Page 66 of Cold Light of Day

Autumn’s face scrunched up. Panic surfaced in her eyes as she stepped out of his grip. He’d expected this reaction from her, but he hadn’t anticipated the hurt that pinged around inside his own chest. Still, he could appreciate the disbelief projecting from her face, and the fact she hadn’t reached for her gun or her handcuffs.

“What do you mean...a fugitive? That could mean anything you want it to mean. You’re running from someone. So what?”

He could have grinned at that—her grasping for a way to make this positive, searching for a way out of the truth. He could have grinned and picked her up, hugged her to him and maybe even whirled her around. Except the chief wouldn’t go for that and, in light of the news he still had to share, neither could he.

He hung his head, took a breath, then lifted his face again. He’d opened this door, now it was time to walk through it. “I’m awantedfugitive.”

He expected her to gasp, but she just stared at him. Her eyes narrowed.

He knew she was making a concerted effort to push past her disbelief and absorb his words. Sift through them to find the truth. And actually, he should feel flattered that she thought so highly of him when she knew nothing at all about him. Instead, her belief in him touched his soul and gave him hope that he had a way out of this.

Hands on her hips, she stood taller and lifted her chin. “You can’t be a wanted fugitive. I would know about that. My police department would know. I’ve spent countless hours combing through wanted lists, and your picture, your name, wasn’t on any list. You can’t be a wanted fugitive, Grier, without anyone knowing. Quit messing with me.”

That she didn’t know about him even though she was in law enforcement did little to comfort him.

You wouldn’t know because...“It’s complicated.” The less she knew, the better. But he’d taken this big leap, this big risk, and told her at least that much. In the span of a few months, she’d gotten deep under his skin—or else he wouldn’t be with her now, telling her anything at all.

“I’m all ears. Who wants you? The FBI? ATF? DEA? US Marshals? What crime did you commit?”

“That’s just it...I didn’t commit a crime.”

Would he ever be able to put this behind him and live a normal life? Doubtful, even if Krueger hadn’t been found with a bullet in his head. The news of Krueger’s murder had crushed Grier. He’d struggled to control his anger. The fact that he hadn’t recognized the body of the man he’d known so well and trusted with his life burned a hole through his heart. Krueger had been beaten until he was unrecognizable, and the underwater life had done the rest. Anguish surged in Grier’s chest again, but he pushed it down. He’d have time to grieve later, after he caught those behind his friend’s death.

Grier started toward his cabin again. Autumn followed, and he wasn’t sure if he should be happy about that, but he was relieved all the same.

“We should keep our voices down,” he said.

“You’re going to have to explain, Grier. Why put it off?”

He paused long enough to watch her reaction to his next words. Would she believe him?

“I didn’t commit a crime. I witnessed one. But I was framed. Martin Krueger was working to clear my name. He was my only contact with the outside world, with my old life. He knew the truth and was in a position to collect the evidence needed to prove my innocence.” And the person behind situating Grier here in Shadow Gap, of all places.

Unblinking, her multicolor eyes stared up at him as she processed the information. She chewed on her lip. He’d never seen her do that. There was so much more he wanted to know about this woman, but they’d met at the wrong place.

The wrong time.

“If he was found here in the inlet,” she said, “then that means—”

“Someone knows I’m here. Maybe they tortured him to find out more, then killed him and stuffed him in that boat. Or maybe it was a warning. Someone would find the body—because divers visit that shipwreck—and then I would know and come out of hiding.”

“And there is no one else you can go to? Police? FBI? Turn yourself in while they investigate?”

He slowly shook his head. “I would be dead before my name is cleared.”

“Who are these people that can get to you, kill you even while you’re in custody?”

“Dangerous people.”

“And I thoughtIhad problems.”

“You do. You have problems. And me staying here—nowthat I know my location has been exposed—only puts you in more danger. Brings more trouble to your town.”

“So that’s it? You’re going to leave?”

He turned and started hiking toward the cabin, because he could no longer look at the complete shock and maybe even a little disdain in her eyes. How did he make her understand?

She followed, and this time he wished she hadn’t.

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