Page 38 of Peril in Piney Woods

“I recognize that it may seem like I am when you consider what’s happened the past couple of days. But I have never taken a life unless mine or someone else’s was at stake and there was no other option except to intervene with deadly force. If I was a merciless killer, those two men who invaded my shop would be dead. Lizbeth—Darlene—would definitely be done. She doesn’t deserve to keep breathing, but I chose not to make that decision since I had the situation under control without having to end her life.”

Griff pressed her with those golden eyes that made her want to say whatever was necessary to reverse this situation.

“Then why are your fingerprints connected to that name?”

Her jaw dropped. “How do you know that?” She had figured Darlene or her dead friend gave him that name.

A horn blew behind them.

Meg put her hand on the console as she whipped her head around. The driver behind them threw up his hands in question. Meg realized the light had changed back to green, and they’d just been sitting there. Griff realized the same and hit the accelerator.

“Ernie worried there was something else going on after the attack on you by the Joneses, so he ran your prints. The Los Angeles Police Department responded almost immediately.”

Of course they had. Great. No wonder Lorenzo had gotten someone here so quickly. He had eyes and ears in the LAPD. Same with the sheriff’s department in Los Angeles County and numerous others. The man owned the West Coast.

When Lorenzo didn’t hear from Lizbeth in a timely manner, or if he did, assuming Ernie allowed her a phone call, he would send others. He wouldn’t stop until she was dead.

She had to get out of here.

“Where are we going?”

She needed to think. Things were complicated now. There would be no slipping away with no strings, leaving this man and all else behind. Lizbeth would believe that Griff was in this with Meg. She would hunt him down and use him for luring Meg back.

“We need to hide for a bit.” She considered the options. “I need to figure out my next move.”

Silence radiated between them for a mile or so. Meg wished it hadn’t come to this. She wished Griff had never needed to know about her past. If she hadn’t seen the guy at the Gas and Go—but then Jennifer would likely be dead—maybe she would still have her carefully structured quiet life.

But her life was not more important than Jennifer’s. Meg had done the right thing, and she would do it again. Damn it.

“I might know a place.”

Meg waited for him to go on.

“Ernie has a cabin.”

She laughed. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea, considering he thinks I’m some sort of hired killer, and this woman who called herself Darlene will spin an even nastier tale—assuming she doesn’t kill him.”

“Ernie won’t do anything if I tell him we need time.”

Meg wondered if he really believed Ernie would go along with the idea. “Ernie is a lawman,” she reminded him. “I’m not so sure he’s going to want to go along with this idea, even for a lifelong best friend.”

Griff sent her a look. “He’s worried about you. About us. He will give you a chance.”

Meg contemplated his statement for a moment before saying more. “Does that mean you’re giving me a chance as well?”

She might be getting soft, but she wasn’t a fool. This could be a ruse to get her captured and him free of her. If she were in his shoes, that was exactly what she would do.

“Why wouldn’t I?”

That was the big question. Why wouldn’t he? Because he was a good person.

No question. She knew this with complete certainty. Ernie was a good person too.

“Okay. We’ll go to Ernie’s cabin and regroup.”

It might be the last decision she ever made, but she was willing to take the risk.

Deep Woods Trail

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