by Rebecca Deel
“Is there anything you can do?” Stella asked. “He was protecting his daughter.”
“What are you asking me for, Marshal?”
“Immunity from prosecution and witness protection. He’ll testify against Ashworth if his family is safe.”
“You know what protection entails. How many marshals would help the man who sold out his brothers in blue? He’s the reason five people were murdered, one marshal shot, and two others injured, not to mention the attempted kidnapping of two other witnesses. He almost got you and your partner killed, Grayson. Are you sure you want to ask for this?”
“Jordan,” Nate said. “Clear it so Brent Maddox from Fortress can talk to Yates.”
He frowned. “Why?”
“Private witness protection.”
“Pricey. I’ll see what I can do.” He stood. “I’ll be in touch.”
As Jordan left, the doctor who treated them strode in. “Marshal Grayson, glad to see you’re awake. How do you feel?”
“Happy to be alive to plan my wedding.”
He chuckled. “Let me check on your man, then I’ll look at you.”
After being given a clean bill of health, Nate walked into a hall bustling with early morning activity while the physician checked Stella.
Josh straightened away from the wall. “How is she?”
“Doc’s checking her now.”
“And you?”
“Good to go.”
“Excellent. I’m under orders from Del and Ivy to bring you both home.”
Sounded good to him. The decision when to leave, though, rested with Stella. She wouldn’t leave her partner until she knew he was healing. “Any word on Deke?”
The medic walked up at that moment. “He’s fine. Soft tissue damage, cracked ribs.”
“He was in worse shape than Stella,” Josh said.
“Ashworth started on him first. He thought Stella would cave to protect her partner. When that didn’t work, he went after her.”
“Why use a bomb?” Josh asked. “Why didn’t he just shoot them both?”
“He wanted the insurance write off for a gas explosion.”
Nate stared. “Any good arson investigator would have known the truth.”
Rio leaned one shoulder against the wall. “Nobody said Ashworth was smart, just obsessed.”
Stella’s doctor exited the room. “Good news, Mr. Armstrong. I’m discharging both of you. Marshal Grayson should see her physician about the wrist. He’ll want to check that she’s healing properly. You need the stitches out in seven to ten days.”
“Yes, sir.”
“The nurse will bring your discharge papers soon.” He shook Nate’s hand. “Good luck to you both, Mr. Armstrong.”
“What about Deke?” Nate asked Durango’s medic. “When can he leave here?”
“Maybe this afternoon.” He turned to Josh. “He needs help for a day or two and he doesn’t want his wife and daughters to see him like this. He’s afraid the bruises will scare his girls.”
“You want to stay?”
“Until Friday.” He grinned. “I don’t think Quinn will stay any longer. He doesn’t want to cancel his date.”
Josh turned to Nate. “What about you and Stella?”
“I need to talk to her.” He returned to the room. “The doctor said he’s springing you. Where do you want to go from here?”
“To my apartment to pack.”
His heart sped up. “And then?”
“I want you to take me home, Nate.”
He blinked. “To your parents?” If he drove her to visit her parents, Nate and her father would have a talk. No one treated his girl like dirt and got away with it.
“To Otter Creek.”
“What about your job, baby?”
“What job?” She raised her injured arm. “I’ll be in a cast for a while and I’m getting married soon. I have vacation time. I’m taking it while we make plans.”
“And after we’re married?” he asked, his voice soft.
A knock on the door forestalled her answer. The door swung open and Will Riley rolled into the room with Eric Green pushing his wheelchair. “Stella, Armstrong.”
Green wheeled the deputy director to the side of the bed.
“How are you, sir?”
“According to my wife, mean. I hear you’re leaving today. You’re on medical leave effective immediately, Marshal Grayson. You’ve been cleared of all charges. If you tell me where you’re recuperating, I’ll have your badge and duty weapon brought to you as soon as the paperwork clears.”
Stella reached for Nate’s hand. “Keep them, Will.” She smiled. “I’ve had a better offer.”
Riley’s face softened. “I’m sorry to see you leave, Stella. You’re a good cop. If you need a reference, I’ll be glad to provide one for you.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Take the time you need to heal before you turn in your resignation.” He turned his attention to Nate. “Good work, Armstrong. If you decide to go into law enforcement, look me up.” Riley glanced over his shoulder at Green. “Let’s go, Marshal.”
After they left, Nate kissed Stella. “I love you, sweetheart. You won’t regret your decision.”
“I want to see Deke. I need to tell him myself.”
“As soon as we have our walking papers.”
An hour later, Nate walked with Stella into her partner’s room. He whistled. “Ouch, man.”
