“Detective Stein is right, Marla,” Sawyer said gently. “You can’t stay here. After you get checked out, Detective Stein will pack a bag for you. Tell her what you want and where she can find it, and she’ll make it happen for you.” Marla sniffled but nodded slowly. “Don’t come back here alone. Don’t come back here with only your mother. If you need to get some of your possessions, you need to call the county sheriff’s office and request an escort. If they don’t cooperate, I want you to call Locke or me.”

  “All right,” Marla said, unable to meet Sawyer’s gaze.

  Sawyer and Locke left Marla with Stein and entered the house. The interior of the house reminded Sawyer of The Putz’s—tidy but with outdated furniture. Instead of lewd posters on the wall, Miller chose mounted deer heads, turkeys, and largemouth bass as decorations.

  “In here,” Chen yelled from the back of the house.

  Locke and Sawyer found him in a spare bedroom that Miller had converted to a gun room. Every type of gun imaginable hung on all four walls. In the center of the room was a table with cleaning materials and tools to maintain and restore the firearms. Tucked in the corner was an open filing cabinet where Ashcroft stood looking at several sheets of paper.

  “He has meticulous records of his purchases, sales, and trades,” Ashcroft said. “Guess which gun is on the list but nowhere in the room?”

  “Desert Eagle 1911?”

  “Bingo,” Ashcroft said. “Granted, they’re a popular handgun, but the metal file and shavings on the worktable makes the missing gun look more suspicious.”

  “I saw a technique on an episode of Forensic Files where they used a chemical to restore the serial number. The stamp goes deeper in the metal than people realize. Maybe our guys can pull that off too,” Chen said. “What I really wanted you to see was this.” He raised a golf club with his latex-gloved hand.

  “You want us to buy you a putter for Christmas?” Locke asked.

  “It’s a wedge,” Sawyer corrected, approaching Chen for a closer look. “A very expensive custom-made club. Let me guess, Chen, it’s the only one you found.”

  “Right again, Key. Guess whose name is engraved on the shaft?” Chen asked.

  “DeShaun Benson,” Locke said. “So much for Wayne being smart and planning well. The ME said Caroline was hit in the back of the head and most likely rendered unconscious before she was strangled because there were no defensive wounds on her body.”

  “But there’s more,” Chen said, pointing to the long strands of blonde hair caught where the metal of the wedge connected to the shaft.”

  “Let’s bag it and tag it,” Sawyer said. “Collect the file and shavings as well as the master list of guns.”

  They searched the house and outbuildings for another hour. Sawyer nearly had a heart attack when he opened a freezer inside the largest of the buildings and saw a bunch of animal heads. Based on the tools and chemicals, it looked like Miller operated a small taxidermy business. Other than the creepy heads and instruments that looked like torture devices, they didn’t find anything interesting.

  By the time they finished, Marla had already been treated by the EMTs and left with her mother, but not before she provided Stein with the names of Miller’s closest friends and family. As bad as her injuries looked, they weren’t severe enough for hospitalization. Her bruises, cuts, and sprained ankle would heal, but the emotional trauma would last much longer. Sawyer truly hoped she found someone to help her navigate the roller-coaster ride of recovering from an abusive relationship.

  They locked up everything as best they could and headed out.

  “Miller is your guy,” Stein said. “There’s not much you guys can do besides issuing an APB and BOLO. Do you want to start interviews tonight? We can help you?”

  “As much as I want to take this fucker down, I’d rather wait until daylight to improve our chances of not getting shot by a squirrely family member,” Locke said. “I hate the idea of him getting farther away, but he’s probably hunkered down someplace. We’ll flush him out, but not at the expense of our safety.”

  Sawyer drummed his fingers against his thighs. He knew Locke was right, but it wasn’t in his nature to go home and wait it out.

  “Isn’t that right, Key?” Locke said tersely. “No Rambo, superhero bullshit that could cost someone their life.”

  “Okay,” Sawyer said through gritted teeth.

  “Come have a drink with us to unwind or call Levi to make dinner plans. Don’t go home and skulk and don’t take it upon yourself to solve this case.”

  “I already agreed.”

  “So, what’s it going to be,” Stein asked. “Drinks with us or a call to the cute guy?”

