Renegade (Tin Star K9 Series Book 1) by Jodi Burnett (literature books to read .txt) 📗

past her on his way to the Jeep. Tapping his fingers on the roof, he waited for his deputy.

Caitlyn grabbed a hold of Colt’s solid arm. “This is insane, and you know it. You have no real evidence against him.”

Colt covered her hand with his. “We’ll sort all of all this out, Catie. But we need to find the truth. You understand that, don’t you?” His hazel eyes scanned hers.

He was right, but Caitlyn would have felt better if Colt would’ve sided with her. Does he think Dylan is guilty, too? All the Sheriff’s supposed evidence was circumstantial. It would never stand up in court. Regardless of what Colt said, she worried the sheriff wasn’t after the truth. He simply wanted someone to blame, and Dylan was the easiest target. Caitlyn released her grip on Colt’s arm, and without another word, turned and ran into the house. She needed to call Logan and see if he could recommend a sharp attorney to defend their brother.

11

When Caitlyn slammed the door, Colt felt as though she’d slapped him hard across the face. He was in an impossible situation. He wanted to reassure Caitlyn, but if Dylan did murder Wendy, they had to bring him in.

He approached the Jeep and pinned the sheriff with his gaze. “Do you really think you have enough to hold him? It all seems inconclusive to me. I doubt you have enough evidence to make this stick.”

Tackett glowered at him. “Whose side are you on? Can’t you see past Reed’s pretty sister to the truth?”

“Right now, I’m concerned about legal statutes. I care about the law.”

“I want to get to the bottom of this too, but Reed wouldn’t have come with us if we didn’t force him.” The sheriff opened his door and glanced back through the plexiglass separating them from their detainee. Dylan glared out the window. Colt slid behind the wheel of the sheriff’s Jeep and turned back toward town.

As they all got out of the car in front of the Sheriff’s Office Colt said, “Dylan, we just have a few questions we need you to answer, and if you want, we’ll wait for your attorney. But if you would simply take the DNA test, it would make things easier on all of us.” He took Dylan by the elbow and they followed the sheriff to the door. “The fact is, Catie’s right, you do not have to agree to take that test.”

“What are you saying, Deputy?” Tackett turned around, his face a mottled red. “Do I need to remove you from this case?”

“I’m just trying to do everything by the letter of the law, Sheriff. If you try to force Dylan to answer questions or take a test that he doesn’t want, his attorney will have the court throw all the evidence out.” Colt had been friends with Dylan and Logan practically all his life. He’d played football and baseball with the brothers when they were all in school. He wanted to believe Dylan was innocent, though he had to admit the evidence was pointing in his friend’s direction.

Dylan narrowed his eyes at the sheriff. “There is no way in hell I’m taking that paternity test, and you can’t force me to. Besides, why wouldn’t you assume the baby belonged to that Hague guy? Last night on the news, he said he and Wendy were almost engaged. Did you make him take the test?”

“It’s possible that Jim is the father, and we are gathering all the evidence we can.” The sheriff jerked the door open and marched inside.

Colt looked Dylan in the eye. “Cooperation will go a lot further than fighting with the sheriff. Yesterday, you told us you only said a few words to Wendy at the bar. Had you been seeing her over the last couple of weeks?”

“I’m not answering any of your questions.” Dylan glared at him.

He sighed and escorted Dylan into the Sheriff’s Office. Colt undid one side of the handcuffs and directed Dylan to take a seat in front of the sheriff’s desk before he clipped the open cuff to the chair. “We’ll wait here for your attorney to show up.” He brought Dylan a cup of coffee. “Listen man, I’m just saying, if there’s no way that you’re the father of Wendy’s baby, why not take the test and prove it?”

“Because, I don’t have to prove I’m innocent. You have to prove I’m guilty.”

Colt considered his lifelong friend. “I hope to God we can’t prove that.”

The sound of the slammed door echoed through the house. The force of Caitlyn’s action chased away her sense of helplessness. Her parents rushed out of the kitchen. “What’s wrong? Where’s your brother?” her father asked.

Caitlyn answered as she headed toward the office to let Renegade out. “The sheriff and his deputy were just here. They arrested Dylan and took him back to town—to jail this time.” She opened the door and Renegade waited politely for her to ask him to come out. “Kemne, Ren. You’re a good boy. One of these days, I’m gonna let you bite that stupid sheriff.” She turned back to her parents. “I’m heading home, and on my way I’ll call Logan. I’m sure he can recommend a decent attorney. Besides, we should let him know what’s going on.”

“Will you call us as soon as you know something?” Her mother’s eyes filled with worry, and she wrung her hands in a dish towel. With an equally concerned face, her dad slid his arm around her mom’s shoulders.

“Of course.” Caitlyn gave each of them a hug and a kiss before she and Renegade left through the kitchen door.

In the truck, Caitlyn slid her Glock out of the leather thigh holster she’d worn on the trail yesterday, and opened the firearm safe in the console. She cocked her gun, seating a round in the chamber and then re-filled the magazine before locking it inside the safe and driving away.

Once she was on the forest highway, Caitlyn switched