ToServeAndProtect

by KyAnn Waters

  “See you in a bit.” Dawn sprayed gravel as she peeled out of the parking lot.

  Once she was driving her own car, McKenna picked up her cell phone and dialed Dustin.

  “Pearce,” he said.

  “Dawn’s coming over for lunch. I wondered if you and Tyson wanted to join us.” He was quiet. “Is this a bad time?”

  “Yes,” he stated. The line was silent.

  “Okay, I’m sorry…I’ll--I’ll talk to you later.”

  “That would be preferable.”

  “Okay.”

  He hung up.

  McKenna stared at the phone, feeling dejected. Hadn’t he intimated that he was interested just last night? Now he brushed her off. She pulled into Subway. What was she thinking anyway? One word of affection and she was ready to drop her barriers and act like the devoted girlfriend. She twisted the rearview mirror so she could see her reflection. “Play it cool,” she told herself. “Get lunch, go home, and pull it together.” In a few hours, they’d be on their way to LA.

  * * * * *

  Dustin sat across from Captain Baird. “Sorry sir,” Dustin turned off his phone and slipped it into his suit pocket. “You were saying?”

  “Look, Dustin, we can all see you’re becoming personally involved in this case.” He clasped his hands on top of the files on his desk. “If it’s becoming a problem—”

  “It isn’t.” Dustin nervously rubbed his sweating palms on his slacks. “The Porter case isn’t personal, and McKenna isn’t a problem.”

  “Tyson told me what happened last night.” When Dustin didn’t bother defending himself, he continued. “I expect you to do your job, Detective. I don’t care what you were doing in her house. You should’ve called for backup.” His voice grew louder. “If you cross the line, you won’t have the department behind you.” The subject needed no further discussion, and Captain Baird moved onto another topic. “The prints Jones collected don’t match the ones from the murder scene. He did get a positive hit on the FBI database. One of the men was Joe Marino.”

  “Then we can assume they’re involved with the murder of Dr. Porter. I understand why the Marino’s are upset, don’t you? If they invested in his research, where’s the money?”

  Captain Baird went to the office door and held it open for Dustin. “Keep at it, Detective.”

  * * * * *

  Dawn stretched out on McKenna’s bed. Scattered across the room were several outfits under debate. “This isn’t a holiday weekend. Why all the fuss?” She rolled onto her stomach and snuggled into the pillow. “I need a nap.”

  “Are you going to talk about Tex?” McKenna took a teal colored blouse from the hanger.

  “His house was filthy, and he smoked in bed,” she said disgusted. “It was gross, so I pretended to pass out. I need rehab for one-night stands.” She braced up on an elbow, holding her head in her hand. “Take your red, boot cut pants. They give you an ass.”

  McKenna tossed the pants over her rocking chair and looked for a top to match. “July in Los Angeles. And I know this isn’t a vacation. Dustin is working, but do you think he’ll want to go to the beach?”

  “Who cares? Take your bikini. I’m sure there’ll be a pool at the hotel.”

  McKenna thought about sharing a room with Dustin. What if she was being presumptuous? He could’ve reserved two rooms. He hadn’t actually said they’d be together in the sexual sense.

  Dawn smiled. “You are going to sleep with him, aren’t you?”

  “I want to, but he blew me off this morning.” She went to her underwear drawer.

  “No granny panties,” Dawn warned. “Men like thongs.”

  “I’ll take your word on it. You’d be the expert.”

  “Sex is a big step for you. Are you sure you’re ready?” Dawn maneuvered to sit Indian style on the bed.

  “No, I’m not sure about anything.” She held up a fuchsia spaghetti-strap sundress. Dawn nodded, and she tossed it onto the growing selections. “But there is nothing like murder to make me realize how foolish I’ve been. I’m going to try like hell not to punish myself for what I did to Scott. Being lonely has become a habit with me. Habits aren’t easy to break.”

  Dawn launched forward, wrapped McKenna into her arms, and pulled her down onto the bed. She held her close. “You always wanted a family and kids. And you thought Scott wanted the same things.”

  “I’m not sure Dustin is a better prospect. He has a daughter, yet I don’t think he sees her much. I wouldn’t start a family with a man who can walk away from one.”