“Don’t make me laugh.” Deke glared at him. “I have cracked ribs. If you make me laugh, I will hurt you.”
“Have you talked to Andrea?” Stella wrapped her hand around his and squeezed.
“She’s fine, Stel. Anxious to see for herself that I’ll survive. Can’t let the twins see me like this, though.”
“You should be past the worst of it in a few days. After that, I bet Bella and Dora would love to take care of you.” She drew in a deep breath. “I need to tell you something, Deke.”
“What?”
“I’m resigning from the marshals.”
“Figured. Hard to have a strong marriage if you live four hours apart. What will you do?”
“Heal and get married. After that, I don’t know.”
“Be happy, Stel.”
“What about you, Deke? What are you going to do?”
“Heal. Find another job.”
Nate’s eyebrows shot up. “You’re resigning?”
“I can’t do this anymore. I have a family to think about. I want to see my daughters grow up and walk them down the aisle if they find men good enough to marry. Andrea’s pregnant again. I want to teach my son to play baseball.”
“Do you know what you’d like to do next?”
“Not really.” A wry smile appeared. “I’ll have a few weeks to think about it.”
“We need another instructor at PSI. We think you’d be perfect for the job.”
“Are you serious?”
“Would Andrea be open to moving to Otter Creek?”
“I’ll have to talk to her, but it shouldn’t be a problem. She’s always said she’d live anywhere. Her only requirements were to have good schools for the girls and a good grocery store.”
“We have both. Talk to Andrea. When you’ve healed, come to Otter Creek and let her see the town and PSI.”
“What would I teach?”
He smiled. “We’ve been asked to add S&R training. You interested in working with the dogs and handlers?”
“As long as Andrea’s okay with the move, I’m in.”
“Great. We’ll talk terms when you come for a visit.”
“What about Stella? Will she work for PSI as well?”
“We’d be honored to have her on staff. I have a feeling she might end up doing something else, though.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
“What do you think?” Ethan Blackhawk leaned back in his chair, arms folded across his massive chest.
Stella tried to form words. Nothing came out. She swallowed and tried again.
“You want me to be a detective for the OCPD?”
“You already have the training. As soon as you’re cleared by Dr. Anderson to go on active duty, you’ll be ready to roll. I need a third detective, Stella. Nick and Rod work too many shifts. When I first took the job as police chief, we had about 4,000 people to protect. Our population is near 10,000 now. My officers are spread too thin since we’re also patrolling the smaller communities close to Otter Creek. The Dunlap county sheriff’s department is shorthanded. We need you more than PSI does. What do you say, Stella? Will you help us?”
She glanced at Nate who was seated beside her.
“I’ll support whatever decision you make, baby.”
Stella had never wanted to be anything but a cop. It didn’t matter if she was federal or local. She wanted to make this town her home. What better way to preserve the way of life in Otter Creek than to be part of the team protecting its citizens?
She extended her hand to Ethan. “Chief Blackhawk, I accept.”
He grinned. “It’s Ethan. I have your paperwork ready to sign.” He yanked open his top drawer and pulled out a sheaf of papers. “Start date is January 1. If the doc hasn’t cleared you for active duty by then, you’ll ride with Nick or Rod to learn the people and the area.”
She spent the next few minutes filling out the forms necessary to become an employee of Otter Creek. She finished the last signature and sat back with a sigh.
“Welcome aboard, Detective.”
Outside the building, Stella leaped into Nate’s arms, careful not to bean him in the head with her cast. “I can’t believe it! I’m still a cop.”
He laughed. “I never doubted it. You’re too good a cop for Ethan to let you get away without a fight. I’m proud of you, sweetheart.”
“You’re really okay with this?”
He sobered. “I want you to be happy, Stella. I want to build a life with you.”
“I love you, Nate.” She kissed him. “Thirteen more days and we’ll begin the next phase of our lives. I can’t wait to become your wife.”
About the Author
Rebecca Deel is a preacher’s kid with a black belt in karate. She teaches business classes at a private four-year college in Nashville, Tennessee. She plays the piano at church, writes freelance articles, and runs interference for the family Westies. She’s been married to her amazing husband for more than 20 years and is the proud mom of two grown sons. She delivers monthly devotions to the women’s group at her church and conducts seminars in personal safety, money management, and writing. Her articles have been published in ONE Magazine, Contact, and Co-Laborer, and she was profiled in the June 2010 Williamson edition of Nashville Christian Family magazine. Rebecca completed her Doctor of Arts degree in Economics and wears her favorite Dallas Cowboys sweatshirt when life turns ugly.
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