Page 108 of Cold Light of Day

Actually, she’d forgotten, because it was imperative that she clear Grier. Her job had seemed important to her before, but it was the least of her concerns now. She exited the room and went in search of Sarah. Now it was Autumn’s turn to stop the madness.

FORTY-THREE

The low murmur of voices echoed from the hall.

Grier didn’t want to open his eyes. He wasn’t sure how long he’d been in the hospital. The only things he knew for sure were that he had an aching skull, a throbbing midsection, and his wrist was handcuffed to the bed rail.

Like he could go anywhere, even if he wanted to.

He couldn’t believe he’d survived that ordeal. The doctor had come in at some point after he’d woken up and explained his injury. For the life of him, he couldn’t recall what he’d been told. A bullet to the gut made sense, but he didn’t think that’s what happened.

Nor could he remember.

He recalled one thing, though, and for that he was so grateful.

Thank you, God.

But maybe he shouldn’t be happy that he’d remembered. Maybe forgetting was the best thing for everyone involved.

What did it matter that Autumn had told him she loved him, since he would soon be carted off to prison or killed on the way? He hadn’t been told if the Santos brothers had fared any better than he had. If they’d survived or been captured and incarcerated. Or maybe he had been told but didn’t rememberthat either. He was still in agony and on pain medication too. Thinking about it too much made his head hurt that much more and zapped his mental energy.

Sensing someone had entered the room, he frowned. He didn’t want to talk to anyone. Then a finger touched his hand, followed by a palm and a squeeze.

“Grier.” A whisper.

The familiar voice sent warmth through him that curled around his heart.

For this moment, he would open his eyes. Grier squinted against the harsh lights, turned his head—more pounding ensued—but he kept his expression as pain-free as he could manage while he looked at the feisty chief.

He had thought he was dying at the time, but those memories of what he assumed were his last moments on earth hadn’t left him.

Autumn’s tears as she leaned over him.

Her confession of love.

“Chief.” He tried to grin, but his lips felt funny.

He was rewarded with a pain-filled smile from her. Sitting in a nearby chair, she leaned close and squeezed his hand again. “You called me Autumn. I want to hear that from you now instead of Chief. Besides, I’m no longer in charge.”

He tried to reach up and cup her cheek, but the handcuff on his wrist prevented him. The jangling cuffs startled him and broke the magic. He turned away from her and closed his eyes.

“You shouldn’t be here.”

What are you doing, man?

She released his hand. Just as well. Then she rushed around to the other side of the bed.

He opened his eyes and peered into those stunning mismatched irises.

“What are you saying, Grier? Why wouldn’t you want me here?”

“My being in your town, in your life, has already caused too many problems. Just...let me go, Autumn.”

Tears shimmered in her eyes. “I can open those cuffs for you. You can disappear again.”

He pursed his lips, and even that small movement caused him pain. “If I could disappear again, I wouldn’t leave.” He closed his eyes. What was he saying? He just tried to push her away, and now, well... “I wouldn’t leave because of you.” He shouldn’t say it. He shouldn’t tell her that he loved her too. That he’d heard her. She needed to let go and move on.

She gripped his hand as if she would never let go. “Listen, I found the evidence to clear you. Sarah and I figured it out. It was on the postcard from Miami. You’d put it on your refrigerator. Do you remember that?”