Page 86 of Cold Light of Day

Agent Knap was the one to answer. “We’ll send reinforcements for Santos. We were already on Fox’s trail after we learned he’d boarded the White Pass excursion.”

Maybe Autumn should have stayed behind and focused on getting the Alaska State Troopers to the area for a manhunt, but that meant she would have been on her own until they arrived, and she wasn’t taking Mateo down without backup.

Then again, she knew she was in the right place. She needed a few more minutes with Grier, and she’d like to talk to him too, if given the chance.

The helicopter landed in Skagway—her stop.

“Can I have a minute?” she asked the marshal. He shook his head.

“Fine.” She looked at Grier. She didn’t think his eyes had ever left her. “You’re innocent. I’ll find the evidence to free you.”

He shook his head so subtly, she thought she might have imagined it. She recalled he’d told her he would be killed, murdered, while in custody.

She held his gaze while she asked the other two men, “Where will you take him from here?”

“Not your concern.”

“Your cards, gentlemen?” Autumn wasn’t moving until she got their contact information.

They each handed her an agency card, and she glanced at them to make sure they reflected the credentials the men had shown her. “I’ll be contacting your superiors. In the meantime, treat this innocent man with respect and dignity.”

Agent Knap got off the helicopter and offered his hand as if to both urge her out and assist her down. The helicopter hadn’t powered down, and the rotor wash overwhelmed her.

She gave Grier a look filled with all the hope, determination, and yes, love, she could muster, then turned and walked away.

An hour later as Autumn walked into the Shadow Gap Police Department, Tanya rushed forward, blocking her from entering her office.

“Are you okay?” Tanya’s big brown eyes were filled with concern and compassion.

Unable to fully answer, Autumn stared at her. Tanya stepped forward and hugged her—good, long, and hard. Autumn returned the hug. She hadn’t realized how much she needed one. Her friend stepped back and gripped her arms. Her actions seemed natural, considering how long the woman had known Autumn, but something else was going on.

“Spill it.” Autumn shrugged out of her grip and beelined for her office.

Tanya followed and sat at the desk across from her. “I don’t know the details, but I got the news that you were working with an international fugitive and the city council has called an emergency meeting, which doesn’t include you.”

Autumn sank into her seat. “Thanks for giving me a heads-up.”

That meant her time was limited, so she needed to use her resources efficiently.

“Chief, what’s going on? What can I do to help? I’ve got your back. I don’t believe what I heard. But even if it’s true, I know you had your reasons, and I’ve still got your back.”

Autumn booted up her computer, then stared across at Tanya. “Grier Brenner, a.k.a. Troy Fox, was arrested at White Pass Summit. Mateo Santos is the criminal who should be caught and arrested.” She gestured at the image she’d put on the board on the wall. “He’s dangerous, and he’s still out there. Grier is innocent.”

“Did you know he was a wanted fugitive?”

“Not until recently, but it’s complicated, Tanya. It’s all connected, and Grier is being framed.”

Tanya pursed her lips and gave her a searching look. “And youknowthis how?”

“I trust him. I know enough that, yes, I know. I just need to help him prove it.”

“Are you sure your judgment isn’t compromised? Because, well...I’ve seen the way you look at him.”

Her words surprised Autumn.

“Relax. You don’t have to be concerned that others noticed. They’re all too self-absorbed, and it wasn’t obvious. But I’ve known you for so long, and known you well. There’s a lot of...let’s say, electricity in the air when you two are in the room together.” Tanya offered a small smile.

Autumn hung her head and smiled to herself, even in this worst-case scenario. Then she lifted her head. “I’m glad I have a friend. You might want to distance yourself from me because I have a feeling that things are about to get weird around here.”

---