Chapter Nineteen
Rob had driven around Ridgeview County long enough. He needed to get over himself. Okay, so MJ hadn’t understood his need for more information about PTSD. She’d never faced the terrible things that could happen when you didn’t have enough information. She didn’t know what it was like to be at the mercy of insurgents and a population that wanted you dead. She’d never felt the helplessness of watching someone you loved like a brother die. It should have been him, not Trevor. Every time he thought about Trevor, he felt guilty. Did he deserve happiness with his buddy’s girl? Hell, probably not, but he wanted it, anyway.
MJ was smart and sweet. She’d jumped into the challenge of handling Maverick, even though she’d felt out of her element at first. Somehow, she pulled on reserves of courage and determination to overcome her own grief in order to honor Trevor’s gift.
Hell, he’d fled the discussion with her as if his pants were on fire. He’d stomped out like a teenager who didn’t get his own way. He needed to act like a man. If he wanted a relationship with MJ, he’d have to earn it.
He took a deep breath and did a U-turn at the next intersection. He’d never been in this part of Ridgeview County, but he had a sense of direction that should help him find his way back to MJ’s.
Not long afterward, he pulled into her driveway, startled to see the Ridgeview Sheriff’s squad car there. What the hell? Another truck sat parked behind MJ’s Honda and looked like it had come in fast and swerved at the last moment to avoid smashing into her car.
He pulled in behind the truck and leaped out of his vehicle just as the door into the kitchen opened. He heard Sheriff Daniels say, “I’ll run this and let you know what I find. Be careful, MJ.”
“Hey, Sheriff. What’s going on?”
“I’ll let MJ and Nick fill you in. I’ve got to get this down to the lab.”
Rob noticed him holding a plastic bag with what looked like a plastic container inside. “Okay. Sure.”
“Keep them safe,” Sheriff Daniels ordered.
Them? A chill raced down his spine, and he turned and practically ran into the kitchen. He saw Nick holding MJ in his arms, as she sobbed against his chest. Maverick stood next to them, a worried look in his canine eyes.
Rob’s heart squeezed. Had he been the cause of this? Maverick came over to him and his nose sought Rob’s hand. The Malinois ducked his head in a request to be petted, until Rob’s hand rested on top of his furry head.
Nick’s eyes landed on him and glared. “Where have you been?”
MJ wiped her nose on her brother’s flannel shirt and turned to look at him. Her eyes were bloodshot and swollen, and she sniffed deeply, and gave him a watery, half-hearted smile.
“What happened?” He reached for MJ’s hand. She seemed so small and helpless.
“S-s-somebody put meat in the b-backyard.”
“What? What do you mean?”
She shook her head, and tears coursed down her face.
He turned to Nick for an explanation.
“She found some hamburger meat in a plastic container hidden under that big bush back by the fence. Maverick had crawled under there and was growling.”
“Did he…?”
Nick shook his head. “We don’t think so.”
“He’s been trained not to eat unless instructed.”
“It looked suspicious, so she called me, and I called Bo. He’s taking the meat to be tested, and he’ll fingerprint the container.”
MJ let out a wail and began sobbing again, this time into her hands.
“Oh, honey, I’m so sorry. I should have been here. We’ll figure it out.” Rob reached out and pulled her into his chest. “The important thing is that both of you are safe.”
He met Nick’s gaze, and MJ’s brother gestured with his head to meet him outside.
“Why don’t you get ready for bed, sweetheart? I’ll walk Nick out. I’ll be back in a minute.”
“Sis, you be safe and take care. You did well protecting your dog. I’m glad you called me so we can get it checked out.”
“Thanks for coming, Nick.”
Nick kissed MJ on the top of her head, and then together the two men went outside.
“I don’t like this,” Nick began.
“You think I do? Seems like somebody has figured out where Maverick and I are staying. Last time they burned us out. I don’t want to do anything to put MJ at risk.”
“So who the hell do you think it is?”
“My best guess would be Kent Barnard. He hates Maverick and me, too, although I don’t really understand why. He’s probably unhinged enough to hurt an innocent dog, not to mention a person or two.”
“I know you wondered what was up with Derrick and the way he acted about the fire. I didn’t like what you told me, so I went and talked with him. He finally admitted he’s been having an affair with a married woman. He thought maybe her husband found out about them and torched the apartment, but it turns out he was out of town. So, Kent Barnard would be my best guess, too.” Nick studied him. “I hate it, because it puts MJ at risk.”
“I hate that part, too. I can handle myself, but I don’t want to do anything that could lead to MJ being harmed.”
“Maybe you and Maverick should find someplace else to go. Someplace that won’t put my sister in danger.”
“I’ve thought of that. The problem is that if I move out, she’s left unprotected.”
“Dammit, you’re right.”
“There’s something
