Page 66 of The Fragile Ones

“You haven’t asked me what I got you for your birthday,” he said.

“Okay, what did you get me for my birthday?” She played along but closed her eyes and listened to the sounds of the evening.

“Katie?”

“Yes?” She snuggled against him closer.

Chad put his hand under her chin and kissed her. “I have something for you, but you don’t have to accept it.”

“What do you mean? Like, I can take it back?”

“Katie…”

She opened her eyes and looked at him. His face was serious, which made her sit up. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing is wrong. I love you, Katie Scott. Everything about you. I know you’ve been fighting your experiences from the battlefield, but I love you. I’ve come to the conclusion that I will always love you, no matter what.”

Katie couldn’t say anything, she just stared at him.

“That’s why…if you’ll have me…I want you to be my wife,” he said, pulling out a ring and holding it up to her. “Katie, will you marry me?”

Katie sucked in a breath. She always knew it might happen, but she wasn’t prepared for it. She had thought about it—more nights than she cared to admit. Pushing out all the noise in her head, she whispered,“Yes, I’ll marry you.”

He put the sparkling solitaire diamond ring on her finger. “I love you,” he said.

“I love you too,” she said and kissed him.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Saturday 0830 hours

Katie took the turns on her familiar back road faster than she should on her way to work—she knew every curve of the road and could probably drive it blindfolded. A good night of sleep had given her the energy she needed to find Tessa and Megan’s killer—nothing was going to stop her, even if she had to stay in Rock Creek until she did.

Her life had taken a positive turn for once. She was overcoming her anxiety, and the love of her life wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. The buzz flooded through her veins and lit a fire inside her to get justice for those two little girls who would never grow up and fall in love.

Her cell phone rang and she flicked on the hands-free setting.

“Scott,” she said.

“Are you on your way?” said McGaven, his voice anxious.

“Yep, about ten minutes out.”

“You got your wish.”

Katie waited for the news.

“They’re bringing in Darren Rodriguez as we speak. And it appears that he also has a warrant in Sequoia County for assault in a bar fight. Aren’t we the lucky ones?”

“Yes!”

“They’ll bring him up from holding and you’ll be interviewing him in about an hour. We’ve impounded his truck at the police garage. John will be all over it.”

“Great news. Thanks, Gav. See you in a few minutes.”

Katie and McGaven stood in the general area of the detective division waiting for the correctional officers to bring up Rodriguez. Katie gripped the file folder and notepad in her hand as she felt her jaw constrict. She had a lot riding on this interview and she needed the interrogation to go her way.

“You okay?” he whispered.