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“You’re amazing, you know that?”

Heat creeped up my neck at his words. I wasn’t used to being complimented. Sure, my patient’s parents always gushed about how much I had helped, but from Dante it just meant more. Dani wasn’t just a patient anymore.

We heard more vehicles approach, and I was thankful for the reprieve. I went to the window, looking out as Dante had before. We waited a few minutes until the body had been covered before walking outside and joining everyone else.

“Dr. Jefferson, I presume?”

I shook the sheriff’s hand. He didn’t seem to be bothered by my title, so I tried to give him the benefit of the doubt. Normally I was pretty quick to pass judgment on a person given their body language, and their actual language.

I wouldn’t call it a red flag per se, but it did sometimes make things more difficult than they needed to be.

“Well, Danny and I were out here talking, and Detective Henderson appeared out of nowhere.”

“Out of nowhere?” the sheriff asked.

“Look around, Sheriff. Do you see any vehicles unaccounted for?”

“Melissa, try to be nice,” Danny whispered.

“I’m nice,” I disputed, glaring at Danny.

A throat clearing pulled my attention back to the sheriff.

“Please continue, Dr. Jefferson.”

“Fine. Danny and I were talking and Hendersonappearedwith a gun pointed at us.”

“Did he say anything?”

Narrowing my eyes at the sheriff, I asked, “Did he say anything? What kind of question is that? Do you think he just pointed a gun and someone shot him without being provoked?”

The rumble of motorcycles filled the air and Danny mumbled beside me, “Thank God.”

“Melissa!” Travis scooped me off the ground, holding me tight against his chest. Setting me back down, his hands went to my face. “Are you ok?” he asked, pulling back and looking me over.

“I’m fine.”

“What about Dani, is she ok?” he asked, looking around. His shoulders relaxed when he caught sight of her in Dante’s arms. The fact that his concern extended to Dani without being reminded warmed my heart.

“What’s going on?” King asked, standing next to the sheriff.

“Winchester shot Detective Henderson,” the sheriff began.

“From half a mile away on the back of a fucking horse,” Danny added. Apparently, he was quite impressed with that.

“Less than a half a mile,” Winchester pointed out.

“Trying to get a statement, but Dr. Jefferson is less than accommodating.”

My mouth hung open as I stared at the sheriff. “I am accommodating. I’m answering your questions, aren’t I?”

“Are you?”

“Princess, tell me what happened.”

“Danny and I were out here talking when Henderson showed up with a gun. He threatened Danny, telling him not to move. Then he pointed it at me, saying he wanted his daughter back and I was going to help him get her.”

“His daughter?” the sheriff asked.