A Promise to Protect (Logan Point Book #2): A Novel Read Online Free PDF

“Do I need to take Leigh’s statement, or did you already get it?”
    “We haven’t gotten around to it.” Ben gave her a sour look. “Been trying to talk her out of staying here.”
    “What’s wrong with that?” Wade looked puzzled. “Whoever did this took their time, and either they found what they were looking for or gave up. Don’t think they’ll be back.”
    “Don’t tell her—”
    “My thoughts exactly,” Leigh said. She hadn’t expected an ally in Wade and shot Ben an I-told-you-so look. In answer, Ben folded his arms across his chest, his mouth clamped tight.
    “I would put new locks on since there’s no sign they broke in.” Wade eyed her. “Unless you left the door unlocked.”
    “I didn’t, and I don’t see Tony leaving it open.”
    “She’s not staying without protection.” Ben scowled at her.
    “I don’t need a bodyguard, and that statement you mentioned—can it wait until tomorrow?” She glanced at the clock over the sink. “I mean, later this morning. I have to straighten the living room before I pick up my son in five hours, and I could use a little sleep.”
    “Tell you what,” Ben said. “Why don’t you let Wade and the other two deputies straighten up in there while you give me your statement.”
    “Whatever.” Anything that would get him out of her house and out of her life.
    As soon as Wade left the kitchen, Ben flipped over to a new page in the notebook. “You’re not staying here by yourself.” Before she could comment, he continued, “Did Tony ever say anything about a flash drive?”
    “For the tenth time, no.” She cocked her head. “What is this flash drive you keep mentioning?”
    “When Tony called this afternoon, he said he was bringing one to our meeting, but I didn’t find it in his pockets. Didn’t find his cell phone either.” He scratched his head. “You’ve had a little time to think . . . do you have any idea why he wanted to meet with me?”
    “Not a clue . . . unless it was about . . .”
    “About what?”
    “He’d been taking my son to church.” She pressed her lips together. “Said he’d found Jesus. I caught him a time or two talking to himself. When I questioned him, he just said he had some things to fix.”
    Leigh picked up Bear from the counter and hugged the stuffed animal to her chest. “One night he had a nightmare, and he was yelling in his sleep . . . something about dogs. I figured it was just a silly dream.”
    “A dog?” Ben’s head jerked up. “He talked about a blue dog before he died. I don’t know if it had to do with my dad or the flash drive. You’re sure he didn’t tell you anything else? Maybe something that didn’t sound relevant?”
    “I don’t remember him mentioning the color of the dogs.” She rolled her neck. “I wish I could help you, but like I said, we haven’t had a lot of time to talk. I’ve been busy, settling in at the hospital, and Tony . . . well, he wasn’t home a lot. Talk to Ian Maxwell—he was more than Tony’s boss. They were pretty tight.”
    Ben walked to the coffeemaker and poured himself another cup.“Do you know if he was friends with anyone else at Maxwell Industries?”
    “Ben, I’ve only been back a month.” She shrugged. “Other than Ian and Danny Maxwell, I don’t know anyone at the plant, and I certainly don’t know any of his gambling buddies. Tony never brought anyone around. He kept his work life separate from our family time.”
    Ben glanced around the small kitchen. “Do you know why he’d live here instead of a fancier house? I mean, I’m sure Maxwell Industries paid him well, and from what I understand, he usually won at gambling. He had a roll of hundred dollar bills in his pocket.”
    “He liked it here, and he didn’t have many needs. But he’d been talking about building a bigger house.” She stared into space. “I warned him that he had no business carrying that much money around.”
    For the next fifteen minutes, Ben