“Where do you think she got the gun?”
He had a few thoughts. What he wanted to know was why she’d done it because wanting him had not been her motivation. “We’ll find out tomorrow. Call me if you need me.”
“Night, Boss.”
Killian drove home, almost detoured to Cedar’s, but it was two in the morning. He checked on Cisco and Lady. Their handler had already fed them. Cisco nudged his hand. “I don’t have any treats. In the morning,” he said, rubbing his head. Lady nickered when he approached her. “I know. I won’t forget you.” He scratched behind her ears in the place she loved, before he closed up the barn and strolled to his house. He checked messages, saw he had one from his mom. He’d call her in the morning. He hadn’t eaten, but he was more tired than he was hungry, and he had to be at Cedar’s in five hours. Walking to his room, he stripped down and was out minutes later.
He was onhis third cup of coffee when he pulled up in front of Cedar’s house. He parked, climbed out. He was early because he wanted to see his dogs, wanted to take them for a walk. He heard Cooper before he saw him, charging from the woods to the left of the house. Max was right behind him and holding up the rear was Cedar. He hunched down and caught Cooper, who almost knocked him over when Max joined them. He rarely stayed away so long. They weren’t used to it.
“I missed you, too,” he said, giving back as good as he was getting.
“Morning, Sheriff,” Cedar said.
“Killian,” he corrected.
She grinned. “Are you hungry?” He was starving. She didn’t wait for him to answer and added, “I’m going to make some eggs and bacon. Told them I’d make them some.” She didn’t look at all repentant about bribing his dogs with food. He bit back the grin. “I’ll make some for you, too.”
“I’d appreciate that.”
“We didn’t get far on the walk when they heard you,” she said, already moving to the house. “Dinner was amazing,” she said, reaching the door and looking back. “Maybe I could get the recipe.”
The thought of Cedar meeting his mom, knowing she’d lost her own; yeah, he could make that happen.
He appreciated that she didn’t hover, didn’t press for answers. He understood because he was the same. It happened when you spent more time with yourself than others. “Enjoy your walk,” she said, before she disappeared inside.
His dogs took off; he followed and reached for his phone and called home. “Hey, Mom.”
“I’m going to kill your father. You’re going to be forced to arrest your own mother, but I can take it no longer.”
He grinned, kept an eye on Cooper and Max, and asked, “What’s he done now?”
“I found his stash.” She was simmering with temper. “Was cleaning our bedroom and found it under the bed in the shoe organizer. The shoe organizer, Killian.”
His parents had been married for over fifty years. They fought, who wouldn’t after all that time, but they were like an extension of one another…unable to function separately. He didn’t appreciate their connection until he got older and realized it wasn’t so easy to find.
“His stash of what?”
“Candy bars.”
He waited because she wouldn’t be that upset that his dad was hording candy. He had a sweet tooth, he always had.
“We’re supposed to be going to California on vacation. A vacation you were so generous to offer us. We made a pact to exercise and get into shape, and he’s sneaking off and stuffing his face with chocolate.” There was still more, so he waited. She exhaled then confessed, “And now that I know where it is, I’m sneaking it, too. There I’ve said it. I have no will power.”
“Mom, you’re being dramatic.”
“Me, dramatic? I’m the least dramatic person I know.”
He chuckled. “The vacation is meant to relax you, to give you time to getaway and enjoy each other. It’s not meant to cause anxiety. And hell, Mom, you and Dad are in better health than most people in town. Sneak some chocolate, live a little.”
Cooper was focused on something, and when he reached him, he realized it was a pile of cigarette butts. The hair at his nape stirred. “Mom, I gotta call you back.”
“Are you coming to dinner on Sunday?”
“Yeah, I might be bringing someone.”
He hadn’t meant to share that. His mom was like a dog with a bone when it came to his love life. “Someone who? Details.”
He resisted the urge to roll his eyes. “Not now, Mom. I’ll call you later.”