Dare to Take (Dare to Love 6)

“Damn straight.” Tyler disconnected the call and turned to Ella. “I want to head down there and see what this guy knows. Are you up to it?” he asked, squeezing her thigh.

“Damn straight,” she said, meeting his gaze and with a firm nod.

He grinned and pulled out of the parking spot. A little while later, she sat in the police station in a wooden chair, Tyler beside her, waiting for the arresting officer to arrive and speak to them.

Neither of them spoke, so she focused on the busy precinct, so many people bustling past them she lost track, and she took to studying the dingy beige walls before, finally, a young, uniformed officer walked over.

“Ms. Shaw?” he asked.

She nodded, jumping up from her seat. “I’m Ella Shaw.”

“Officer DeCarlo,” he said, extending his arm, and they shook hands. He glanced at Tyler, standing possessively close beside her.

Ella cleared her throat. “This is Tyler Dare. Can you tell me what happened?”

He inclined his head toward Tyler before continuing. “Let’s talk over here.” He gestured for them to follow, and they walked over to an empty desk, where Ella seated herself in one folding chair. Tyler leaned against the wall, arms crossed over his chest, and the officer took his seat.

Officer DeCarlo glanced at papers on his desk, then looked up at Ella. “Someone in your building called in a suspicious guy loitering outside. We picked up a man with dark hair, a”—he glanced down as if to confirm—“Diego Santana, and took him in for questioning. I also pulled records that indicate your apartment was the subject of an attempted burglary a few weeks ago, so we were working that angle when we questioned him.”

Tyler braced a hand on the back of Ella’s chair and asked, “What did he have to say?”

“Considering the outstanding warrant and the fact that a search shows he’d just returned from St. Lucia, the same day you did, he was happy to talk.” The officer smiled at the question, his white teeth gleaming against his tanned skin.

Ella clenched and unclenched her fists, nauseous at the reminder of her ordeal there and how it had truly followed her back here. “Is he the guy who mugged me?”

Tyler placed a hand on her shoulder, steadying her. As usual, she was grateful for his presence and support.

“Yeah.” The officer scratched his head. “But we can’t get him for that attack since it took place out of the country. But apparently he was looking for a piece of hot jewelry.”

“Excuse me?” Ella asked, unsure she’d heard correctly.

“Apparently he was looking for stolen jewels from a museum on the island.”

Ella’s stomach twisted painfully. “Stolen?” The word came out a croak, and it was no wonder. The hotel clerk had told her a story about a stolen necklace that looked very much like the one her boss had given her for safekeeping.

She didn’t want to think that Angie would do something that would endanger her in any way, but it seemed like when it came to Angie, Ella’s instincts were totally wrong. Tyler’s and Luke’s were right on target.

Officer DeCarlo met her gaze, clearly assessing her. “Yes. He claims he’s working with a group who wants to return the piece to the museum and the people of St. Lucia,” the dark-haired man said.

“Then why didn’t he go to the police on the island? Why mug Ella?” Tyler asked.

The other man shrugged. “He says there were so many duplicate necklaces floating around, the island police would never have believed that a female tourist got her hands on the real one.”

“What female visitor?” Tyler asked in a tight voice.

“He thinks you have the necklace,” the officer said, pointing at Ella.

Her mouth ran dry, and she had to force the words out. “I do.”

“Ella,” Tyler barked, a definite warning note in his voice. He wanted her to keep quiet, but she couldn’t.

“No. I have the necklace. My boss gave it to me on St. Lucia for safekeeping. When I finally returned home, I offered to return it the day I went back to work, but she said to keep it until she needed it.”

With a narrowed gaze, the officer studied her. “And where is the necklace now?” he finally asked.

“In the safe in my apartment. But I didn’t steal it,” she rushed to add.

But clearly Angie had.