Page 40 of Knockout

That part Roxie hadn’t been able to figure out. Unless he’d had a body in the trunk of the car, but given what she’d seen? “I thought I saw him burn. I thought he was dead. But he’shere.”

Liam didn’t believe her. Sometimes she didn’t even believe herself. But Clare hadn’t questioned it. Since none of them believed she was being haunted by a ghost, because that would be bizarre, there had to be a real, flesh-and-blood explanation.

“I’ve gone over the coroner’s files, the police reports, and the evidence they collected,” Clare said. “As far as the world is concerned, Mark Mills is dead.” She paused for a second, then continued, “But if Roxie believes Mark is alive, then he is. Or there’s another reasonable explanation.”

Liam frowned. “He didn’t rise from the dead.” He glanced at her. “You said you saw him burn.”

Her stomach flipped over. “I was in the car when it went over the cliff. Mark and I…” She took a breath. “It was good at first. Then it wasn’t. I was going to leave him, and he didn’t want that. He would’ve killed us both.”

“No one ever said anything about a second passenger,” Clare said. “It’s a miracle you managed to keep it quiet that you were there. And it’s a miracle you managed to get out of that situation alive.”

Roxie brushed hair back from her face, right by the scar. “I crawled far enough away that no one came to look. I blacked out a couple of times but managed to get to a road. I hitchhiked with a family who let me use their first aid kit, and they dropped me at a medical center. I think I freaked out the kids.”

Liam just stared at her.

“Four days in the hospital. I told them I fell hiking, and that I was going to call my mom. I pretended I was being picked up and just left. Took a bus. Kept moving. I didn’t want anyone asking me about the crash. I couldn’t talk about Mark. I didn’t even want to think about him. It was my fresh start. Nothing but blue skies and drinks with umbrellas. I hitched up the Oregon coast for a while. Took some odd jobs, made some money. Tried to figure out what I wanted to do.” She swallowed.

“That’s when you started to see him?” Clare asked.

It had seemed unbelievable at first. Being haunted by a ghost. “I contacted a hacker I knew years ago to get his financials. After his ‘death’ his credit card was used in towns I’d been to. His phone called whatever motel room I was staying in, and he was on the line just breathing. I started to see him on the street. I got fired from a couple of jobs because I was losing it. Seeing things.”

Clare said, “I’d hoped you would have some time to rest. Get some peace. But it seems like he’s escalating. Getting closer to you, which will end up with a confrontation. So for now, you’ll be staying in the safe house apartment in the Vanguard building.”

“Don’t trap me there.” She shook her head. “I can choose to stay somewhere I’m safe, but then I need to work. Don’t lock me down, I’ll go crazy.” She gasped. “I need to end this. Not hide.” She grabbed the sides of her head, two handfuls of hair. “I feel like I’m going crazy. I’m not here to confront him. I came here to expose him, to expose what he did to his first wife so people will believe me. It was a good plan.” She looked at Clare.

Her boss nodded, empathy on her face. “I have a friend who narrowed down the search area. They’re looking for her remains.”

Roxie’s heart sank. “Tessa?”

The K-9 handler for Search and Rescue in Benson was the only person Roxie knew with a cadaver-trained dog. Would Tessa really find Mark’s first wife’s remains? Clare hadn’t even told her she was working it.

Her boss nodded. “I gave you other assignments, so I figured I’d help you with yours.”

Tears filled Roxie’s eyes.

“That’s what friends do.”

TWENTY

Liam kicked off his shoes in the front hall, his head full of her story.

Roxie was in his kitchen. In his house. For now.

Clare and Gage had left, promising to check in first thing. Liam should take Roxie back to Destiny’s place so she could have her freedom—and her things. After they’d had some time here and she’d rested would be good.

Wherever she stayed he would ensure she was protected. He’d sit in Gage’s car that he’d borrowed outside on the curb all night. Just to be safe.

She’d come to Benson trying to solve a case—Mark’s first wife’s disappearance. The guy had told Liam about how his wife ran off with another guy while he was deployed. Liam had always thought there was something off about the lance corporal. He’d never liked the way Mark looked at Roxie, but it hadn’t been anything dangerous.

She’d fallen for him after she got out?

And after she and Liam had that unspoken pact agreeing to give it a shot if they got the chance. The Marine Corps regulations had kept them from getting personal with a relationship. When his tour came to an end, he’d left to come back to Benson.

She’d left…and fallen into Mark’s arms.

It didn’t make sense to him, but that wasn’t the point. It was her life, and she’d made a choice—whatever the situation had been. She’d told them she wanted out of the relationship. Mark had forced it and nearly killed her.

If it wasn’t Mark terrorizing her now, then who was it? And why did she believe that person was Mark?

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