Born Wild

“Whoever tried to shoot you is still out there. They might make another attempt on your life, or maybe whoever hired them will task someone else with the job. It’s time we, the CPD, were vigilant about your safety. Jesus knows we dropped the ball the first three times.” Washington’s lips turned down.

“But Billy would—”

“We have no idea how long this will drag on,” the chief interrupted. “And Reichert has other responsibilities. You can’t expect him to drop everything to be your bullet catcher for—”

“But I will,” Bill cut in. “I’ll stick to her like honey on—”

“No, Billy,” Eve touched his arm. “Chief Washington is right. It’s just that after everything that’s happened today, I was sort of hoping to get away from the city for a while. Just…” She shook her head, and her expression was so bleak that Mac could almost feel her pain and frustration and weariness—and guilt. That was definitely in there, too. But, really, how could it not be? She’d just spent over an hour going through the details of a man’s death…a man’s death that was meant to be her own. She’d likely suffer from the guilt of that for the rest of her life. Which was so goddamned sad he almost felt like crying himself.

What a goatscrew.

“Just disappear for a while,” she finished slowly.

Washington cocked his head. “And where would you disappear to, may I ask?”

“I—” She shrugged, gnawing on her lower lip and gazing out the tall windows on the western wall. The city was a mass of darkness and twinkling lights beyond. “I don’t really know. I suppose I could go down to my vacation house in Costa Rica and—”

“Out of the question,” Washington interrupted. “We need you to stay in the states. Close by, if possible, in case something comes up or in case we need to question you further.”

“Yes.” Eve bit her lip, nodding. “I kind of figured that. So maybe…I don’t know. Maybe…do you think it’s possible I could go out on my sailboat? Just drift away for a couple of days? Perhaps head over to Michigan? I could lose myself in a little coastal town there. Go where no one knows me, where no one’s trying to kill me.”

Bill frowned. “Perhaps it would be better for her to get out of Chicago for a while. In case you’re right about someone trying to make another attempt on her life.”

“Mmph,” Washington grunted, scowling at the floor with his lower lip thrust out. “I suppose.” He glanced up at Bill. “But I wouldn’t want her going alone. I could put a couple of my men—”

“No need.” Bill lifted his hand, shaking his head. “I’ve got it covered.”

Yeah, Mac thought. I’m sure you do.

“I’ve got a cabin over on the west side of Michigan, up near Ludington,” Bill continued, looking at Eve to see if she was okay with the plan so far. If the hero worship…no, not hero worship… superhero worship shining in her eyes was anything to go by, she wasn’t just on board with the plan, she’d packed her bags, waved her good-byes, and was already sitting on the deck drinking a Mai Tai. “I think we could hole up there for a while. It’d give Eve the chance to get away but keep her close enough so she could drive back to the city in three or four hours if she needed to.”

Washington’s eyes narrowed as he opened his mouth. But before he could agree or disagree with Bill’s plan, the double doors leading to the exterior elevator bank burst open and Jeremy Buchanan strolled into the room.

“Jeremy!” Eve sobbed, ducking out from under Bill’s arm to run to the man. Buchanan caught her up in a hug that lifted her feet from the station’s tiled floor.

“I came as soon as my shift ended,” he said, slowly lowering her to the ground so he could pull back and look at her. “How did it go?”

“It was awful,” Eve admitted. “But now it’s done.”

“Did you…” His expression and tone illustrated both his reluctance and his curiosity. “Did you find out anything when you met with your father?”

She shook her head. “Not really.”

“Damn,” he cursed, his jaw sawing back and forth. “Well, it doesn’t matter. Because I swear to you, we’re going to find out who did this.”

“You mean Detective Normandy is gonna find out who did this. Right, Lieutenant?” Washington said. “From what I hear, you’ve got your hands full over in vice.”

“Sure. I’ll let the murder boys handle it.” Jeremy laced his fingers with Eve’s, and Mac was pretty sure that grinding noise he was hearing was Bill’s back teeth again. Too bad they weren’t sitting down at a conference table somewhere so he could kick the man in the shins. “Now that you guys actually believe what I’ve been saying to you for the last three months,” he added as he joined the group.

“Don’t push it, Lieutenant,” Washington harrumphed. “No one likes to hear I told you so.”

“Not gloating,” Jeremy was quick to explain. “Just happy to know something’s finally being done.”

“Mmph.” Washington waved him off, turning back to Bill. “Now about this little sailing trip up to Ludington. I don’t suppose it’d be a problem as long as—”

The gray door at the back of the room swung open, and Edens, Parish, and their lawyers stood on the threshold. Mac fleetingly wondered how much they’d heard of the conversation. Then he figured, not much. That was a steel door leading to the hall where Chicago’s finest interrogated Chicago’s scum. And speaking of Chicago’s finest, Detective Normandy appeared behind the group. If Mac wasn’t mistaken, there was a new coffee stain on the man’s shirt that hadn’t been there before.

Holy crow, I hope he’s better at catching crooks than he is at personal hygiene. Damn.

“Normandy?” the chief asked. “What’s going on?”

“These assho—” Normandy stopped, scratched his balding head, and rephrased. “Their lawyers have requested they be allowed to consult with their clients in a room other than an interrogation room. You know, the cameras, the two-way glass…So, I’m taking them to conference room number two. And after they’ve had a little consult,” he sneered the word, “we’ll continue the questioning. In an interrogation room.”

“Fine,” Washington said, his expression that of a man who’d just stepped in something sticky and smelly.

Normandy nodded, ushering the group toward an adjacent hallway. Then his gaze snagged on Eve’s cousin. “Oh, and I’m glad you’re here, Lieutenant Buchanan. I’ve got a couple of questions to ask you about your uncle and Blake Parish.”

“Sure thing.” Buchanan nodded, though his expression betrayed his distaste. Mac wondered how close the guy was to his uncle, and what his take on Edens was. The FBI investigator in Mac would love to poke around inside Buchanan’s brain for a minute or two. “I’ll be there in a sec,” Buchanan added, then turned back to Eve. “I think it’s good you’re getting out of town,” he told her.

Eve’s lips trembled as she glanced up at her cousin. “You don’t think I’m running away? You don’t think I’m being a coward?”

“Hell no.” Buchanan pulled her in for another hug. Mac lifted a brow when Bill’s jaw started to twitch. “I absolutely do not think either of those things. I think you’re strong and tough and—”

“Lieutenant,” Normandy cut in after re-entering the bullpen. “Let’s get going on those questions, huh? I’m working on a short clock here.”

“Yeah, sure.” Buchanan gestured him on before releasing Eve. Mac fought not to roll his eyes when Bill immediately snagged her by the shoulder and dragged her back, tucking her under his arm. “You better take care of her, Reichert,” Buchanan warned. “Or you’ll have me to answer to.”

“I’ll protect her with my life,” Bill vowed, lifting his chin.

Buchanan must’ve heard the crystal clear ring of truth in that statement—hard not to—because a look of relief…or maybe contentment was the better word, passed over his face. He jerked his head in a quick nod, then turned to zigzag his way through the desks and over to Normandy.

“Protect her with your life, huh?” Washington muttered, his dark brow furrowed. “Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”

And for no reason Mac could explain, the phrase famous last words skittered