Free Surrendering to the Sheriff by Delores Fossen

to find this kidnapper and get the investigation over and done with so he could settle some personal things with Kendall.
    Well, settle one thing with her anyway.
    The baby.
    Aiden wasn’t sure exactly what Kendall was expecting or not expecting him to do, but there was no way he was going to let her leave without some kind of guarantee that he would be part of his son’s life.
    His son.
    And because that was still a little mind-numbing, Aiden pushed it aside so he could deal with the man who had demanded to see Aiden at the sheriff’s office.
    Robert Joplin.
    Joplin was pain in the rear number one. The second pain in the rear was on the way there to Aiden’s office, as well. Or at least he darn well better be, since Leland had ordered him to come in.
    Palmer himself.
    Talking to his dad’s old foe wasn’t pleasant on any day, but on this particular one, Aiden would have to ask the man some hard questions. It wouldn’t be pretty, but if what the camera footage showed was true, then that idiot who’d shot Kendall had driven the SUV directly to Palmer’s ranch.
    Trust me, boss, you’re gonna want to see this,
Leland had said to Aiden when he called earlier. Leland had been right. Those images were something that could blow this case right open.
    Aiden had another look at that footage that Leland had loaded on the computer in the squad room. Footage taken from a camera that’d been designed to monitor traffic on the interstate. He took his time, examining it frame by frame, despite the fact that Joplin was hollering for him to hurry up so they could talk.
    Kendall watched the traffic footage, too, and she pulled in her breath when the SUV took the turn to Palmer’s place. It was a grainy image but clear enough to see the license plate. Yes, it was the kidnapper all right.
    So, why was he headed there?
    And since Palmer’s ranch was the only place on that entire road, then the man couldn’t claim the hired gun was just paying a visit to someone else.
    “Derek and Sarah are heading out to Palmer’s place now to see if the SUV’s still there,” Leland explained.
    Derek was the most experienced deputy that Aiden had, and he was glad the night-shift deputy, Sarah, was going with him for backup. Though maybe it wouldn’t be needed, and the kidnapper would surrender peacefully.
    Aiden could dream anyway.
    “Does Palmer know about this footage?” Kendall asked.
    Leland shook his head. “I thought it was best not to hear it over the phone. But I did tell him he should probably bring his lawyer.”
    Which Palmer would do. Since he was always operating just above the law, Palmer kept a team of attorneys to make sure he stayed out of legal hot water.
    Leland glanced at the clock on the wall. Nine-thirty. “Palmer should be here soon.”
    That was Aiden’s cue to get moving, and he turned to Kendall. “You want to get started on your statement while I talk to Joplin?”
    She gave him a flat look. “Do you really think Joplin is going to leave without seeing me?”
    He knew the answer to that—no. Since Kendall had worked with Joplin on Jewell’s legal defense, they were allies. Aiden had just wanted to spare Kendall what would no doubt be another confrontation. Not with her. But Joplin sure wouldn’t have any nice things to say to Aiden. He never did.
    “After you talk with him and give your statement, I’ll work on getting you a real protection detail,” Aiden said.
    “Maybe it won’t be necessary if Palmer confesses to everything.”
    Aiden figured pigs had a better chance of flying before that happened. She’d need protection all right, and she would want anyone but him to guard her. Of course, that wouldn’t stop him from doing it, but he did want plenty of backup. That meant a protection detail.
    With Kendall right by his side, Aiden went to his office, and the moment they stepped inside, Joplin jumped to his feet and hurried to her. Much as Seth had done earlier, he took her hand.
    “Are you all