Page 32 of The Prey (The Hillers of Barratt County #6)

Gia just held Ryan close as the Wonkus movie played the end credits.

He was so precious. Ryan had been clinging to her and Hudson all day.

She thought she’d passed him back and forth with Hudson a hundred times already.

Hudson had wanted her with him when he explained to Ryan that there had been a fire at his house, but that Daddy and Gia were okay.

Ryan had been afraid and confused, but everyone was doing their best to reassure him that the house would be okay and everyone was safe now.

He'd asked if the fire was because of bad guys. He and Calvin were obsessed with bad guys now. It was no wonder. The bruises were still on Ayla’s face, Gunn still wore his sling, and now there were bandages on Gia’s feet and thighs, and Hudson’s hands.

If she barely understood this, how could two little boys?

Ryan had just drifted into sleep when the sound of cars in the driveway came.

Gia leaned the mini-Hudson version against the pillows.

They had been expecting the visitors all afternoon.

She’d been given strict orders from the TSP Major Crimes detective she knew best—she and Hudson were to stay at the ranch until the detectives from Major Crimes: Homicide could interview them more fully.

Everyone was calling what had happened arson and attempted murder. She knew exactly what kind of charges the man who had done it would be facing. Hudson had been on the phone all morning, now it was time for another official interview.

“I’ll get it,” their unofficial babysitter said. Greer had taken the day off to ride herd on them all: Gunn and Ayla were curled up, sound asleep near one end of the large sectional in the living room.

Gia eased herself to her feet. One foot really hurt, but Genny had checked it that morning, and said it was looking good. She’d double-bandaged it and ordered Gia to wear multiple pairs of socks to cushion it. The burns on her inner thighs stung even more.

And…there was a certain someone who had been pushing what the doctors had ordered him, too. But Hudson was dealing with the police, with his home owner’s insurance, dealing with calls from Mike and Shayna, and even from Judge Collins’s office to determine what kind of delay was needed.

There was a lot that had to be done today. And it was nearly five o’clock. The TSP had made them wait all day—something Charlie had told them was a possibility now with so many in the Major Crimes division having been injured recently. They were spread too thin; Clay Addy had made that very clear.

Greer opened the door to Charlie, and two other men.

She recognized one—Commander Rodriguez. They had met a few times before—and he was the kind of man a woman definitely did not forget.

He was bigger and stronger than even Hudson.

Hudson was around six-foot-five. Commander Rodriguez had at least two or three inches on him.

And a good forty pounds of solid muscle.

She’d always thought he was a beautiful man.

And he was nice and likeable. Charlie, Chantal’s oldest brother, really liked him. It was evident in how they interacted.

The other man was one she hadn’t met before. But Hudson seemed to know him. He was just reserved with Detective MacGregor in that way that told her Hudson wasn’t exactly fond of him. That set Gia on edge, as soon as the man shook her hand.

“Murdoch wanted to be here, but…he’s a bit occupied right now,” Charlie said, after hugging her gently. “Sit. That foot has to hurt.”

“I’ll be just fine. I just want to get this figured out.

Hudson and I have cases waiting, and Hudson needs to hire someone to repair his son’s room.

The faster Ryan is back home, the better it will be for him.

He’s afraid now.” She was worried that he’d be afraid to go to his own room. He was far too little to understand.

“How old is your son?” Commander Rodriguez asked. “I have three kids of my own. My son is four-and-a-half.”

He and Hudson spoke of their sons for a few moments.

The commander was really good at putting people at ease, in spite of his formidable appearance.

Ryan fussed, waking on the couch. Greer was there to scoop him up.

Calvin was with Charlie’s sister and mother at the moment.

Greer promised Ryan that as soon as Calvin was home, she would take them up to see the puppies.

Puppies were always a great distraction.

Once Greer and Ryan were out of the room—after Gia and Hudson had both hugged Ryan and told him everything was okay—they got down to business.

Every case that she and Hudson had had over the last eighteen months was to be scrutinized.

They were getting a warrant for Hudson’s phone records at the office, and just about every possible avenue imaginable had to be discussed. Then it turned to her.

When they were finished, dinner was long past ready and she was exhausted. It was Genny who ordered the questions to end for the night, saying that Gia had had enough. Detective Charlie Fields wasn’t brave enough to go against the future Mrs. Doctor Chad Fields, and that was very clear.

She strongly suspected her little sister might just scare Chad’s big brother or something. That was a highly entertaining idea she and Genny would have to explore later. The TSP were going to come back the next day. Until they had this figured out.

Then, the evening finally ended, and Hudson was knocking on her suite door. Gia opened the door, let him in, and stepped right into his arms.

And let him hold her deep into the night.

Tomorrow…tomorrow would come soon enough. Hopefully, it would bring them the answers they had been looking for.