“Dustin was too. Maybe he sent you an early Christmas present but didn’t want you to get it and open it.”

She nodded. “So, he sent it to Mrs. Howard for safekeeping?”

“Possibly.”

She squinted at the label. “He mailed it two days before he . . . jumped.” She swallowed. “I’ll have to go by and get it, along with the rest of the mail I had forwarded to her.”

And soon.

Gavin’s phone rang and he excused himself to answer it. She heard him say, “Yes sir, I’m fine, thanks.” Then he slipped from earshot.

“Who’s that?” Sarah asked, a picture album in her hand.

He shrugged and took the book from her. “Not sure. Give him a few minutes. He’s still got clients to keep happy.”

Clients he’d put on hold so he could be with her.

She bit her lip, unsure how she felt about that—a bit guilty or very glad.

Mostly . . . both.

Gavin hung up with the general and joined Caden and Sarah in the small living area where he found Caden on his phone and Sarah looking through a picture album and swiping tears. He grabbed a tissue from the box on the coffee table and handed it to her.

“Thanks,” she whispered and sniffed. “Sorry. Everything okay with you?”

“Yes. Just a client seeking some reassurance.” All true.

She shut the book. “So many good memories with my mom and brothers. I don’t look back often because . . .” She shrugged. “I just don’t, but we had some good times.” He wrapped an arm around her shoulder and she leaned into him. “I can’t believe he’s gone. I know I keep saying that, but it just hits me over and over. I stop thinking about it for thirty seconds and then it’s back like I’m just learning about his death for the first time.”

“That’ll ease, Sarah. It’ll take time.”

“I know.”

“I know you know.”

Caden turned and tucked his phone in the back pocket of his pants. He raised a brow at the two of them and their coziness, but Gavin didn’t care.

“That was one of the detectives who’s allowing me access to all of the information on the shootings,” Caden said. “Wilmont is waking up and so is Mrs. Nelson, Brianne’s friend. I’m going to head to the hospital and see what I can find out.”

Sarah jumped up with a slight wince. “I want to come too.”

“Maybe we should sit this one out,” Gavin said. She turned with a raised brow. He held up a hand. “Or not.”

“Thank you.”

Caden hesitated, then with a glance at Gavin that swung back to Sarah, he shrugged. “Keep your investigative instincts under control and that’s fine, but just know that if you get in the way, they’ll remove you.”

Sarah shot her brother a dark look. “I’m not an idiot.”