Page 61 of Burning Secrets

Seemed to be under duress.

Yep. Because the man raised a hand. “I won’t hurt you.”

She leaned back, her knees up to kick just in case he came close. Her gaze flashed past him, on the door. Maybe she could overpower?—

“I’m looking for Maria.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Um…I don’t?—”

“She’s with the fire crew. You’re one of them, right?”

She nodded.

“I thought maybe…” He sighed. “You’re not her.”

“No.”

“Maria Cortez.”

“We…I don’t know her.”

He sighed then, nodded. “Okay.”

Then he turned to leave.

“Wait, um…”

He turned. “I can’t help you. I can’t help anyone.”

Then he walked out the door. She heard the lock click, like a hammer in her soul.

No. The only one who could help her…was her.

There was no way out but in. But suddenly his boss had turned on him.

“Rio, listen to me. C’mon.”

“I just need a full minute to think here, Crew.” Of course they had to wage the argument through the headsets of the chopper as Dodge flew them back to Copper Mountain. At least he’d gotten Rio to agree to land in town.

Rio wanted to alert the sheriff.

“With what proof?” Crew had practically shouted, right there in the field, after he’d wiped his mouth—and hadn’t that been fun? Losing it in front of the SJs, and even Hammer, who’d stared at him with a sort of arms-folded, tight-lipped disgust.

Or maybe that was directed at Rio, who hadn’t made any friends with his “Everybody calm down” statements.

Now Crew sat shoulder to shoulder with the team, meeting their eyes, all of them grim-faced, and sure, they weren’t law enforcement or even superheroes, but it seemed they’d face demons for JoJo.

Maybe for each other.

Yeah, someday…

Dodge called in to air control at the Copper Mountain FBO and took the chopper down.

Crew unhooked his harness, piled out, and rounded on Rio. “Full minute is up. Keys.” He held out his hand. “I know you have a pickup around here I can use.”

“We can use the one at the sheriff’s office,” Rio said.

Perfect. Wonderful. Awesome. Crew shook his head and pressed a hand to his gut. Because every image that exploded through his mind made him want to retch all over again.

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