CHAPTER Seventeen
When Officer Banks pulled up to Ross’s house, Ross met him outside, hoping for good news—hoping he had arrested Shane Simpson. However, he could tell by looking at the officer’s face that his news was anything but good.
“Evening, Mr. Paine,” Officer Banks began. “I’m afraid I’m not coming with the news you want.”
“Yeah, I kinda figured by your expression,” Ross replied.
“Shane Simpson has packed up and moved on.”
“What? How could you let him slip through your fingers?”
Feeling a bit attacked, Officer Banks went on the defensive. “Now listen here, we’ve done everything we could. We questioned Simpson this morning, but didn’t have a damn thing to hold him. That’s the law, Mr. Paine. That’s not our fault.”
Ross felt sorry about his tone, but his disappointment got the better of him, and the news made it clear that the people he cared for were not safe.
After getting through their initial tiff earlier, Camille had the chance to tell him all about Shane following her back from Eldon.
With Simpson now in the wind, everyone would still be on edge.
“I’m sorry. I just want this whole thing to be over.”
“You and the whole greater lake area,” the officer reminded him. “We’re still pursuing Simpson as a suspect. The investigation isn’t over.”
Camille, Nolan, and Janelle had moved outside and heard the exchange.
It was clear that they were all equally disappointed.
But Nolan and Janelle knew they held the kind of information the officer needed to nail Simpson, and they prepared to relay it.
They both felt guilty that Simpson had skipped out before they came forward, making it much more difficult to catch him. Nonetheless, Nolan spoke up.
“I’m pretty sure I have some of that evidence you need, Officer Banks.”
Following Nolan’s lead, Janelle decided it was time to purge herself of all lingering aspects of Shane Simpson. “Me too.”
Officer Banks got more than he bargained for on his courtesy call.
As both Janelle and Nolan told their stories, both knew that they might have charges brought against them for aiding a crime, but for both of them, freeing their minds of their guilt and helping put a killer behind bars took top priority.
When all was disclosed, Officer Banks asked both Janelle and Nolan to come to the station in the morning for a more formal interview, and both agreed.
Feeling a little safer, Nolan decided to accept the officer’s offer to escort him home.
Janelle was also feeling a little braver and felt it might be okay to seek a hotel room now that the danger surrounding Shane Simpson had moved on.
“Officer Banks, would you please escort me to The Nest on Highway 54? I’m going to get a room for the night and then think about going back to my house sometime tomorrow.
” Janelle was grateful for Ross’s offer, but she also thought getting a hotel room was a better idea since the situation had changed a bit.
“Certainly, ma’am,” he answered.
Neither Camille nor Ross piped up and extended the couch offer. Both were more than ready to get rid of all these people, especially Ross, who wasn’t used to so much company. With everyone finally gone, Camille felt as if she needed to repeat her apology.
“Hey,” she said, grabbing Ross by the belt loop and pulling him a little closer. “I’m usually not a jealous person, so I’ll try to keep myself in check from now on,” she said, rolling her eyes as if to mock her silliness.
Ross thought her extra apology was the cutest, and as he stood there listening, he got caught up in her gorgeous, brown eyes and perfect, pouty lips. He couldn’t wait until she finished talking so he could kiss her and carry her off to bed.
When her unnecessary apology concluded, Ross let his actions speak for themselves.
He took his thumb and brushed it across those tempting lips right before leaning down and kissing her sweetly, then he took her hand and led her into the bedroom.
Ross was determined to prove he was interested in only one woman, even if it took all night.