“Why would I let you fucking search me?” the sheriff barks.
“Because if you have something you plan on planting in here, then it’d be smart to have you searched. If you have nothing to hide, then why not let them search you?” Lana goes on, refusing to just shut up as she shoulders her way to my side again.
“You need a leash on her, Bennett. Now step aside if you have nothing to hide,” Johnson barks.
Lana starts to open her mouth, and I slide my hand over it, tugging her closer. She doesn’t fight me, but she does lick my fucking hand like an errant child.
“Let them search you, and I will,” I say with a shrug.
Lana relaxes at my side. She’s fucking brilliant and seriously observant.
Leonard restrains a grin.
“I’m not letting you search me,” the sheriff growls.
“Then I’m not letting you in here.”
“It’s my motherfucking cabin.”
“That the bureau has paid for and leased it until this case is solved. It’s listed under my name. To gain access, you need my permission, or a search warrant, that will have to go through several channels, considering I’m on an active case that involves corruption in this town. You’d be surprised how many people would come pay a visit when accusations like this so conveniently pop up.”
The sheriff takes a step back, his eyes narrowing to slits. He points a finger at me. “Stay the fuck away from my son. This ain’t over. I’ll get you out of my town, boy.”
“It’s SSA Bennett to you, Sheriff. Good luck with that. I’ll be busy proving you’re a corrupt, murdering, lying son of a bitch while you work on getting me out.”
He pales a little, and Lana smirks against my hand; I can feel it. Apparently she’s proud.
She should be.
He could have caused a shit-ton of problems with false bullshit getting planted in here and ‘found’ by him.
Johnson glares daggers at me.
“This is my fucking case! You’re only here as a courtesy!” Johnson snarls.
“This is my fucking team. You’re only here because you’re covering your ass. The director can only do so much for you, Johnson. It’s only a matter of time before people take notice of the attention he’s paying you and this case. Don’t push your luck.”
He curses, and I watch as he and the sheriff turn and walk away. Leonard visibly relaxes, then looks over at Lana.
“How’d you know what he was going to do?” he asks her.
She shrugs as I release her mouth completely, and wipe my wet hand on the leg of my jeans.
“Saw it on some crime episode one time. The bad cop got rid of the good one by framing him with drugs. Figured it was a good possibility in a town like this, and I didn’t want to risk it.”
Elise steps onto the porch. “Hadley’s inside with a camera. She recorded the entire thing. Since Lana is staying here as well, she had the right to block their entry. She did good.”
Elise says this as though she’s surprised.
I cup Lana’s chin and tilt her head up before staring down at her eyes. “Don’t fuck with either of them. The last thing I need is a target painted on your back.”
“I wasn’t fucking with them. I was simply stating my rights as a citizen of the United States,” she says innocently. She even bats her fucking eyelashes, and Leonard snorts, turning away as his body shakes with silent laughter.
“I’m serious,” I tell her sternly.
She continues to bat those eyelashes over faux innocent eyes. “I’ll never just bend over and take it, SSA Bennett. Unless I’m bending over for you, of course.”
Leonard does lose it now, laughing as he walks away. I groan as her lips etch up in a smile. Lisa mutters something, surprising me with her presence as she