  Sawyer wanted to bond with his new team, but he needed space from Locke to regroup. “I think I’ll take a rain check on the drink and give Levi a call.”

  Sawyer expected Locke to say something smart or snarky, but he remained silent. Sawyer glanced over at him but couldn’t read his expression. Maybe it was a trick of the dashboard lights, but Locke looked irritated. Why? He agreed not to go off on his own. Was it because he wasn’t having a drink with them? Was it because of Levi? Nah. The last thought nearly made him laugh out loud. It’d had been a long day, without much to show for it, and Locke hadn’t slept well the previous night. Locke was probably just cranky. Sawyer shoved all thoughts of Locke aside to preserve his sanity.

  Back at the station, Sawyer quickly retrieved his personal cell phone from his desk then wished everyone a good night. Alone in his car, he leaned his head back against the rest and closed his eyes while waiting for the air conditioner to cool his car. Noticing the time on the dashboard, he decided it was too late to call Levi. Stein, Locke, Chen, and Blue walked out of the station together a few minutes later, but none of them looked in his direction. He could head over to Joe’s on Broughton Street and get to know his team better or go home to his cat and his audiobooks. Sawyer recalled how deafening the silence had become in his house and knew he had to make changes in his life like make new friends that weren’t tied to his old life. Could he find that with his new team on the Savannah PD? Exhausted from a long day, he didn’t trust himself to make the best choices and alcohol surely wouldn’t help. The temptation to see what Locke was like away from the job was almost too much for him to resist, but he shifted his car in drive and headed home.

  Levi’s sparkling blue eyes and delighted smile greeted Sawyer when he walked through the café door the next morning. Feeling wanted and desired created a liveliness and vigor inside his body stronger than any cup of coffee could provide. It was almost like he’d grabbed on to a live wire. A part of his brain, a very loud part, reminded him that Levi wasn’t the one he’d been thinking of when he’d taken himself in hand during his morning shower. Using Levi was the last thing Sawyer wanted to do, but he felt like he needed to give the man a fighting chance. Whatever he felt for Royce Locke was temporary, and it wouldn’t be wise to blow a chance with a guy who honestly wanted to get to know him better. Fantasy versus future. Sawyer had always made smart decisions, why should this one be any different?

  “I’ll take care of this guy, Terrance,” Levi said to the employee who was poised to take his drink order. Nothing about his tone was suggestive, but Sawyer’s brow quirked up anyway. The pink blush blooming across Levi’s cheeks was adorable and possibly addictive. “You’ve earned a break,” Levi added.

  Terrance glanced between his boss and Sawyer, reading the situation correctly as evidenced by his broad grin. “Sure thing, boss. Would now be a good time to ask if I can leave early?”

  “Don’t push your luck, kid,” Levi replied without taking his eyes off Sawyer. Terrance chuckled and mumbled something about not blaming a guy for trying. Once it was just the two of them at the counter, Levi ran his gaze over Sawyer’s torso. “This is a different look for you.”

  Sawyer glanced down at the black T-shirt stretched across his chest and neatly tucked inside his black tactical pants. His badge hung around his neck on a chain, and his black shoulder holster hugged his torso. “Do you prefer suits?”

  Levi swallowed hard and ran a finger under his collar. “Both have merits. I can’t say I prefer one over the other. Damn. You must work out a lot.” Levi sounded more nervous than complimentary. Did he think Sawyer would judge him or find him less attractive if his body wasn’t as rock hard? If so, Levi couldn’t be further from the truth. That was something left to discuss during the getting-to-know-you phase of dinner.

  Downplaying his physique, Sawyer shrugged and said, “It’s a necessity for my job. Not only does it help with the physical parts like chasing perps, but it also relieves stress.”

  “Relieves stress,” Levi repeated, eyes lit with mirth or maybe lust. Sawyer didn’t know the man well enough to read him. Yet. “What’s your poison this morning? Another salted caramel?”

  “Yes, please. Can I also get a black coffee with two sugars for my partner?” Sawyer glanced down at the pastry display and noticed a few bear claw pastries left. “And two of your bear claws.”

  “Absolutely,” Levi said, turning to fill the orders.

