Fear flashed through Emma’s dark eyes. He was aware that she knew from prior conversations contact through her was likely, but the chief’s solemn tone let them all know the reality of the assumption.
Investigator Pearson-Hawk stood. “It’s late. We can try to find a hotel room here in Sturgeon Bay for you tonight, but since it’s full-swing tourism mode here, that may be difficult. But I can make a few calls if you’d like.”
“I just want to go home,” Morgan said.
“Me too, so if you can just get us back to my car at the boat ramp, I’ll drive us home,” added Hailey.
“Chief, do you think that’s a good idea?” Cap blurted before he thought better of it, hoping he hadn’t overstepped.
Who was he to tell the chief what to do? He was just a charter captain, no longer an investigator.
But he worried about Emma. The others would probably be okay, but it wouldn’t surprise him if the Colombians came after Emma. One, for contact with Jonathan in the event he survived. Two, if the man didn’t survive, she was the last person who’d had hands on their bag of drugs. Either way, Emma was in danger.
“Markie, take the ladies back to their vehicle,” Chief Mertz said.
“Yes, sir.”
“All but Emma,” he added, “I think she should stay here. Close in case we need her and where we can keep a watchful eye on her.”
Emma swallowed audibly.
Cap supposed she had figured out that the chief may need her to identify Jonathan’s body. He could do it instead of putting her through that.
“She can stay in my spare room,” Cap offered, hardly believing his own ears as to what he’d just said.
Where in the hell had that offer come from? He was no longer a protective service employee, and he certainly didn’t need this kind of trouble. This kind of stress is exactly why he’d left his job and started a new career.
“Emma, is that okay with you? Or, you can stay with me and my wife, Natasha? We’ve plenty of room.”
Emma bounced her gaze between him and the chief.
“Either is fine,” she replied, holding Cap’s gaze.
“It’s settled then. My house,” Cap stated.
Markie’s eyes glinted enough that it drew his attention. His former co-worker was onto him. Why wouldn’t she be? She was a trained observer.
“Okay then, let’s wrap this up, get some rest, and reconnect in the morning. You don’t have a charter in the morning, do you?” the chief asked.
“Shit. Yes. In five hours, to be exact.”
It was too late to cancel with his clients now.
“Change of plans then. Emma, you can stay with Natasha and me.”
“No!”
The chief’s head snapped in Cap’s direction.
Markie’s eyes flashed in amusement again.
He really needed to get himself in check, but he felt an overwhelming need to watch over—protect Emma.
“Hunter’s here. I’ll see if he and Cici can take the charter out tomorrow.”
“I thought Cici was sick,” Markie stated.
Markie would know that because she and Cici were good friends.
