“He’s chilling at the Forest County Jail—which is where I should be, too.”
Darcangelo rested a hand against Darius’ bare shoulder. “You need to take care of yourself first. The little fucker isn’t going anywhere. Given that he warned his buddy, the DA will charge him in the shooting.”
Darius’ phone buzzed with a text from Marcs.
Sasha is worried about you. Might want to let her know you’re okay. Just FYI…
“Bad news?”
Darius shook his head. “Ms. Dillon heard I’d been shot and is worried.”
Darcangelo crossed his arms over his chest and exchanged a knowing look with Hunter, but Darius cut them off before either of them could speak.
“Don’tmake me kick your asses. Not a word.”
Hunter bit back a grin. “I’d like to see you try.”
Darcangelo’s gaze narrowed. “Listen to you. I kicked your ass when—”
Darius was saved by the timely arrival of his nurse, who went over his discharge papers and removed the IV they’d started in the ambulance. And then, at long last, he was free to leave.
He got to his feet, wincing at the sharp pain on the left side of his chest.
“I’ll carry your gear.” Darcangelo handed him his shirt, picked up Darius’ vest and service weapon. “I once took five rounds to the vest. Sorry to say, but it’s going to hurt for a while, man.”
“Something to look forward to.” Darius pulled on his turtleneck, reached for his jacket, and followed the two men out of the ER.
They piled into Hunter’s SUV and started the drive up to Scarlet, Darius’ thoughts drifting back to the case, while Hunter and Darcangelo got into an argument about Hatch versus Pueblo chiles and who made the better salsa.
“Something about this doesn’t click for me.” Darius hadn’t meant to speak aloud.
Hunter and Darcangelo stopped bickering.
Darius tried to explain. “Riggs is dumb as a rock, and he’s not a good liar. He still maintains his innocence. He claims he had nothing to do with the attack on Sasha. Based on his reactions, his body language, some part of me believes him.”
Was that a true hunch, or was it Darius’ past speaking?
“You think his buddy might have done it without him knowing?” Hunter asked.
“It’s a possibility.”
“What about the other guy—the one who was driving the stolen SUV?”
“He’s still in the wind.” But Darius would find him.
Thirty minutes later, they made their way through the roundabout, Hunter and Darcangelo talking about a wildfire that had come close to wiping Scarlet off the map a couple of years ago. Darius hadn’t realized how connected they were to the community.
“I will never forget the sight of that jumbo jet roaring up the canyon and dropping its load on the flaming front.” Then Hunter met Darius’ gaze in the rearview mirror. “Want us to drop you off at the Inn, or do you want to grab some food and a beer at Knockers? Darcangelo is buying.”
“Thanks, but not tonight.” Darius had other plans. “Take the next right.”
Hunter chuckled. “Silva is looking for trouble tonight.”
After supper,Sasha took a hot shower, blew her hair dry, and slipped into her favorite sleep camisole and shorts. She put on her fluffy bathrobe, brushed her teeth, and made her way downstairs to where Nicole was playing with Mocha in front of the fire.
Nicole looked up. “Feel better?”
Sasha nodded. “A little.”
