Page 89 of Cold Light of Day

He’d lost track of time, or maybe it was that he hadn’t been keeping track. Maybe he should start. Once they dropped the chief off in Skagway, they hadn’t traveled far, so he knew they hadn’t gone to Anchorage. But that was all he knew. Their strategy of leaving him alone with his thoughts provided the perfect psychological torture.

He was his own worst enemy—he had failed those closest to him.

His safe haven had been discovered and violated. Krueger had been murdered, and the woman he loved was out there, still in danger. While being left alone with his thoughts was an opportunity to figure out a plan, instead he was left with self-recriminations and concern for Autumn.

She was in real danger. He hoped Nolan had made protecting her a priority, especially once he learned that Grier had been arrested. He could do nothing for her now.

Or could he? Was he giving up after such a long, hard struggle? And he still hadn’t obtained the vital information from Sarah that Krueger had collected to clear his name.

Heaviness pressed in on him from all sides.

The two men who arrested him walked the walk and talked the talk, but so did trained assassins and operatives. If the two were, in fact, feds, that meant his name was on a fugitive list. How could that be? Because putting him officially on any list would bring to light a covert operation. He doubted capturing him was worth the aftermath of that disclosure.

He could be sure of nothing.

Grier calmed his pounding heart and sent up multiple prayers that Chief Autumn Long would be safe and her predator would be taken down. But ultimately, she was in God’s hands. Had always been in God’s hands.

And Grier, too, was in his hands.

For the first time—maybe ever—he was grateful his aunt had sent him to Sunday school and drilled Bible verses into him, because when he got quiet and still before God, and had hit rock bottom, the needed Scripture floated from his heart to his mind as if he’d just read it yesterday.

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed...”

“Okay, God, I’m trying not to be afraid, but I don’t know what to do anymore.” He’d been all about doing the right thing. Doing good in this world. But it had all come back to bite him, or at least it seemed that way when someone else’s wrongdoings were pinned on him. “I guess I’m not in control of this. I’ve never been in control, so...what do I do now?”

Sit here and wait. Do nothing? Be still?

Otis’s words—had it been only a few days since he said them?—drifted back to him.

“I knew the first time we met that God brought you here for a purpose greater than your own.”

Greater purpose. What greater purpose, God? I’m all ears.

But in response, he got nothing but silence. He shouldn’t be surprised. And yet, an uncanny peace settled in his heart.

Your purpose, God, not mine.

The door suddenly banged opened, startling him after all the hours of quiet. Grier instantly knew something was off when Agent Knap walked in, and behind him, Cyrus Brown, the CIA operative who killed their team member Charlotte O’Dare, whom Grier had called Blue when sharing the story with Autumn. The thing was, Brown was still Brown.

He crossed his arms and glared down at Grier.

Knap half sneered at Grier. “I’m sure you remember your associate, Brown.”

Grier angled his head and held Brown’s gaze. A thousand retorts came to mind, but he remained silent. Well, maybe not. “Agent Knap, your life is in danger. This man is a murderer, and since he’s CIA, he cannot legally operate inside the United States or gather intelligence on American citizens. So I’m not sure why he’s here. Unless, of course, you’re in this highly illegal operation with him.”

Grier shifted his gaze to Knap’s arctic-cold eyes, and then he knew. This guy wasn’t an agent, or else he’d gone rogue like Brown.

“I’ll ask you exactly one time,” Brown said. “Where is it?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You’re not going to waste my time.” The door opened and in walked a couple more bullies. One carried a bucket of water and the other a towel. Great...waterboarding.

Knap’s expression flinched. “What’s going on? You said he would talk to you.”

“Are you really going to allow him to use this inhumane form of torture on me?”

“What’s the matter,Agent Knap?” Brown emphasized his name. “Are you squeamish?”

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