Page 16 of Murder at Rescue Ridge

A toothbrush was the best thing he’d seen so far today. He washed up and brushed his teeth before rejoining the others in the kitchen. He hurried since Nikki didn’t know the Zilkers but was pleasantly surprised to find her telling stories of hard tests and her grueling law school schedule.

Hank asked, “Are you planning to finish school?”

“Haven’t decided,” Nikki said as the smells of sausage, eggs, and gravy filled the air.

“What do you mean?” Hank’s eyebrow shot up. “You’ve come this far. Don’t you want to see it through?”

“I don’t know,” Nikki said, shrugging. “I haven’t decided if I love law school or just wanted to have something to talk about with my father.”

“Did you not know him very well?” Irene asked as she set plates of food down in front of them.

“Afraid not,” Nikki admitted.

“His loss, if you ask me,” Hank said before picking up his fork and shoveling a bite of food into his mouth.

“Shame,” Irene agreed.

“Thank you,” Nikki said with the kind of warmth in her voice that could melt ice on a frigid day. She palmed her half-empty coffee mug and leaned forward. “I’d be remiss if I didn’t warn you of the dangers of having the two of us in your home. You could be charged with aiding and abetting fugitives.”

“No,” Conrad said, cutting in while she took a breath. He pulled out a Swiss Army knife, and opened the blade. He set the knife on the table. “She’s my hostage.”

6

“Absolutely not,” Nikki said to Conrad the second he finished. “That’s absurd and will get you in even deeper trouble.”

He opened his mouth to argue, but she stopped him with a hand up.

“When we clear you of murder charges, you’ll still go to jail for holding me hostage.” She shook her head to emphasize the point.

“You don’t get a say,” he countered. “I agreed to let you come with me, which not only jeopardizes your freedom but could end any possibility of a future law career.”

Nikki pushed to her feet in two seconds flat. “I do get a say.” She took a deep, calming breath and then sat back down. The deep breaths might be her go-to when she was stressed, but they sure as hell weren’t helping her now. “Be reasonable instead of stubborn for once in your life.”

“I let you talk me into coming with me,” he said with a grunt. “That hardly qualifies as stubborn.”

“You had no choice,” she argued. “The deputy was on her way to arrest you, and I was going to follow you whether you said I could or not. That doesn’t count.”

It was Conrad’s turn to issue a frustrated sigh. “One thing is certain. You damn sure need to finish law school because you’re the best person at arguing your point I’ve ever come up against.”

Nikki couldn’t help but smile. It was a small upturn at the corners of her lips, but Conrad noticed it, too.

“At the very least, you’re the most confident person I’ve ever come across,” he said. “Even when you’re wrong, you’re strong.”

“I know I can be strong and wrong, but in this case, I’m right.” She studied him as he took a sip of coffee.

“I’ll think about it.”

Someone like Conrad wouldn’t make a promise he couldn’t keep. She took note of his response and moved on. At least he wasn’t arguing with her and was considering her point based on his intense expression. Worry lines creased his forehead and bracketed his mouth. But he was concerned for the wrong person. She might go down as aiding and abetting a criminal, but he was a murder suspect—two very different charges. “Please do. Because this isyour lifewe’re talking about. Your freedom is at stake.”

He nodded before taking a sip of coffee while staring out the kitchen window. His gaze shifted to Hank. “We won’t take up any more of your time. Your hospitality is much appreciated.”

“Do you have a cell on either of you?” Hank asked.

Conrad shook his head.

“Good,” Hank said. “That means no one will track you here.”

“Not specifically, but law enforcement will canvas the area. If we get caught here, you’ll be in trouble.”

---