Not Without Her Family. Beth Andrews

he didn’t.”

      “He’s already admitted he followed Shannon home.”

      “That doesn’t prove anything.”

      “He also admits he and Shannon argued.”

      That shut her up. But only for a minute. “Doesn’t matter. You’re looking at the wrong person.”

      “For your sake,” he said sincerely, “I hope you’re right.”

      He rose and tossed his empty cup in the trash. For some reason that he didn’t want to examine too deeply, he hated the thought of her being involved in this mess.

      “You know,” he said, “the best thing you could do is forget all of this. Go home, go back to your life.”

      “I want to see my brother. Now.”

      Damn, but she was stubborn. And loyal. How would she take it once that loyalty to her brother was proved unfounded?

      “I’m sure Ward is almost ready to leave,” he said. “I can send someone in to get you—”

      “Don’t bother.” She stalked past him and opened the door. “Just tell Dillon I’ll be waiting for him in the parking lot.”

      Before she could leave, Jack caught her by the wrist. “I’m telling you, for your own good, you don’t want to get tangled up in this, Kelsey. Go home.”

      Without waiting for her to respond, he dropped her wrist and walked out the door.

      IN THE SMALL PARKING LOT behind the police station, Jack’s parting words played through Kelsey’s mind as she paced under the midday sun. No matter what he said, she wasn’t going anywhere.

      She needed to stay and help prove Dillon’s innocence. To make sure he wasn’t railroaded for a crime he didn’t commit. No way would she sit back and do nothing while her brother went to prison.

      Not again.

      The door opened and Dillon walked outside followed by a flabby, middle-aged cop. God, how many times growing up had the situation been reversed? How many times had she been escorted out of the local police station only to find Dillon waiting for her?

      Too many. Way too many. After all, she’d been the juvenile delinquent.

      Dillon must’ve read her mind because when he noticed her he said, “Just like old times, huh?”

      “Not funny.” She fell into step beside him, aware of the cop following close behind them. “Come on. I’ll drive you home.”

      Dillon shook his head. “I’m not going home.”

      “Where are you going?”

      “To the hospital.”

      “What?” She stopped and grabbed his arm. “Are you hurt? Did they do something to you?”

      “Relax,” he said, peeling her fingers off him. “They didn’t break out the rubber hoses. I’m going to submit a DNA sample.”

      “Voluntarily?”

      His gaze flicked to the cop who now stood about thirty feet away next to a police cruiser. “Sort of.”

      While she wasn’t sure it was in his best interest to submit a sample, she bit her tongue. “I’ll go with you.”

      “No, thanks.”

      Okay. He obviously still didn’t want her around. Too damn bad. “Look, I’m going to help you whether you like it or not.” He grimaced. “I don’t like it.”

      “Tough. And what the hell are you thinking? Bad enough you’re going to give them DNA, but I can’t believe you gave them a statement without an attorney present.”

      “I don’t need an attorney. I didn’t do it.”

      “I know that,” she said, but nothing changed in his eyes or on his face. No visible relief at knowing she believed in him. “What about the local public defender?”

      He walked away, his long strides forcing her to hurry to keep up. “They offered to call him in, but I refused.”

      “Don’t worry. If they insist on continuing with this bogus investigation, we’ll hire the best defense attorney—”

      “No.”

      “What? Why not?”

      He stopped and frowned down at her. “I don’t want or need your help. There’s no reason for you to get involved. Or to stick around.”

      Kelsey slid a glance to the cop, not fooled by the way he stared straight ahead. She knew he was hanging on their every word.

      She lowered her voice. “I’m not going to leave you.”

      “It’s been a long time, Kelsey.” Dillon sent her a cool look. “I’m not the same person I was back then and I’m not your problem to worry about.”

      “You’re my brother,” she said softly around the tears clogging her throat. “I love you.”

      She read something in his eyes. Something that looked like regret. Or perhaps, sadness. Whatever it was, it told her Dillon wasn’t as unaffected by her words as he’d like her to believe.

      “You shouldn’t,” he said simply, a breeze ruffling his hair. “You need to go back to your life and forget about me.”

      He climbed in the back of the police car. The cop shut the door, got in the front and drove away.

      Kelsey slowly made her way across the parking lot to her car. She climbed in, started it and pulled out into the street. She made it three blocks before she had to pull over. Gripping the steering wheel with shaking hands, she battled back her tears.

      She wiped her eyes. She’d help prove Dillon’s innocence because, damn it, he was innocent.