Page 16 of Critical Doubt

"There's nothing to say. I'll follow you to Abby's house."

"All right." She seemed relieved to move away from the very personal conversation they'd just gotten into, and he should be relieved as well. There was no going back. Getting to know Savannah was pointless. And he certainly didn't need her to get to know him, not now, not in the state he was in. As soon as Todd was found, he'd be on his way back to his boat, to his solo existence, to the quiet that kept him from going insane.

Chapter Four

Savannah's heartwas beating way too fast, and it didn't just have to do with the horrifying events of the last few hours. Being with Ryker again was more than a little unnerving. She didn't know what to make of his renewed interest in her, but she did know that nothing would come of it. She certainly wasn't going to sleep with him again. She couldn't go back in time and recapture that moment, that incredible memory. It wouldn't be the same. It would only end in disappointment. She needed to keep her gaze on the horizon, to only look forward. That was where her future was. And that future didn't include another night with Ryker, even though she had to admit he was as sexy and attractive as ever.

But there was another dimension to him now that she didn't quite understand. Maybe it had always been there, or perhaps it had come with the accident that had taken him out of the army, away from the job he loved. He walked and ran with a bit of a limp, but he'd jumped into the river with no thought to his safety, and he'd been strong enough to battle the currents for several miles. He obviously had some physical limitations, but she suspected the psychological wounds went deeper.

When she'd found him at the river, he'd shouted at her to stop. Only, she didn't think he'd been talking to her. He'd been lost in his head. He'd given her a tortured, haunted look that had shaken her to the core. The man she'd been with had been charming and fun, reckless and bold, with an infectious confidence. That night, he'd made her realize that the power was in her hands. She could change her life. She could be who she was and not who everyone else wanted her to be.

But that night was five years ago.

This night was only about Todd and Abby. She needed to keep her focus on the present.

Picking up her phone, she punched in a number. Flynn MacKenzie's voice came over the line a moment later. Flynn ran the special task force to which she was assigned. But he was more than her boss, he was also her friend. They'd met at Quantico five years ago when they were in training, and since then they'd been through a lot together. There were few people she trusted more than him.

"How's it going?" Flynn asked. "Is your friend all right?"

"She's hanging in there, but there's been a development. I'm not going to be back tomorrow."

"What's happened?"

"After the funeral, Paul's best friend ran his car off the road and into the river. He's now missing. I can't leave Abby with this going on. It's too much."

"Of course you can't leave. Is he alive?"

"I don't know. They found the car and he wasn’t in it, but the river is running high and fast. He's an ex-soldier. He's strong. He could survive, I think. I hope."

"I hope so, too. Take as much time as you need."

"Thanks. I might also need your help at some point. This is a small town, and the local cops don't have a lot of resources."

"Whatever you need, Savannah, just ask."

"I'm not sure yet. The chief is marking his territory, and I'm definitely on the outs with him. We have a personal history. But I'm still hoping he'll work with me to get answers."

"What answers? I thought it was an accident."

"It's possible there was another vehicle involved. I don't know. Something feels off about it to me, Flynn." She paused, unable to put her finger on her uncertainty, but it was definitely there.

"I've never known your gut to be wrong, so follow it."

She appreciated his confidence in her. It was nice to be reminded that in her current life people did actually respect her.

"Although," he continued, "it sounds like you'll be spending more time in your hometown, and that's never your favorite thing to do. Have you seen your father yet?"

"Yes. We had an awkward and cold conversation—like always. Hopefully, there won't be another one. But, at the moment, he's the least of my concerns."

"Let me know if you need help. I can always fly out there."

"You can't fly out here. Isn't Callie's birthday on Friday? Isn't there some big, romantic proposal in the works?" she teased.

"I'm not sure I should do it on her birthday. She might expect it," Flynn said. "I like to keep her on her toes."

She smiled at the note of love in his voice. Flynn had finally found his match a few months earlier, and it was nice to see them moving forward in their lives. "I'm sure you will keep her on her toes no matter what you do, because unpredictable is your middle name."

"Actually, I think that might be your middle name, Savannah. You're never who anyone thinks you are."

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