Page 2 of Laura's Truth

“So says your pride.” Nicole turned to Eva. “He went white.”

Eva nodded, understanding. “I was glad to be sitting down when you pointed him out to me. And I only heard the stories after the fact.”

Nicole glanced at her husband. “Rick told me I didn’t want to know what happened.”

“You don’t,” Eva agreed.

“She’s right.” Ross raked a hand through his hair. “Was he ever in contact with anyone involved with the case we just closed in Charleston?”

“No,” Rick replied.

“This was the only time he showed up during our surveillance,” Nicole added. “I went through all the photos. Best I can tell it was just a fluke encounter.”

Ross wished he believed in those. “This is crazy,” he insisted, trying to believe it, and failing. “I was there,” he muttered. “I saw him die.”

Rick stepped forward. “Then why can’t I look into it?”

On another oath, Ross rubbed at the tension gripping the back of his neck. He came around and sank into one of the empty chairs in front of Eva’s desk. Looking up at Rick and Nicole, his stomach clutched with worry about the potential fallout. Together Rick and Nicole had found an unexpected happiness. He refused to put that in jeopardy.

“I believe the bastard is dead. Everything we saw, every after-action report, agrees with that conclusion. But if anyone could find a way to cheat the Grim Reaper and cause problems, it’d be Garner. I won’t take that chance with any of you. It was too close the first time.”

Rick bobbed his head. “If he recognizes one of us, you think he’ll shoot first and ask questions later.”

Gun, knife, or improvised weapon, Garner wouldn’t hesitate to kill. “That’s how he works. Worked.” Ross rapped the knuckles of his clenched fists on the arms of the chair. “He wouldn’t have a choice. You and I pose a major security risk to a surviving Garner. How old are those photos?”

“Forty-eight hours,” Nicole replied.

“He might be long gone already,” Rick said.

“The man who looks like him might be long gone,” Ross corrected. “I’ll make a call and let you know what I hear. Odds are this is one bizarre misunderstanding.” God help them if it wasn’t. If Garner had survived, it wouldn’t have been due to the divine intervention of a benevolent god.

“All right.”

“Promise me you’ll stay away from this.” Ross looked first at Rick, then Eva, and finally Nicole. He didn’t want anyone using her as a loophole to poke around in this situation. “I mean it.” The vice grip squeezing the air from his chest loosened as each of them reluctantly gave their word.

Ross pushed himself up and out of the chair, feeling a hundred years older than when he’d walked into the room minutes ago.

“One thing, boss,” Rick stopped him when he reached the door.

“What’s that?”

“Promise us you’ll do the same. I need to know you’ll stay away from this too.”

“I promise,” Ross said. “We all have better things to do than search for a ghost who wants company in the grave.”

Chapter 1

Thursday May 22, Charleston, South Carolina

Drew Garner would never have willingly chosen this season to visit Charleston, South Carolina. In June the city was full of tourists, cameras, and—God help him—brides with full entourages. Too bad his target wasn’t as discreet.

Though he successfully avoided most of the subtle security cameras around town, it was impossible to dodge the myriad photographers eager to document each minute of vacations, weddings, and every perfect flower blossom.

With too many cameras for him to steal and too many people to follow and corrupt the pictures, the whole thing was obnoxious. Worse, it meant trouble. He felt it like an itch at the back of his neck. He’d been officially deceased for years and, for his benefit and the safety of others, it should stay that way.

Charleston was too close to people who were both capable and willing to stop his heart for good this time. If they got wind that they’d been duped years ago, he couldn’t imagine it would take long for them to correct the error.

It might already be too late. This morning he’d suspected someone was following him, though he had yet to pinpoint the precise individual. More likely a team, but even a team could unravel if Drew only identified one member—just one weak link in the system.

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