Page 27 of Dark Shadows

Her expression shifted. The exhaustion didn’t vanish, but it took a back seat to something sharper.

“Go get my creamer. I’ll be ready in five.”

He turned away, muttering into his coffee. “Might need something stronger than cream.”

Savanah sat stiffly in the passenger seat as Mason pulled up behind a deputy’s cruiser.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” she said, voice low.

Mason cut the engine. “You know who lives here?”

“Yeah. You do too.” She swallowed hard. “You met her yesterday. Beverly. The diner owner who couldn’t stop flirting with you.”

Mason leaned back in his seat, staring at the house. “Well, hell. That’s not a coincidence.”

They stepped out. He rested a hand at the small of her back as they headed up the sidewalk.

“Let me do the talking,” he said. “If they try to put this on you, I’ll shut it down.”

Savanah nodded and steadied her breath. “I can’t believe I ever came back.”

On the curb, a man sat with his head in his hands. Even in grief, Bill Granger still looked like the version she remembered.

His dark hair was in need of a cut. His work shirt stretched tight across his chest. His tattooed arms hadn’t carried ink back then but did now. He wore an EMS uniform, like he’d just come off a shift.

He looked up as they approached. Recognition lit his face.

“Savanah.” Her name came out rough. “Youareactually here.”

“I am,” she answered.

He stood, frowning. “What are you doing here? You moved and changed your number.”

“Nice to see you too,” she said. Her gaze dropped to his uniform. “Look at you, you’re a paramedic. I knew you’d get there.”

“Are you back for good?”

“No,” she said. “I’m not back.”

“You never called.”

“I thought it was better that way.”

Mason shifted closer. “You two know each other?”

Savanah gave a short nod. “We dated a long time ago.”

Bill adjusted his stance. “I’m sorry. Who are you?”

“Special Agent Mason Spencer. FBI.” He held up his badge.

Bill’s brow creased. “Why did you join the FBI? You hate cops.”

“Especially the federal kind,” Mason said. His smirk was faint but deliberate.

Savanah nudged him. “Not all of them. I’m not FBI. I’m just here to help with the case.”

“What case?” Bill’s voice cracked slightly. “Please don’t tell me Beverly died because of those bodies at the barn.”