Page 8 of Justified Fear

“Are you sure they aren’t there anymore?They kept looking for me for a really long time.”

“If they are, they would be in handcuffs,” Ryan said.

She studied him for a long moment, then she nodded.And just like that, she believed him.He had met her just a few minutes ago, and she was trusting him.As they stepped out into the wide open area, she hesitated again.Ryan stepped up close to her, letting his arm brush against hers.He didn’t know why he felt the need to be near her.It probably had to do with the fact that she was putting up a good front, but he recognized she was ready to break.He knew the news she was about to get would push her even more into shock.

HPD had people set up massive lights, and people in the white jumpers were milling around looking for evidence.Keely stopped again, drawing in a deep breath.She released it with a shudder.

“It’s really bad, isn’t it?”she said, her voice just above a whisper.

Ryan put his arm around her.He noticed that Maya was leaning up against Keely’s leg.His partner had picked up how brittle Keely’s emotions were at the moment.

“Ready?”he asked.Ryan sensed that Nikki and Rami were watching them, but he didn’t care.Keely was on the verge of falling apart, but he refused to let that happen.

“Not really, but then, that doesn’t matter, does it?Not in the big scheme of things.”

“We can take a second before they question you.”

She looked at him, worry clouding her eyes.“Am I a suspect?”

“Not that I know of, but we need your account so we can find the bastards who did this.”

She continued to study him, then she nodded.“Yes.Let’s get these bastards.”

“A girl after my own heart,” Nikki said.

Keely jolted as if she had forgotten Nikki was there.She turned her attention to his teammates, and he hated it.Again, he thought it was an odd reaction, and he definitely didn’t want to dig too deep to find out why he freaked out when she wasn’t looking at him.

“Then you should have my pistachio cream-filled malasadas.You’ll want to marry me.”

Then her head whipped around, shame filling her expression.“Oh, that’s horrible.Making jokes at a time like this.”

“Don’t worry.We aren’t judging you.”

“Thanks.”Another whisper.

“Let’s go.HPD has questions for you.”

Panic filled her gaze.“You aren’t leaving me, are you?”

Maya growled beside Keely, and Ryan reached down to pat her head to reassure his partner.

“No.I’ll stay if you want me to.”

She released a breath.“Thank you.”

A shout came from the lanai, and he knew that they had been seen.Keely rolled her shoulders back and straightened her spine.

“Let’s go.”

Ryan ledher to one of the chairs that littered the lanai.That’s when she saw more people dressed like him.HPD were in their uniforms or wearing suits like that frowny detective, Rome Carino.He was good-looking; however, he was nothing compared to the man who’d saved her.Task Force Hawai’i members were dressed in cargo pants and t-shirts.

“Ms.Templeton,” Detective Carino said.

“Please call me Keely.”

He nodded.“Keely.Can you tell us what happened?”

“When the guys showed up with guns, or all night?”