“Then how do you prove she was involved?” he asked.
“I need to see Ericson’s gun.” Within minutes, Sevierville PD handed her the bagged weapon Benning had used to shoot her former partner and stop a killer, effectively saving her—and so many others. Releasing her grip on Benning, she turned the evidence over in her hand, the plastic sticking to the tips of her fingers. “This is a Glock 22, which shoots .40 caliber rounds, standard issue for FBI agents. Harold Wood was killed with a .45. The same caliber that would fire from the Beretta M9 registered in Claire Winston’s name.” The air rushed from her lungs as the pieces of the puzzle fell into place. “She did it. She’s the one who killed Harold Wood, and Ericson hid the proof on the construction site in case the body was found. He tried to take the fall for her, and when you found the skull, he abducted Owen and Olivia to force you to give it back.”
“Why would he take the fall for her?” Benning asked.
Claire Winston’s dark, watery gaze followed the ME’s movements as she loaded the bag with Ericson’s body sealed inside, then rose to meet Ana’s.
In an instant she knew the answer. “Ericson blamed himself as much as anyone else for what happened to Samantha Perry. I think he believed protecting Claire was how he was going to finally redeem himself.”
The confidence in Claire’s expression bled to fear a split second before the woman ran from the scene. Only she didn’t make it far. Without hesitation, Director Pembrook ordered officers to close off her escape, and Claire Winston raised her hands in surrender.
“YOU DON’T HAVE to do this,” she said. “The doctor said I’m fine on my own as long as I take it slow.”
“That is in no way what she said. That’s what you wanted to hear.” But that wasn’t the only reason he’d convinced her to recover in Sevierville instead of Knoxville. He’d almost lost her. Twice. Right along with the two most important humans in his life, who, he could see through the front window, were currently jumping up and down with excitement. His in-laws waved from behind Owen and Olivia before giving the twins each a hug and heading for the back door, which would take them to their pickup at the side of the house.
Maybe he hadn’t chosen the right location for Ana to recover from her injuries, but he couldn’t turn back now. He’d already informed the twins of his plan. Any deviation would only throw him into a world of whining and questions. He brushed his fingers against her low back as she stepped over the threshold to assure her he was there if she fell, but he knew without a doubt she wouldn’t let things get that far. “I know exactly how long you’ll rest before you try to convince the director you’re ready for field work. You’re staying here where I can keep an eye on you.”
She slowed before reaching the entryway, those mesmerizing hazel-green eyes dark with suspicion. One hand tightened on the single crutch supporting her beneath her arm. “You don’t trust me.”
“With my life, yes. With your own, no.” Staying close as she navigated slippery terrain on her way into the house—unassisted—Benning swung the front door open to clear her path and immediately held out one hand, palm forward, to stave off the twins from tackling her to the floor.
Owen and Olivia bounced in place, their grins bigger than he’d seen them in a long time as Ana stepped into the house. Over the past few days, he’d struggled to get their lives back to normal, but so much had changed. Owen had spent two days in the hospital fighting off dehydration and pneumonia but was acting more himself a little bit more every day, aside from the apparent break he was taking from his tablet, which Benning wouldn’t complain about. Olivia had moved into sleeping in her brother’s room, to make sure no one would take him from her. His heart had nearly broken all over again when she’d admitted how scared she’d been for her twin. But Owen was home now. They were safe, but Benning wouldn’t be pulling any more skulls off construction sites anytime soon. As for Benning... Well, the biggest change for him was the woman insisting she could get herself into the house in a timely manner.
Ana’s laugh cut through the off-the-charts energy emanating from the kids, but he couldn’t blame them for not being able to hold back. He was just as excited—and nervous—for what came next. Only difference was he had more control over his body, and emotions and pretty much everything else. Except when it came to Ana Sofia Ramirez. “You sure you’re up for this? I’m pretty stubborn, but those faces will knock me down with one hit. It’s going to be chaos. I’m going to be giving them everything they ask for while I’m here.”
“I think I’m up for the challenge.” He turned toward the twins to distract himself from the heat climbing up his neck and into his face. “Why don’t you guys take Ana to see what you made for her while she was in the hospital.”
“It’s not another skull, is it? Or a foot or something? I don’t think I could take any more body parts right now.” She leaned heavier into her crutch as Benning moved to close the front door behind them, then pulled back before the stampede of six-year-olds racing toward their rooms ran her over. Turning her gaze up to meet his, she silently questioned his motives.
“Guess they’re excited.” He motioned her to lead and followed close on her heels, head down to avoid eye contact. Every cell in his body rose in awareness as she limped along ahead
