“My dad is happy and proud,” Sky finished.
“So before the demon nurse gets back,” Chris said jokingly, “we should probably clear out. You have to roll me back to my own room, and then—”
Apparently, the group did still think alike. It was almost as if they’d planned it, rehearsed.
Chris, Mark, Joe, Hank and Brandon all shouted, “Get a room!”
LARRY. LARRY WAS the best dog ever, Sky was convinced.
When they reached her house, her first move was to drop down by the dog and embrace him, scratching and petting him, telling him just how much she loved him.
Larry, of course, lapped it up.
Chase hunkered down by her, stroking the dog as well.
She looked at him. “Hmm. Trey Montgomery was a lecturer turned dog rescuer and trainer?”
Chase shrugged. “Trey spent thirtysomething years of his life working with the police canine division. He worked with all manner of disciplines—drug dogs, cadaver dogs, missing-persons dogs—and he had several of his own that could do just about anything.” He hesitated. “I told him that—that I needed a dog for a very good and loving person who seldom thought about her own danger. Larry had taken a few bullets, and like any good cop, he was rewarded with retirement. But...”
“In the middle of all that happened, you thought to come back for him,” Sky said.
“I was afraid I might have followed you into the bayou or a forest or... I didn’t know. But I knew that if it was necessary, Larry could follow your trail. As it happened, we didn’t need to find you. But everything was on split-second timing, and Larry bought us what we needed.” He hesitated. “I was so afraid that if...”
“That if you hadn’t gotten there when you did, Malcolm or Esposito would have shot me?” she asked, smiling. “Well, my plan was to knock him down and get his gun and hope that I could fire it,” she informed him. “I mean, I did have a plan. I knew I wasn’t just getting on that plane. But...”
“But?”
She smiled. “You did come.”
He leaned over, delicately kissing her lips. “How did we let the years go by?” he whispered.
She shook her head. “It was my fault.”
“No. There is no fault. Sky, I couldn’t put the past to rest, either. And Wellington is an amazing man, brilliant at what he does. He believed in me—which was important. Of course, there were also a number of bad things happening around the state. They’ll still be trying to clean it all up, but that’s going to be for other agents. Hey, no one does this job alone, trust me.”
“And yet you’ve managed to keep it secret—undercover you!”
He shrugged. “No one expects a guy born with a silver spoon in his mouth to run around really working.”
Sky smiled and nodded. “Are we really getting married?”
He adjusted to be on his knees, dodging one of Larry’s paws as the dog rolled over, expecting a belly rub.
“Larry, wait your turn!” Chase said. Then he turned to Sky. “Skylar Ferguson, it would be the greatest honor of my life if you would marry me. Um... I’m supposed to have a diamond. I’ll take care of that—”
“I don’t really care about the jewelry,” she assured him. “You gave me a few amazing gifts already.”
“Oh?”
“Well, Larry for one.”
“Larry is cool. I grant you that.”
“And in truth, you gave me my life.”
“No, kid. You are your father’s daughter. You had everything to do with saving your own life.”
“Okay, then...you’re giving me something I value as much.”
“What’s that?”
“You’re putting your life in my hands!”
He leaned over the dog, taking Sky into his arms, kissing her long and deeply with all the emotion from the depths of his heart.
Larry let out a little disgruntled moan of protest, and they broke apart, laughing.
“I’ll see to Larry’s bowls and all,” Chase said.
“I’ll start the shower.”
“Yeah, shower, that will be good.”
“All touch of monsters gone!” she told him.
And that was it. They scrambled up, Chase heading for the kitchen, Sky streaking up the stairs. She realized how much had happened, and all in the last sixteen hours or so.
And now...
