Page 30 of Peril in Piney Woods

“What else did you do?” He looked at his lifelong friend and waited to hear the rest.

“Nothing.” He held up both hands as if to prove his innocence. “I thought I’d talk to Meg, hear her side of it before...”

“Before what?” The anger was back, like acid burning a hole inside Griff’s gut.

“Before doing what I have a sworn duty to do.”

Griff’s mouth worked before he got the words out. “What is it you expect me to do with this information?”

“If she comes back,” Ernie said, his voice subdued with the guilt he no doubt felt, “I need you to let me know so I can come talk to her.”

“You’re going to arrest her,” Griff tossed at him. “That’s your intent, isn’t it?”

“No,” Ernie rebutted. “I’m going to talk to her, and we’ll all figure it out from there.” He stared hard at Griff. “Meg Lewis is a good person, you’re right. And I like her too. But we have to figure this out, okay? She’s a wanted criminal.”

Griff nodded. “Okay.”

Ernie stood. “Thanks. I realize this is hard. Just let me know when you hear from her.”

Griff nodded. “Sure.”

But not until he knew the whole story. No way was he throwing Meg under the bus until he was convinced there was no other choice.

No way in hell.

Chapter Eight

Monday, 11:50 a.m.

Meg had almost made it down the mountain when her cell rang.

Griff.

She couldn’t answer. He would want to know when she was coming back, and she couldn’t tell him that she wasn’t. Not on the phone.

Or maybe the truth was she just didn’t want to hear the disappointment and then the anger in his voice. She didn’t want to field the questions and tell him more lies. It was better this way. Just go.

He and the others she had foolishly allowed herself to grow close to would be safer with her gone, where she could draw the trouble away. The less they knew, the better for all involved. Once anyone who came looking for her realized she had left town, they would follow. She’d already started the process of leaving a trail of bread crumbs to lure them after her.

She’d transferred ninety percent of the cash from her bank account to an online account based in the UK. Her readily usable assets were one of the first items that would be checked. Relocating cash was a huge tip-off that a target was on the move. She hadn’t needed to move any assets to disappear; doing so was only for pointing those who came after her in the right direction she wanted them to go. Smart targets never made elementary mistakes such as that one. Those looking for her would believe she’d gotten soft or rusty, maybe both.

No matter that she’d only been in the running game for fifteen months now. She had learned from the best—from a man who’d spent his life playing the game. Those he sent to retrieve her would be looking for the sort of mistakes they expected her to make after being out of the game for more than a year.

In reality she had made only one mistake. Her cell vibrated against the seat next to her. Griff had left a voicemail.

And he was it.

Meg pulled over at the next gas station. She would fill up here using her one credit card, adding another crumb to the trail. To fill up at this gas station was a reliable indication that she was headed out of town. She climbed out, tucked her card into the slot, then made her selection and placed the nozzle into the fuel filler neck of her truck.

She watched the digits flash on the screen as the tank filled. Listening to the voicemail wasn’t necessary. He probably just wanted to know if she would be back in time for lunch. Hearing his voice wouldn’t benefit the necessary efforts ahead of her.

Staying wasn’t an option.

Leaving was the only choice. A trail would keep her past from endangering Piney Woods, and then she would ghost her followers like a bad boyfriend. Nothing she hadn’t done before.

Preparation was everything, and she was prepared.

The flashing digits stalled and the nozzle clicked, indicating the tank was full. Meg removed the nozzle, twisted on the cap and climbed back into her truck. She tossed her cell phone onto the seat, started the engine and reached for the gear shift.

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