Page 31 of Griffin (Stone Brothers #5)

TWENTY-NINE

GRIFFIN

S hay and I sat on the tailgate of my truck watching as scores of officials went in and out of the house and Tate's truck.

The spectacle had brought all the neighbors out to their front yards too.

Dozens of plastic evidence bags were carried out to the trunk of a police car.

Adams said that he got the warrant with the information I'd given him.

He'd tracked down the plate on Kennedy's truck and then found that same truck on traffic cameras near where Roxi's body was found and at the right time for him to have committed the murder.

That evidence, along with the yellow bandana photo, gave him what he needed to convince a judge.

Adams stood on the front stoop of the house giving orders and talking to people who looked much higher up than him on the rank ladder.

"I think that young officer just made his career," Shay said. "Do you know him?"

"Sure do. Grew up with Mike. He always had that flaming red hair and those freckles, and he was kind of pudgy.

That mixed with the fact that his name was Adams earned him the nickname Pugsley.

He's a good guy. Got teased a lot in school but my cousins and I protected him whenever we could.

And it paid off. He always goes easy on us when we've done something stupid.

I went straight to him with your bandana photo.

" I looked at her. She had a glow around her, as if the permanent darkness in her life had lifted for good.

And she was drop-dead gorgeous in the afternoon sunlight.

Shay reached over and took hold of my wrist. She lifted it to get a better look at my hand. The knuckles were swollen and red. "I wonder if they'd let me in to get some ice for your hand."

"Nah, I'm fine."

She lifted my hand to her mouth and kissed the tender knuckles. "I haven't gotten a chance yet to say thank you."

"Hey, you saved yourself, as far as I'm concerned, with your clever detective moves. Very sexy, by the way—that whole killer catching thing."

"Well, the big fucking idiot left a rather key piece of evidence in his laundry. That'll teach him to do his own wash from now on." She sat up excitedly. "He's going to be in prison garb for the rest of his life. Do you think I'll have to testify at his trial?"

"Unless he just confesses, and it seems like they're gathering enough evidence to make it clear he's not getting off."

"Darn. Well, if they call me, I can't wait to get inside that courtroom, staring straight at him as I let the jurors know what a fucking maniac he is.

" More bags were carried out of the house.

The next figure at the door was Kennedy.

His face was still bloody, and his nose was fat. His arms were cuffed behind him.

Shay gasped quietly as the reality hit. "What if Roxi wasn't the first? I knew he was an awful person, but I had no idea he'd actually kill someone. I feel bad for Roxi, and at the same time, I think she might have saved my life. If he had it in him, then I'm sure …" Her voice trailed off.

I put my arm around her shoulders. "No need to dwell on that. You're free, baby, and that asshole is out of your life for good."

Shay stiffened as they walked Kennedy down the front steps. He managed to find Shay in the flurry of activity. She shivered once as his gaze landed on her.

"He's never going to get near you again," I said.

She stared back at him. "Nope, but I'm going to get near him once more." She hopped down from the tailgate. I followed. Shay put up her hand. "It's fine. He's cuffed." She smiled down at my two rock-solid fists. "Badass looks very good on you, by the way."

She turned back around and marched toward Kennedy. His jaw tightened as she neared him.

"You fucking asshole. You made my life a living hell.

I hated every second of being with you, and I hope you spend the rest of your life constantly having to duck behind corners and flinching anytime someone raises a hand in the air.

You murdered someone famous, so you're going to be well-known in that prison.

I'd wish you luck in there, but I certainly wouldn't mean it.

By the way, I'm dancing again. That's right.

You clipped my wings once, and now I've clipped yours. "

Shay turned around. Her straight posture crumpled as she ran straight into my arms and collapsed. I stared at the asshole over her head, and he gave me back a murderous look.

I led Shay back to the truck, and we climbed inside. Shay scooted next to me and held my arm as if she planned to never let it go. "That felt good," she said through sniffles.

"I'll bet. Let's get the fuck out of here, ballerina."