Colin gently circled his arms around her waist and drew her head to rest on his chest. “I don’t know what we’re going to do about these feelings, but I want to figure it out.”
“Me too,” she said, glancing at a pale Kane who would once and for all be out of her life. “More than anything I’ve wanted in years.”
Two days later, Colin wished he were alone with Brooklyn and free to talk about a future with her, but they were in his dining area with the whole team, along with Nick and Sheriff Day, crammed into the small space. His mom sat on the couch, pretending to watchCasablancawhen he knew she was listening in to their conversation. Brooklyn had gotten his mother hooked on the classic movies, and they’d been watching this one together until Sheriff Day arrived.
The sheriff stepped to the head of the table and scrubbed a hand over tired eyes. She wore her usual uniform, badge at her waist, but even at eight in the morning, her pants were wrinkled, and she looked a bit disheveled. She’d been working nonstop due to staffing shortages. Looked like that meant overnight.
“I won’t take much of your time,” she said, “but wanted to confirm that, thanks to Nick here decrypting the flash drives, we were able to arrest twenty-five wildlife traffickers and break up a huge ring.”
The group started applauding.
“Way to go, friend.” Brooklyn put out her fist to Nick for a bump.
He grinned and tapped her fist gently, likely out of respect for her remaining rib pain. “You really should hold your applause until she mentions the charges Kane is being brought up on.”
“He’s right,” Abby said, her tone uplifted. “The other drive in the box gave the FBI and DA enough information to bring Tarver in on twenty-nine counts of mail fraud, wire fraud, bank fraud, money laundering, and aggravated identity theft. All of this is in addition to first-degree murder. Plus, we matched the gasoline from the fire to a local station, and they had a video showinghim purchasing it. So we’ve added abuse of a corpse for Matteo Albertelli and arson charges.”
She paused and took a long breath. “And if that list isn’t long enough, the FBI is still investigating the stalking and attempted murder charges as relates to you, Brooklyn. The footprints outside this compound were a match to his shoes, putting him here when the alarm went off. And of course, you have the video with him at your home doorbell. The FBI has found other information on the drive, and they’re sure additional charges will be forthcoming.”
“Wow,” Brooklyn said, sounding the happiest Colin had ever seen. “Will he ever get out of prison?”
Abby rested her hands on the chair back in front of her. “If convicted of all of these charges, it’s unlikely.”
Brooklyn’s face split in a wide smile. “So I’m free, then? Able to go on with my life?”
Abby nodded. “Even though his leg had to be amputated, he’s under guard in the hospital. He’ll be transferred to lockup when he’s well enough. Bail has been denied, so he won’t be getting out. He can’t hurt you now. Oh, and Sumo has found a home in a wildlife refuge.”
“Now that deserves applause,” Nick said. “For all the work done, not just what I accomplished.”
“Amen to that.” Brooklyn started clapping and it traveled around the table.
“That’s all I have,” Abby said when the applause died down. “I’ll continue to keep you updated as time allows.”
Dev leaned forward. “Does this mean my time as your deputy has come to an end?”
“It does.” She eyed him. “But only if you want it to.”
“Sorry. Not that working with you hasn’t been great, but I need to go back to my real life now, where the biggest excitement is whether to have hot dogs or hamburgers on a client campout.”
She smiled. “Sounds real good right about now.”
Colin wouldn’t be surprised if she didn’t seek reelection when it came up in the fall. That she might go the private route to get her life back, too, like so many law enforcement officers were doing these days.
He stood. “So unless anyone else has anything to add, this meeting is over, and our involvement in the investigation, other than testifying, is over.”
“My only thing to say is, what in the world smells so good, and can we have some of it?” Dev asked.
Brooklyn laughed. “Chocolate chip cookie bars that I just took out of the oven, and let me get a plate.”
She slowly eased to her feet and went to the kitchen.
Colin followed her to help. She shouldn’t be baking for them when she should really be on bed rest. “You don’t have to cater to everyone.”
“I’m glad to share so I don’t eat half the pan myself.” She cut into a cake-pan-sized slab of browned cookies. “This is one recipe I can hardly say no to.”
“They’re that good?”
“Wait and see.” She lifted out the first inch-thick bar and handed it to him.
