the department after completing his own criminal justice degree, I’d seen something in him and couldn’t resist taking him under my wing. Though we’d run against each other for the open sheriff’s seat, when I’d been elected, I’d pushed hard for the city council to appoint him as my undersheriff.
Personal shit with my youngest brotherandlosing the election to me aside, he was a hell of a cop. As badly as I wanted to get back to work, I knew the department was in good hands with him during my absence.
“‘Sutton…’”
She murmured her name low, in a tone that had goosebumps breaking out on my skin, like a creepy whisper from the darkness.
“What?” Johns asked, clearly as confused as me.
“I just remembered…whoever broke in, they said my name. Like they were calling out to me.” Her eyes found mine, the amber depths swimming like bourbon on ice. “Like they were taunting me.”
Johns withdrew a notebook not unlike mine from his pocket. “You still sure it was a man?”
Sutton squeezed her eyes shut, and a single tear broke free under the pressure, sliding down her cheek. I clenched my fists as my sides to avoid reaching out and brushing it away.
“I’m not sure of anything right now,” she answered honestly.
Unable to resist touching her any longer, I settled a hand on her arm, cupping right below the ball of her shoulder. “We’ll find who did this, Sutton. I promise.”
Her gaze met mine, eyes wide and seeking. Looking forsomethingin my expression. “Can I…”
“Yes.”
She choked on a laugh. “You didn’t even let me ask.”
“Doesn’t change my answer.”
I would do fuckinganythingfor her. She had to know that by now. Whatever she wanted, the answer was and would always beyes.
After a brief hesitation, she tried the question again.
“Can I stay with you?”
“As long as you need.”
Her shoulders slumped in relief, and I relaxed myself, grateful I could do this one small thing for her.
“Ready?” I asked her.
“Just need to grab Boots’ food and litterbox.”
“I got it.”
“Ah, no,” Johns said, putting a hand up. “I’ve got it.”
I set my jaw. “I think I can handle carrying cat food and a litterbox.”