  “Hey, Levi,” Sawyer said, stopping him. “The only reason I didn’t call you last night was because I didn’t finish working a case until nine thirty. I knew you had to get up early to open the café and didn’t want to risk waking you. I’m dressed like this today because I expect to have a very long day in the field. I have every intention of calling and inviting you to dinner.”

  Levi’s grin grew impossibly bigger. “When?”

  “When am I going to call you? I’m hoping I get home at a decent time tonight so we can make plans.”

  “No. When would you like to have dinner? Talking to you sounds great, and I promise to answer no matter what time you call me. Sleep be damned. While I have your undivided attention, let’s make dinner plans.”

  “Yeah, that works too.” Sawyer hadn’t dated in so long, and he felt rusty as fuck. “I have a feeling today could be just as long as yesterday, so I don’t want to make plans then have to cancel. That’s no way to start things off. Why don’t we shoot for Friday night? Will that work?”

  “Friday sounds amazing. I promise not to hold a grudge if your work interferes. I fully understand you don’t work a nine-to-five job,” Levi replied softly. He understood it now, but it didn’t mean he wouldn’t grow increasingly frustrated every time the phone rang and interrupted a dinner or nixed plans they made. Vic had been astonishingly patient, but even he lost his cool on more than one occasion.

  Whoa. It’s one dinner. Don’t put the cart before the horse. “I’ll call you tonight so we can work out the details.”

  “Perfect.”

  Sawyer watched Levi make the drinks. His movements were smooth, sure, and practiced, and it was apparent how much he loved his job. When he turned around to carry the coffees over, Sawyer noticed his flush had grown deeper, and he had teeth marks in his bottom lip. Sawyer’s attention had made the man nervous, even if he’d never let on.

  Picking up the coffee tray and pastry bag, Sawyer smiled again at Levi. “Talk to you later.”

  Levi winked. “Later.”

  Sawyer was still whistling when he walked into the precinct fifteen minutes later. Locke glanced up quickly then did a double take, raking his gaze over Sawyer’s attire before meeting his eyes. Locke looked like someone had ridden him hard and put him away wet. Sawyer immediately regretted thinking the familiar phrase. Even though it referenced horses, people could be ridden hard and exhausted too.

  “Wow. I know I accused you of going Rambo, but I didn’t think you’d show up dressed like him,” Locke said.

  “Rambo wore fewer clothes than this. Besides, aren’t you the one who said I had overdressed for the heat. Now you’re complaining because I chose clothes for the field.”

  “Is one of those cups of coffee for me?” Locke asked, letting the subject drop.

  Sawyer set the carrier and pastry bag on his desk then handed Locke’s coffee to him. “Black. Two sugars.”

  “How’d you know?” Locke asked before taking a sip.

  “Really? I’m a detective. I notice things.” Sawyer moved the pastry bag to Locke’s desk. “One of those bear claws is mine.”

  Locke tore into the bag, pulled out a pasty the size of his head, and took a massive bite. “So you think,” he said around a mouthful of food. Even though he didn’t make further remarks about Sawyer’s attire, he seemed to have a hard time looking away from his chest. It made it really difficult for Sawyer to remember to make smart choices when he had that laser-like focus aimed on him.

  Sawyer sat down at his desk, booted up his computer, and reached for the pastry bag. Locke jerked it out of his reach. “I’m not playing with you, Locke.” His partner quirked a brow but relented. Sawyer scrutinized Locke’s appearance. His blond hair was messier than usual. A few of the longer strands in the front broke free from the style and fell over his forehead. Dark blond stubble dusted his jawline, indicating Locke hadn’t shaved. Was it because he didn’t wake up at his own house? Not your business. “Rough night? Too many drinks? You look out of sorts?” So much for minding my own business.

  Locke snapped his eyes up to meet Sawyer’s gaze. “You could say that.” He punctuated the admission with a crooked smirk.

  Sawyer chose to bite into his pastry rather than comment further. He didn’t want to know what, or who, Locke had gotten up to.

  “Does your boyfriend make bears claws better than the chief’s wife?”

  “Levi isn’t my boyfriend. I barely know the guy.” Sawyer took another bite then washed it down with a drink of delicious coffee. “One bear claw is far superior to the other.”

