“You get the real story yet?” Sean asked, cocking his eyebrow up at Donovan’s reaction.
“Yeah, I got it,” Donovan said through gritted teeth. “Eve thinks he killed her mother and I agree with her based on everything she’s told me. He’s a controlling, abusive asshole, and he was making moves on Cammie before Eve got her and Travis out of his grasp.”
“Son of a bitch,” Sean swore. “I’d like a shot at that motherfucker.”
“So would I,” Rusty said darkly.
Sean pointed a finger at Rusty. “You stay out of it. Understand? You leave this to us, Rusty. Do not get involved.”
“Whatever,” she muttered. “I’d still like to kick him in the balls.”
“So what are you going to do?” Sean asked. “What do you want me to do?”
Donovan sighed. “Hell if I know. Yet. I have to talk to my brothers about it. Him being here changes everything. If he knows they were here, then he’s a lot closer on their trail than Eve thought. He may or may not buy that they’ve already left, but at least if he discovered where they’d been living, the trailer is destroyed so he can’t think they would have remained here. Hell, he might even think they were killed.”
“Then he might stick around longer,” Sean said. “If he’s worried that they were hurt or killed in the storm, he’ll be scouring the local hospitals and he’ll likely pull in the local and county police. You know I won’t betray the fact that I know where they are, but I can’t say the same for other officers. You know I won’t let on to them, but if other officers discover information about Eve, then they’ll likely act on it accordingly. If that happens, you’ve got a problem.”
Donovan nodded. “Thanks, Sean. I don’t like you risking your job for me.”
“The day I start siding with abusive assholes and throwing innocent women under the bus in the name of duty is the day I hang up the badge,” Sean said, his tone serious. “If my job ever requires me to hand back over a four-year-old girl to an abusive father, then it’s a job I don’t want anymore.”
There was brief admiration in Rusty’s eyes as she glanced Sean’s way. But it was quickly wiped away by a look of indifference as she listened to the interchange between the two men.
“I’ll go,” Rusty said. “I made sure no one followed me here, just in case you worry that I ran straight here after the guy showed up. I waited a couple of hours. He showed up as soon as the store opened and I played it cool and didn’t leave until later in the morning.”
“I don’t want you back there,” Donovan said seriously. “I don’t want you in this asshole’s presence again. Go back to Mom and Dad’s for now. I’ll talk with Dad later today and let him know what’s going on.”
“I’m going to run too,” Sean said. “I just wanted you to know what I came up with so you could be on your guard. It’s going to be important to keep Eve and her siblings under tight wraps and make sure they aren’t out in public.”
Donovan nodded. “Thanks, Sean. And thanks, Rusty. I’ll talk to you both later.”
Rusty walked out of Donovan’s house, Sean on her heels. She’d parked next to Sean’s patrol car, and she paused in front of them both, turning to confront Sean.
He pulled up short when she turned to face him and took a step back as she stared him down.
“What’s your problem with me, Sean? Why do you still see me as a stupid kid with more brass than brains?”
He blinked in surprise, and then his eyes narrowed. “I don’t have a problem with you, Rusty. I just don’t want you in any danger.”