Page 45 of Cold Light of Day

“In the lower forty-eight, an officer-involved shooting requires turning over your weapon and an investigation. You’re chief here. Who are you going to turn it over to?”

Oh, right. She hadn’t been thinking that far ahead, but maybe she should. “That will fall to the Alaska State Troopers.”

“Shadow Gap can’t afford to lose their police chief for even a day.”

“No, no we can’t, and we won’t.” This could be just one more proverbial nail in her coffin if Wally had a say in it.

Craig approached along with...

Her brother? “Nolan? What are you doing here?” Though she was more than relieved to see him.

Nolan stepped forward and gripped her arms. “Autumn, are you okay?”

“Of course.” She took a step back, wishing he would keep his brotherly concern for later, when others weren’t watching. Still, she was glad he was there because she could use the moral support. “Dad.”

“I know.” Apprehension edged his tone. “As soon as I heard about Ross, I got the okay to get to Shadow Gap. I’m so glad I did.”

“Me too,” she said. “Ross is recovering. He made it.”

“Dad is going to live too. We have to believe that.”

He sounded like Grier.

Nolan’s gaze dropped to the man on the ground, then he glanced up at Grier. Accusation flared in his eyes.

“I shot him,” she said. “He was going to kill Grier. We believehe’s the man who shot Dad.” Pain ignited in her chest. She wanted to be at the hospital. She wanted to radio Tanya and ask for an update. The sooner they got out of here, the sooner Autumn could go be with Dad.

“Why’d he shoot Dad?” Nolan crouched and searched for ID. As an Alaska State Trooper, he was within his authority, though they primarily focused on the areas outside city limits. Still, this section of the woods wasn’t technically within Shadow Gap city limits.

“The chief is in danger,” Grier said.

“He tried to killyou, Grier, not me.”

“What are you talking about?” Nolan stood, his hands empty. The guy didn’t have ID on him.

“Her father told her she was in danger. I’m relaying that information.” He stared at Autumn, and she got the sense he wanted to add, “In case she doesn’t tell you.”

“He’d been shot,” she said. “And was probably referring to the shooter. We were all in danger with a shooter out there.” She glanced down at the dead man. “But he’s gone and now we can’t ask questions.” Why had he shot Dad? Had it been intentional?

Plenty more questions swirled in her head. She lifted her gaze to Grier but didn’t voice her thoughts. Not in front of Nolan. At least not yet, though she had no idea why she kept the question to herself.

Why had he tried to kill Grier?

TWENTY

Who was the shooter after? Miles Long or his daughter?

Was Grier simply in the way or was he a target?

Grier fisted and refisted his hand while tightening his grip on his gun. He took in the scene as well as the eerie woods as the fog caught up with them and puddled at the base of the mountain. He tried to ignore the questioning look on the chief’s face. Yes, even in the foggy shadows cast by the flashlights, he could feel her eyes boring into him. She was probably wondering the same thing that had settled in Grier’s mind. She hadn’t voiced the question out loud in front of Craig or her state trooper brother, Nolan, for which he was grateful. And that led to another question—why had she remained silent?

Or was he imagining that she’d gone that far with her thoughts?

He watched her, barely listening to the conversation as she relayed to Nolan the details of what happened. Was he here as a concerned family member or in his official capacity?

Grier’s imagination could be running away with him, but if she was in danger like her father said, then maybe the shooter’s intention had been not tokillher but totakeher, and he’dwanted Grier out of the way. He wanted to get to the bottom of this, but it wasn’t his job, as she kept reminding him, even tonight—he wasn’t law enforcement.

“We’ll take care of the body,” Nolan said.