Walker places each swab in a plastic bag. “There’s no guarantee we’ll get clear results from this, but it’s worth a shot.”
Santiago shrugs. “Worst case scenario, results are inconclusive, but it won’t be hard to find the person in town with a dog bite.”
After the swabs are taken, the guys disperse to resume combing through my room, but I stay with Bear and shower him with love.
Santiago meanders over to my murder wall, as he calls it—the only untouched thing in the room. He carefully scans over the photographs, sticky notes, and papers tacked up there.
“Is this different? I don’t remember this being here earlier.” Santiago points to a piece of yellow paper with bold print all over it. I recognize the paper as an advertisement for the grand opening of Silver Pines, the ski resort. They’re all over town.
Stepping forward, I examine alongside Santiago. “Some of this has been moved.”
Someone. Touched. My. Wall.
I’ve spent days putting all of this together. It’s not some mix-and-match game.
Walker moves to my other side, joining Santiago and me. “I’ll get my deputies to take some pictures. You can look at them with fresh eyes later.”
Levi appears on the other side of Santiago. “Why do you have a murder wall in your bedroom, Butterfly?”
A groan reverberates through my chest. “It’s not a murder wall.”
“It’s a murder wall,” Walker contradicts me.
Santiago lowers his head toward me and whispers, “I told you.”
Walker peers closer at a paper. “I don’t want to know how you got these copies.”
My eyes dart around the room, looking everywhere but the guys.
I’m not sure if what Jolene did was legal, but I’m not about to rat out my inside woman.
Slapping my hands on my thighs, I change the subject. “So, I assume I can’t take any of my stuff.”
“It’s evidence,” Walkers says by way of confirmation.
“That’s what I thought.” Releasing a fake sigh, I pretend to be put out when I’m just happy that they accepted my segue. Sauntering toward the open door, I’m stopped by a hand on my upper arm. When I spin around, I come face-to-face with my three overbearing protectors. They stand shoulder to shoulder with Walker in the middle.
To anyone else, they’d be intimidating.
But not to me.
Levi raises a single brow. “Where are you going?”
My lips purse together, confused as to why I’m being asked to state the obvious. “The front desk. I need to book another room.”
Walker scoffs derisively. “No, you don’t.”
My fists clench at my sides. “Did I miss the moment you became the boss?”
Santiago frowns as he rubs the back of his neck. “Technically…”
“I’m avolunteer,” I clarify. “That doesn’t make him my boss.”
“Blake…” Levi starts to beseech me.
“No.” My teeth grind together.
“None of us should be alone right now.” Walker’s voice of reason is getting on my last nerve. I don’t want to admit that he’s making sense.