  “You’ve always said you don’t deserve a second chance. Now you can see how stupid you’ve been. Maybe you should hold the same standard for Dustin.”

  McKenna slid away from Dawn. “We’re jumping way too far ahead, and it’s giving me a headache. To use your own words, I haven’t even test-driven the vehicle. I feel like I just got my license back.”

  “You’re not like me. I don’t want marriage and kids.” She rolled onto her back and stretched her arms above her head. “When I find a car I like, I’m going to test drive it until it breaks down.” She started to laugh. “And hope I don’t break down first.”

  Dustin said a few days. McKenna packed for a week in case they had trouble locating Roslyn Meadows.

  The front doorbell chimed. Dawn leapt up. “Must be the lucky guy now.” She headed for the door. “I’m going to have a few words with him.”

  “Don’t you dare!” McKenna called, following close on her heels. “If you say anything to embarrass me—”

  “What?” Dawn turned with a smile. “Would you tell Tyson I bought a black vibrator in his honor?”

  McKenna moved ahead of her on the stairs. She turned to Dawn with her hand on the door handle. “Did you really?”

  “Yep.”

  “You are crazy.” She opened the door.

  “What’s for lunch, Princess?” Tyson came into the foyer. “Dustin’s on his way. He’s getting his ass chewed by the captain for your adventure last night.” He winked at Dawn. “I see you’ve got your bodyguard.”

  “With your partner around, I think she needs one.”

  “Dawn!” McKenna snapped. “Ignore her,” she said to Tyson.

  The rattle of the garage door opening drew their attention to the driveway. Making himself at home, Dustin pulled in next to McKenna’s car.

  “Cozy, isn’t it?” Dawn said to Tyson as she brushed past him.

  “Shut up, Dawn.” McKenna sent a look of warning. “But we’ve got a problem if you’ve come for lunch.”

  “Hey.” Dustin strolled in through the open front door. “What’s for lunch?”

  “We had Subway,” Dawn smugly stated. “Good luck finding anything in the kitchen.”

  Barefoot, wearing shorts and a tank top without a bra, Dawn walked ahead to the kitchen. Tyson’s eyes were glued to her ass. “Are you off duty, Detective Jones?” she called back to him.

  Tyson slipped off his sports coat, hung it over the banister, and followed her. Wrinkled and damp with perspiration, his shirt clung to his chest. His weapon lay nestled between his rib cage and upper arm in a strap that wrapped around his back and shoulders. “Yep, unless you’re going to confess to something?”

  She hopped up on the counter and sat with her legs dangling. “What sort of confession would you like to hear? You could take out your weapon and threaten me.” She leaned back, bracing her body with her arms straightened behind her.

  “Does a big gun scare you?”

  “Look me in the eyes when you talk to me.”

  Tyson’s eyes snapped from her breasts to her face.

  “Yes, a big gun excites me,” she said. “You have an impressive weapon.” Her eyes dropped to the bulge in his pants.

  “You can’t help yourself. A first-class tease, and you’ve got the bitchy act perfected.”

  Dawn jumped from the counter. “Everything about me is perfect.” She batted her eyelashes. “Want a soda?”

  “No, I want
lunch.”

  * * * * *

  Dustin escorted McKenna to the office. He stood with his back against the wall. His eyes lingered on her face, attempting to gauge her mood. “Are you mad?”

  She sat down on the little couch and tucked her feet beneath her. “No, at least I know I shouldn’t be.” To keep from looking at Dustin, she inspected her cuticles. Then she nervously put her thumbnail between her teeth.

  Dustin walked to the window. The sun shone brightly through the glass making the room warm even with the air-conditioned blowing. “It was bad timing,” he finally said.

  “Dustin, it was my mistake. After this morning…” She shrugged. “I assumed too much.”

  “Whatever you might’ve thought is probably accurate.”

  “Still, I have no reason to be upset. We shouldn’t even be entertaining the idea.”

