Page 22 of Critical Doubt

"What do you mean?"

"He wanted to know what it was all for, how we'd ended up where we are. He felt like the army owed us more than we got."

"Do you feel that way, too?"

"Not really. I could understand where he was coming from, but we all knew the risks. We took them willingly. I said that, and he told me we didn't speak the same language anymore. That's when he told me he needed to be alone. He was definitely angry when he headed to the car. But he wasn't despondent. He was worked up." He paused, running a hand through his hair, realizing he was fighting a losing battle. "I actually don't know why I'm trying to convince you that Todd wasn't suicidal, when I have no idea if he was. Or if Paul was. His fall was bizarre, too."

"Well, hopefully, Todd will be found, and you'll be able to talk to him." She took a breath. "I should get back to Abby. Do you want me to help you find a place to stay? There are some hotels in Ridgeview; it's not that far. I suspect the two inns in Dobbs are full because of the funeral. I know Abby has some out-of-town friends who came in for the service."

"I don't need a hotel; I'm going to stay here."

Her brows shot up in surprise. "Here? Won't that be…strange?"

"I don't care. I need to be here. This is where they were both living. If there's a clue to what happened to them, to their state of mind, it's probably in this house. Besides that, if Todd does make it out of that river, I want to be here for him."

"I'm sure he'd appreciate that."

"I'm not so sure, but I'll be here anyway."

"I guess I'll talk to you later then."

"Let me give you my number," he said. "If you hear anything, call me."

"I will." She handed him her phone so he could put in his number. She then texted him, so he'd have her contact information as well.

He walked onto the porch with her, feeling a little reluctant to let her go. But she needed to be with Abby, and he needed to figure out what had been going on with Paul and Todd. He didn't know how long he had before the bells started ringing again.

Savannah thought about Ryker all the way back to Abby's house. She hadn't had much time to come to grips with his sudden reappearance in her life, and now it didn't appear that either one of them would be leaving Dobbs any time soon.

Ryker would stay until there was news of Todd, and she would stay until she felt Abby could manage without her. Although, it felt a little self-aggrandizing to think that Abby couldn't manage without her. She'd been running her life and Tyler's for years. Even when Paul was alive, he hadn't been around that much. Abby had been the one to keep the family going, and she'd keep on doing that.

But it was different now, because Paul wouldn't be coming home. There was no light at the end of the tunnel for Abby. This was her life now. She was a single mother. Her husband was gone. The big worry Abby had had every time her husband was deployed had come to fruition.

At least Abby had her parents nearby and plenty of friends. As much as Savannah had rebelled against the constraints of the small town, she knew that Abby would be surrounded with love, and that was what mattered.

When she returned to Abby's house, she found her friend alone in the kitchen, making a fresh pot of coffee.

"Where is everyone?" she asked. "I didn't think you'd be on your own."

"I asked them to leave. I just couldn't talk anymore."

"We don't have to talk, either."

"No, you're fine. You know me, Savannah. I don't have to pretend with you. Do you want coffee? I'm making a fresh pot. As exhausted as I am, I don't want to sleep until there's news about Todd."

"I'd love some." She set her bag on the counter. "Why don't you sit, and I'll make it?"

"It's fine. I like doing something normal. Are you hungry? There's so much food here; I need to donate some of it."

She slid onto a stool and grabbed a chocolate chip cookie off a plate. "These look good."

"There are casseroles in the fridge if you want something more substantial."

"I'm not that hungry."

"Where is Ryker? Did he go home?"

"No, he's at Todd's house. He's going to stay there until there's word or Todd comes back. I took your key to let him in; I hope that's not a problem for you."

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