“You’ll have a chance to defend yourself in a court of law,” Davis said. He continued to tell Walter his rights under the law.
“Walter, we can escort you out of here quietly without handcuffs, or we’ll do it the hard way. We don’t want to cause any drama in your police station, so why don’t you give me your gun and your phone and we’ll escort you out of here without the cuffs,” Evan said.
Walter held Evan’s gaze for a long moment, and then sighed and appeared to crumple within himself. “Do you have any idea how much they pay me as a civil servant? I got tired of working my ass off to make small-town wages. Nobody was supposed to get killed.”
He placed his gun and cell phone on the desk and then straightened. “I’d prefer to walk out of here without handcuffs.”
They all walked out together, and Walter was placed in the backseat between Daniel and Nick. “I suppose Jacob is singing like a bird. I should have never trusted an idiot like him to begin with,” Walter said. “He’s the one who killed people...he and his crazy wife.”
“We have agents in the area heading to your house to arrest your wife, as well,” Davis said.
Walter straightened. “Please, she had absolutely nothing to do with this. I did it all. I knew she was friendly with Gretchen, and I knew Gretchen was married to Jacob. Rose didn’t do anything wrong. She was always trying to counsel Gretchen to do good things in her life, but Gretchen is a bad seed.”
“Then your wife should be able to prove her innocence in a court of law,” Nick said.
Walter fell silent and so did the others. Hendrick contacted Evan with a meeting point for other federal agents to take custody of Walter and take him to a facility where he would be arraigned and await trial.
Once that was done, Davis dropped Evan back at Annalise’s place. He remained on the front porch for several minutes. With the crime completely cleared up, he had nothing left but his feelings for the woman who had been by his side throughout the whole ordeal.
He had one final phone call to make, and then he knocked on her door and she opened it. “Thank God you’re safe and sound,” she said as she gestured him inside.
“Everything went smoothly, and Walter and his wife are now in custody.”
“So, your work here is done,” she replied as the two of them sank down on the sofa.
“Not quite.”
She looked at him quizzically. “What’s left?”
He reached out and took one of her hands in his. “Annalise, you asked me if you could have a second chance, but I’ve been thinking and I’ve realized it’s me who should be asking you for a second chance.”
He squeezed her hand tightly. “I screwed up, Annalise. I didn’t listen to you when you were telling me you were unhappy. I was too controlling because I was afraid I’d lose you. I was so afraid you’d be another person I loved with all my heart who would disappear and I’d never know what happened to you. I need you to give me a second chance to get it right. I love you. I’ve never stopped loving you.”
“Oh, Evan.” She leaned forward and he captured her lips with his. This was the woman he wanted by his side. He wanted to brainstorm crimes with her. He wanted to cheer her on no matter where she worked or what she did, and he wanted to end each day with her in his arms.
“We owe ourselves a second chance,” she said when the kiss ended. “There’s way too much love between us to let it go.”
“I’m not letting it go. I’m not letting you go. I promise you this time around we’ll get it right. I’ll get it right,” he promised.
“I’m going to hate telling you goodbye later this evening,” she said. “But at least I’ll be back in Knoxville for good in a couple of months.”
“You don’t have to tell me goodbye tonight. I called Director Pembrook and told her I needed a week of vacation. So, if you’ll have me for the next seven days, I’ll be here.”
She laughed, and her eyes lit with the sparkle that he’d always loved. “Oh Evan, I’ll definitely have you.”
He pulled her back into his arms and kissed her once again, and in the kiss he knew he’d found his partner and his soulmate. This was one hostage situation he’d definitely gotten right for it had brought him back to the woman he loved.
Look for the next book in the
Tactical Crime Division ensemble series—
SECRET INVESTIGATION
by Elizabeth Heiter.
Keep reading for an excerpt from Left to Die by Rita Herron.
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Left to Die
by Rita Herron
Chapter One
Keep running. One foot in front of the other. Don’t stop or he’ll get you.
She touched her temple, where blood matted her hair. Her head throbbed. Her memory was fuzzy.
The wind whistled, shrill and violent, through the tall pines, hemlocks and oaks. Tree branches shook and bent, cracking. Thick snowflakes blinded her as they swirled in the darkness.
Where was she? How had she gotten here? Which way should she go?
Why was he after her?
She pawed her way through a cluster of pines. Everything looked the same. Endless trees so close together you couldn’t see past them. Snow. Fallen limbs. Wet leaves and brush.
She pivoted, searching for a sign as to how to get to a road.
Nothing but more trees. The mountains rising in front of her.
Footsteps crunched behind her. Twigs snapped. A limb broke off and hurled to the ground in front of her. She stumbled and tripped over it, grasping for something