  Dustin turned, his eyes raked over her figure, then a smile tilted his lips. He crossed the room and held his hand out to her. “Maybe not, but it doesn’t stop me. It seems I can’t think about anything else.” She stood and Dustin pulled her into his arms. “We shouldn’t be in here. Tyson and Dawn are probably killing each other by now.” He breathed a kiss to her neck.

  “Dawn’s intentions are not to kill him. In fact, she wants something all together different. However, with Dawn, he might not survive.”

  Dustin laughed. “There aren’t two people more perfect for each other.” He opened his mouth, flicking his tongue against her flesh. His cock stretched and thickened. He rolled his pelvis. “Except us.” He slid his hand up her back, tracing the ridge of her spine. Dipping his head, he placed a slow, drugging kiss on her lips. She moaned, wrapped her arms around him, and laced her fingers behind his neck, pulling him closer and aligning their bodies.

  “Are you ready?” he asked when they parted.

  “Until this moment I wasn’t sure, but yes, I’m ready.” She reached up for another kiss.

  Dustin smiled. “I should’ve asked, are you packed?”

  “In both cases the answer’s the same.” She pressed closer to him.

  “Hey, Princess,” Tyson said coming down the hall having left Dawn in the kitchen.

  McKenna jerked away from Dustin and opened the office door.

  “You don’t have shit to eat in this place.”

  “I know. Dawn tossed out all the shit yesterday.” She walked past Tyson. “You could run down to the Chalet for the lunch special and bring it back.”

  “I’ll go.” Dustin took his car keys from his pocket. He looked at McKenna. “We’ll leave for the airport after we eat.”

  “Okay then. Tyson, go entertain yourself with Dawn. I’ll shower and change.” McKenna jogged up the staircase and disappeared around the corner.

  “I don’t like it,” Tyson said.

  Dustin squared his shoulders. “You’ve known me for ten years. Partners for three.”

  “Don’t start the trust your partner shit. Sure, she seems like a sweet girl, and there is no denying she’s beautiful, but that isn’t enough. We’ve seen the pattern too many times. We don’t know if she did her dad in. You’ve lost the edge, Dustin. She’s got you pussy whipped. And you haven’t even screwed her yet.”

  “I’ve got the situation under control,” he stubbornly stated.

  “You keep telling yourself that. Prove she’s not involved, and you’ll have my blessing. Marry her, have a bunch of kids, and live happily ever after. Hell, I’ll be your best man. But finish the damned case first.”

  “I’m sorry I’ve put you in the middle of this.”

  “I know you didn’t mean to get involved with the princess. You’re a good friend.” He slapped him on the back. “Just don’t fuck up my case.”

  Dustin left for the Chalet, and Tyson went to the kitchen.

  Dawn was out on the terrace, sitting in a lounger in the shade, sipping a soda. “Want something?” she asked as he sat across from her.

  “Actually, I wondered what you were doing tonight.”

  Dawn picked up her sunglasses off the table. “What’d you have in mind, Officer?” After pushing her glasses up on her nose, she smiled at Tyson.

  “Dinner at my place.”

  “A glass of wine with a little candlelight? What’s on the menu?” She stretched her legs out and crossed her ankles.

  “You’ll have to wait to find out.”

  “Oh, mystery dinner.”

  Tyson chuckled.

  “You have a nice laugh, Detective Jones.” Dawn swiveled her legs to the side then stood. “Okay.” She stood and brushed off the seat of her shorts. “What time?”

  Tyson followed her into the kitchen and wrote down his address and cell phone number. “Seven o’clock. Dress casual.”

  She slipped the piece of paper into her back pocket. “Casual?” She tossed her empty soda can into the trash. “Casual’s good.”

  * * * * *

  McKenna left her luggage by the front door and waited for Dustin. She had one suitcase to check and an overnight bag to take on board in case her luggage didn’t arrive in the same location as her plane. For a woman, she thought she’d done fairly well. Since she didn’t know how long they’d be gone, she had tried to pack practical. So when Dustin asked, “Are you planning an extended stay?” she was surprised.

  “I wouldn’t know. You didn’t elaborate on the itinerary. I thought better safe than sorry.” She hung her purse over her shoulder. “Don’t complain, Dustin. I didn’t bring half of what Dawn thought I needed.” He opened the passenger side door for her.

