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“I’ve certainly thought about it, but no, I haven’t been able to think of anyone else,” she replied.

“If you do, make sure you immediately give me a call,” Dallas said.

“Suzanna is staying here with me until you get this threat to her behind bars,” Seth said.

“Probably a good idea,” Dallas replied. “The last thing you need is to be alone and vulnerable in your house right now,” he added to Suzanna.

She nodded. “Thanks again for coming by.”

“I’ll be in touch.” With that, the lawman left the house. Seth closed and locked the door behind him and then turned to find Suzanna gazing at him intently.

“What?” he asked.

“Why didn’t you tell me you had a gun?” she asked.

“I didn’t think about telling you. Do you have a problem with it?” he asked.

“No, as long as you don’t leave it lying around for Sammy to find,” she replied.

“That’s why it’s on the top of the refrigerator, and when it isn’t there, it’s locked up in the gun safe in my bedroom. Trust me, Suzanna, I definitely think about gun safety when it comes to my son, but I also want the weapon somewhere that I can grab it quickly if trouble arrives. Okay?”

“Okay,” she replied.

“I need to tell Sammy it’s time for his bath. I’ll be right back,” Seth said.

Seth certainly knew the dangers of kids and guns. The news was filled with tragic stories concerning children who got hold of their parents’ weapons, but he also knew there would be no reason for Sammy to look on top of the refrigerator. He rarely had the gun out, but in these particular circumstances he felt it was warranted to have it close by.

He got his son moving in the direction of the bathtub, and then he went back into the living room, where Suzanna was once again seated on the sofa.

He sank down next to her. “It’s a damned shame Chief Calloway couldn’t get solid alibis for all three of the men you work with,” he said.

She frowned, causing a tiny wrinkle to dance across her forehead. “I just wonder how awkward it’s going to be in the morning when we’re all at work together.”

“They can’t be upset with you for naming them as potential suspects,” Seth replied. “They are all men who are in your life, and they should understand the position you’re in.”

She released a deep sigh. “I guess I’ll find out how upset they are in the morning.”

“At least you can take Arlan Barlow off your suspect list,” he said, hoping to bring a little optimism back to the conversation.

“That’s a relief because I really like Arlan. He’s a nice guy. They are all nice men. That’s why this is so hard to believe.”

Sammy came running back into the room, bringing with him the scent of minty soap from his bath and Lady dancing around him. “Did you wash behind your ears?” Seth asked him. “Because I could have sworn earlier today that I saw potatoes growing back there.”

Sammy giggled. “Daddy, I do not have potatoes growing behind my ears. I wash there every night.”

“Just checking,” Seth replied with a grin. Oh, how he loved the sound of Sammy’s giggles. “Now, I’ll take Lady outside while you get ready for bed.”

Sammy looked at Suzanna. “Will you tuck me in, Mrs. Michaels?”

“I’d be happy to,” she replied. Both she and Seth got up from the sofa. Seth picked up Lady to take her out the back door while Suzanna and Sammy headed down the hallway to his bedroom.

It didn’t take Seth long to take the puppy outside. The night was cold but the sky was clear, showing off a perfect half-moon with a million stars shining down.

Lady finished her business, and then he took her back inside. The minute he unleashed her, she raced out of the kitchen and down the hallway to Sammy’s room.

When Seth entered Sammy’s room, he was showing Suzanna his collection of miniature cars that were in a collector’s case. “Okay, son. Put the cars away, and it’s time for bed,” Seth said.

Sammy put the car he had been showing her back in its place, and then he shut the case and put it back into his closet. He then climbed into bed, bringing Lady up with him. Suzanna sat on the edge of the mattress. “Will you push my hair off my forehead and kiss my cheek and tell me to have good dreams?” he asked her.