  Locke narrowed his eyes. “You’re not going to tell me which is better, are you?”

  “Hell no. You’ll have to earn the privilege to sample the baked goods in the chief’s office.”

  “Asshole,” Locke muttered under his breath.

  “Adonis Asshole.”

  Locke lifted the hand not holding the pastry, probably to flip him off, but stopped when he saw someone or something behind Sawyer. A huge smile spread across his face, making Sawyer’s chest tight. “There are my best girls,” Locke said, setting his pastry down and rising to his feet. “Candi, come over here so I can introduce you to Sawyer.”

  Fuck me. Suddenly, Sawyer regretted moving to Marcus’s desk. Yes, he wanted to be closer to Locke—for professional reasons—but he didn’t want to upset Marcus’s widow. Unsure what to expect, Sawyer slowly turned his chair and rose to his feet.

  Candace Wilkes was beautiful, even in her grief and exhaustion. Tall. Brunette. Athletic build. She had the kind of face that made angels weep. The smile she gave Sawyer was tired, but her dark brown eyes were warm when she extended her hand toward him. “I’ve heard great things about you,” she said.

  “I’ve heard wonderful things about you too.” Sawyer looked at the infant resting her head on her mother’s shoulder. “Especially this little beauty.”

  “This is Bailey, and she’s the light of my life. Aren’t you, darling?” Locke asked, reaching out his hands toward her. Bailey giggled and launched herself in his direction so fast Locke had to hustle to catch her. “Easy does it, pumpkin,” Locke said, cradling her against his chest and kissing the top of her head. He looked ridiculously good holding a baby, and it did wicked things to Sawyer’s heart. He resented the fact he had to remind himself ten times a day that Locke wasn’t his and would never be his. “To what do I owe this honor, Candi Corn?” Candi Corn?

  “I’d love to say that we’re here to see you, but I’m here to talk to someone in human resources,” Candi said.

  “Is everything okay?” Locke had gone into protector mode, and there went reminder number eleven. Sawyer was curious what the hell was going on there. “Want me to hang on to the little nugget for you? We’ll be heading into a briefing in a few minutes, but I can take her with me.” Bailey reached a chubby hand toward Locke’s mouth, and he made a growly noise and acted like he was going to chomp her fingers. The baby squealed and kicked her feet, reaching for his face with both hands.

  Candi and Sawyer laughed at the pair’s antics, but Candi quickly grew somber. “It’s better I take her with me. The assholes should see who they’re screwing over. I should’ve brought the boys with me too, but they had plans to swim with my sister and their cousins. I couldn’t ruin a good day for them.”

  Ah. The department must’ve been dragging their heels on paying out Marcus’s benefits to her. Why? Because he committed suicide? Sawyer knew there were suicide clauses with most life insurance policies, but Marcus had other benefits that should’ve been paid to his widow. She had a right to be upset.

  “You let me know if you need me to talk to someone,” Locke said, passing Bailey back to her mom. The infant wanted no part of it. She began crying and reaching for Locke—a testament to how much time they spent together.

  Candi was too busy quieting her daughter for a few seconds to respond. Once Bailey settled down, Candi smiled at Locke. “You do too much already.”

  “It’s not enough. It will never be enough,” Locke replied. He leaned forward and kissed Candi on the forehead before kissing Bailey’s chubby cheek. “Just call, okay?”

  “I will.”

  After the two special ladies in Locke’s life left them alone, Sawyer broke the silence. “What’s this about a debriefing?”

  “We’re going to coordinate with CSSO and GBI to spread out and knock on as many doors as we can until we find out where the hell Miller is hiding. Reps from those departments are due to arrive…” Locke checked his watch. “Any minute now.” As if he’d conjured them out of the air, four deputies and six GBI agents strode into the bullpen. “Now if only I could get SPD to pay Candi what they owe her as quickly as I summoned our help.”

  Sawyer shook his head and followed Locke. He recognized the deputies but had never met the GBI agents who had shown up to assist them. After everyone introduced themselves, the MCU detectives assigned to Miller’s apprehension showed the deputies and agents to the conference room so they could get their meeting started and get on the road quicker.