  “Did you set the alarm?”

  She nodded. “I asked Mrs. Westerberg, my next door neighbor, to keep an eye out and to collect my mail.”

  Dustin drove across town to his apartment. “Do you want to come up? It’ll only take me a minute to gather my things. My bag is already packed.”

  McKenna opened the car door without waiting for Dustin to do it for her. His disapproving look made her laugh. “Sorry, I’m not used to chivalry.” The door creaked on its hinges when she slammed it closed.

  They walked up to his building, and he held open the glass door leading to the interior corridor. Four apartments on each floor, two stories tall, Dustin pointed to the stairs. “I’m on the second floor.” His palm rested on her hip as he walked one-step behind her.

  Unlocking the door, he let her step inside first. The ugly couch immediately drew attention. A half full bottle of beer sat on a scarred wooden table. Other than that, the apartment was tidy.

  “I call it retro,” he said without a trace of embarrassment in his voice. He dropped his jacket on the sofa. “Look around if you want. The view of the parking lot is nice.”

  Dustin disappeared down the hall. She assumed to his bedroom, and her pulse jumped with the thought. Swallowing the tightness in her throat, she crossed to the sliding glass doors, slid it open, and stepped outside into the dry afternoon heat.

  “I know,” he said, coming back into the room. She glanced over her shoulder. Dustin buttoned a clean, starched, short-sleeved dress shirt. “It pales in comparison to the view from your bedroom.”

  “Would you be surprised to know I like this?” She stepped back into the air-conditioned apartment and slid the door closed. “This is homey, lived in. My house feels more like a museum. Since Elliot’s murder, it’s just scary.”

  “After we figure out what happened in that bedroom, you won’t have to be scared anymore. And just think, once you’ve been cleared of any wrongdoing, you’ll have enough insurance money to redecorate. Gut the house and start over.”

  She laughed. “The house is overstated, but I wouldn’t waste my money remodeling. I’m sure as time goes on, it’ll take on more of me and less of Elliot.” She took a step toward him. “I admit when I’m with you, I’m not scared.”

  He took a step back. “I want to touch you, but if I do, we’re going to miss our plane.” He picked up the phone. “One call and then we’re out of here.” While he waited for someone to answe
r, he strapped on his gun harness and holstered his weapon. “Good, you’re home. Did you get my message? Will you pick up my mail while I’m gone?”

  McKenna tried not to appear as though she were listening to every word he spoke, but her heart pounded as she wondered who was on the other end. Technically it didn’t matter. She wouldn’t know whoever the person was. She didn’t know much at all about the detective. She certainly didn’t know any of his friends besides Tyson. She sighed. He knew everything about her. Maybe on this trip she could change that.

  Dustin hung up the phone and opened the front door. “Becca will be up in a minute to get my mailbox key. I need to grab a few more things.”

  “Oh, okay.” Shit, another woman. McKenna mentally stomped on the butterflies in her stomach.

  “Dustin, I wanted to tell—” A bubbly redhead pulled up short when she saw McKenna standing near the sliding glass doors. “Oh, I didn’t realize you had company.” Her smile was wide and toothy.

  “Becca, this is McKenna Porter.” Dustin came out of the bedroom with a hard black plastic case with a metal combination lock on the latch.

  The smile was gone. “I’m sorry about your father. I read in the paper that they’re following new leads. How’s the case coming, Dustin? Are you getting close?” She turned to McKenna. “To think someone could be running around our town dissecting bodies.” She shuddered. “Makes me glad I live below a detective.” She sat down as if she’d spent many afternoons on Dustin’s couch. “I read somewhere, but I can’t seem to remember where exactly now.” She put her finger to her head. “Anyway, I read that his murder was a satanic ritual. The blood was drained from his body and drank in the hills behind your house to pay tribute to the dark force.”

  “Bunch of bullshit,” Dustin said and shook his head in disbelief. “If that were true we’d have a body and no blood. Here.” He handed her his mailbox and house keys.

  “Okay, call me when you get back.” She was almost out the door when she turned. “I haven’t heard from Tyson.”

  Dustin shrugged. “You know how he is, Becca. Tyson doesn’t share his business.”