Page 58 of Final Escape
“Right—so I guess the first two weeks after the murder were slower, but now the word must be starting to spread. I suppose tourists stop at a gas station or gift shop or café on their way up here, hear the latest news in Granite Falls, and decide to pull out.” Penny scooped a mass of auburn curls away from her face. “We went through this last year, too, and business was slow all year. Obviously, any association with murder is a major turnoff, and I don’t blame them.”
“I just don’t understand any of this,” Carrie said glumly, staring out at the river. “Why was Billy out here that Friday night, when I’d already made it clear that I wouldn’t give him any money? He was obviously intimidated by Logan, so why would he risk another encounter? And why would anyone kill him? He had his faults, but...”
“Maybe the BCI investigators will turn up something,” Penny said. “I heard that they’ve questioned the people who saw us with Billy in town. And surely they’ve traced his footsteps back to wherever he came from before he arrived in town, right?”
“I hope so. And what about any suspects? Surely there must be others besides us.”
“If there were, we’d be the last ones privy tothatnews. Believe me.”
“I still wonder about Dante. No matter what you say, owning guns, his military background and having significant mental issues make him suspicious in my book.”
Penny nodded slowly. “Yet he’s never been in trouble around here, and there’d be the question of motive. When would he have ever had any interaction with Billy?”
“Does he has PTSD? Would he try to defend his territory?”
“PTSD, yes. Would he go into crazy defense mode? I don’t know.”
“If it isn’t him, who else would do it?” Carrie’s voice trembled. “Who could be so motivated that they’d pull a triggertwice?”
“Other than you and I?” Logan held back a bitter laugh, remembering how public opinion had surged against him last year. “We’re probably the key suspects to everyone around here. You, as the frightened ex-wife, and me with my supposed history of violence.”
“People were still talking about Billy’s murder at church Sunday, but they weren’t blaming you. There was more concern about the fact that a killer is still on the loose. Who knows—he might still be in the area, looking for another victim.”
He felt a flicker of surprise at that, and apparently she noticed because a smile touched the corners of her mouth.
“The pastor even reminded everyone to avoid judgment as part of his sermon.” Carrie tipped her head and gave him a curious look. “You don’t attend church at all?”
“Sometimes. Penny and I grew up in a church-going family. We had to be there rain or shine, or my dad needed a good reason why. But she goes now and I don’t...much.”
“What happened? If you don’t mind me asking, that is.”
He thought back over his life, sorting through the twists and turns, the unanswered prayers. The terrible injustice of Janie’s death and the loss of the perfect life they could have had together. His mother’s suffering while she battled cancer. The death of a rodeo buddy when a split-second difference could have made all the difference.
Too many other events to count.
“I guess I just fell away. A few years ago I got involved with Cowboys for Christ on the rodeo circuit, and it felt like I was coming home to what was real,” he admitted. “But then last year...”
“A lot of people cling to their faith during hard times,” Carrie said gently. “They don’t walk away.”
“I didn’t intend to. But emotions ran high around here. Just arriving at church set people off, and it was pretty clear that a lot of them felt uncomfortable having someone like me in their midst. Maybe God can forgive, but the good people of Granite Falls are better at making snap judgments and clinging to them no matter what the facts are.”
“Maybe youthinkthat. But that isn’t how it is—at least not now.”
“Though the longer it takes for an arrest, the more time people have time to think.”
“But as they get to know you better, they’llseethat you aren’t the kind of guy who could hurt anyone, Logan.”
“Right.”
She frowned at him. “I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to sit back and wait for answers.”
“Neither do I.”
“So what do you think about Dante?”
“I’m going to find him—or at least try. I don’t think he did it, but he does have an uncanny awareness about what goes on in these mountains. He’s too wary to ever come forward with information. If the investigators questioned him, I doubt he would’ve said a word to them. But maybe he saw or heard something that might help.”
She nodded decisively. “I want to come, too.”
