Creed nodded and stepped away to make the call.
Once Saunders arrived, he sent his team into the house and took Whitman into custody himself, loading him into the back of his vehicle without ceremony.
Hud watched them go. He felt the familiar pull ofwanting to be somewhere else entirely. He wanted to go home. He wanted to sit across from Blair and say what he should have said before he ever left her standing in that bathroom. But there was still work to do.
His phone buzzed. Dave.
“I’ve got addresses for Fitch and Burch. In Autumn Falls. Burch’s first name is Debra.”
“Good. We’ll start with Fitch.” Hud pulled out his notepad. “And Dave, thanks for running those down.”
“Of course. How’s Luke? I heard there was a situation.”
“Whitman missed him. Barely, but he missed. Took a shot at me too, caught the doorjamb.”
“And he claims he’s not involved.”
“Saunders will work on him. He’ll keep us posted.”
“Alright. Talk to Burch after Fitch. And Hud, all of you be careful.”
“Yes, sir.”
He pocketed the phone and walked back to the truck. Creed and Luke were already inside. He climbed in, punched Fitch’s address into the GPS and pulled out.
“Fitch first thing tomorrow,” he said. “Then Burch. I’m too damn tired from the drive to be useful to anyone tonight.”
Creed and Luke didn’t argue.
****
Blair tucked her feet under her on Celine and Killian’s sofa and looked around the cozy living room.
“Not exactly how I pictured spending my Saturday night,” she said.
“We have wine.” Celine held up her glass. “Thatcounts for something.”
“It counts for a lot. Please tell me there’s more than one bottle.”
Celine smiled. “You’re staying tonight, by the way. I’m not letting you drive home.”
“I wasn’t going to argue.” Blair swirled her glass. “I just don’t want to be in the way. It’s your Saturday too.”
“You are never in the way. Besides, Killian’s been in his office for two hours and I doubt he’s coming out anytime soon. When a case gets its hooks in him he disappears into it completely.”
Blair glanced toward the hallway. “Even on a Saturday night?”
“Even then. I stopped taking it personally a long time ago.” Celine curled her legs up beside her. “It’s just how he is. And when he finally comes up for air he more than makes up for it.”
Blair smiled. “That’s a good answer.”
“It is.” Celine topped off both their glasses. “Now. Tell me about Hud.”
Blair exhaled. “He was supposed to be back today but called to say they had more ground to cover. First Shelby, now back to Autumn Falls. He has to be exhausted.” She took a sip of wine. “He wants to talk when he gets back and I told him we would. But I still can’t get past how he left last Saturday.”
“I know.” Celine reached over and touched her hand. “Something is keeping him from letting anyone get close, and until he figures out what it is he’s going to keep doing it.”
“It made me feel like I was just another woman he’d taken to bed and was done with.” Blair shook her head. “I cried into my pillow, Celine. I haven’t done that in years. I wanted him to stay. I wanted tofall asleep next to him and wake up with him there.” She looked down at her glass. “I don’t want something halfway. I want what you and Killian have. If he can’t even spend the night, how am I supposed to believe he wants anything real?”
