Page 51 of Crossroads of Betrayal
“Says he doesn’t like being away from it.” Her heart fluttered. She’d kept her own ring tucked away in a drawer, but she’d be lying if she said she’d given much thought to it since she’d left Zeke.
“He’s had a hard time since you left. I hope even with the trouble he’s facing, he’s found some peace. He deserves to be happy. You both do. Whether that’s together or separately.”
The idea of being separated from Zeke again sat like a boulder in her gut. “I don’t want to lose him.”
“Have you told him that?”
“No. I didn’t have a chance. But we’re facing bigger problems right now. First being finding a killer.”
“Don’t wait to tell him. We both know that time is precious, and the future is uncertain.”
She smiled at the wise words. Penelope had always been one to offer good advice, and the natural way in which they’d fallen right back into an easy rhythm of friendship unfurled the knots tying up her insides. “I’ll talk to him. I promise. And thank you.”
“For what?”
Navigating to the widest part of the trail, she flipped the switch back to drive. “For knowing he was exactly what I needed, even before I did.”
Penelope laughed. “Not too long ago I was in the same place. I don’t know where I’d be without Moose.”
“Congratulations by the way.” Enjoying the brief second of a normal conversation with an old friend, she grinned. “Zeke told me about the marriage and the baby. I’d like to meet the little one.”
“I’d love nothing more.”
Refocusing out the windshield, the sound of a twig snapping reached her ears. She stilled, listening to the splatter of light rain on leaves.
“Grace, are you there?”
“I heard something. Hold on.” She held her breath and waited.
Another snapping twig swiveled her head to the side.
Joan stood amongst a cluster of trees. A camouflaged jacket was zipped to her chin and a hood covered her hair.
“Joan? What are you doing up there? Is everything all right?”
“Get off the phone.” She took a step forward, a gun pointed straight at Grace. “And don’t say another word.”
CHAPTERTWENTY
Staring at the handcuffs on the desk, Zeke broke out in a cold sweat. He’d faced fires, fought in combat, and endured the end of a marriage that meant the world to him. Nothing put the fear of God in him like the thought of being thrown in a cold jail cell, proclaiming his innocence with the police unwilling to listen.
Stunned that this was his life, he shook his head. “You’ve got to be kidding me. If I’m arrested for two murders I didn’t commit, the real killer will just walk away. There’s no telling who will be hurt next.” He squeezed his eyes closed. Maybe he was dreaming. He’d open his eyes and find himself pulled from this nightmare.
“I don’t have much of a choice,” Lincoln said. “There’s too much evidence. A giant arrow is basically pointed over your head. But that doesn’t mean I think the case is closed.”
A tiny sliver of hope cracked open his eyes, and the weight on his chest lifted a fraction. “You don’t think I’m guilty?”
Lincoln stared at him tight-lipped, one eyebrow hooked high.
Frustration tightened his throat. “I understand you don’t know me and probably don’t trust me. I get that you can’t spit out everything you believe about an ongoing investigation. But throw me a freaking bone. Please.”
Folding his hands on top of his desk, Lincoln frowned. “I’ve been a cop a long time. I know how to do my job and do my job well. You don’t trust me—know me—either. But trust that I’m not an idiot. That I see what’s happening.”
He opened his mouth to respond when his phone rang in his pocket. “Do you mind if I take this before we get on with whatever the hell it is you have planned? It could be Grace.”
“Go ahead.”
Shifting, he snagged his phone from his pocket and accepted the call. “Penelope?”
