Page 71 of Locked In Ice

Funny thing about having your face splashed all over the news and social media.At first, tons of people had recognized him.There had been whispers and gossip wherever he went.But the more time that passed, the more people forgot.

Not his story.It was too wild not to remember.The man who’d gone to jail for multiple murders.The suspected serial killer who’d attacked women who looked just like his twin sister.The guy who broke out of a maximum-security facility and vanished.

Only to eventually be proven innocent.

Yeah, people rememberedthatstory.

But they tended to forget his face.They knew Lane Lawson was tall and dark-haired.That was about it.Most people couldn’t pick him out of a lineup.

Funny how minds worked.Over time, images just became blurry.Memphis had told him that would happen.He’d said it was one of the reasons why eyewitness testimony could be so unreliable.People forgot.Images shifted.

Happened to most people, sooner or later.

Apparently, it hadn’t happened fully yet for Beau.Or he wasn’t like most people.

Ophelia’s father had recognized me, too.Two for two.Shit.

“He’s not a killer.”Ophelia’s voice.A distinctly annoyed voice.

A glance over his shoulder showed her glowering as she stood just a few feet away.She advanced, her steps silent on the floor, and he wondered just how much she’d overheard.

“Lane was completely cleared of all charges,” Ophelia added when she stopped right next to Lane.Her shoulder brushed against his.“And, Beau, seriously, you know that people who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.”

“Youcleared me,” Beau exclaimed.

“Yep, I did.Little old me.Cleared you of the murder charge that could have sent your world crumbling down.”

“And I’m letting you rent the office upstairs for a steal as a thank you!”

Lane glanced between them.

“Where is my key, Beau?”she asked, voice turning all sweet.

He’d learned that when Ophelia went sweet, trouble was coming.What angle is she working now?

“It’s locked in my office safe,” Beau replied.“Same place it always is.”

“Gonna need you to show me the key.”

“Are you serious?”

“Dead serious.There were no signs of a break-in upstairs.Seeing the key would make me feel a whole lot better.”

What could have been pain flashed on Beau’s face as he jumped from his bar stool.“You think I would break into your place?”

“I think I’d just like to know where my key is.”

Muttering, he led the way back into his office.

Lane started to follow—

“That didn’t look like you two were being nice.”

His head turned.He leaned down and his mouth brushed over her ear.“I don’t remember ever saying that I amnice.”

“True.”

His lips grazed her ear.

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