Page 34 of Hold Your Breath

“Want to join us?” she asked, more to break the uncomfortable silence than anything. Callum’s face flattened into an expressionless mask.

“Thanks, but we’re not staying to eat. Tyler’s in the car—he mentioned you were headed here. I just wanted to let you know, Lou, that Chris told me about the incident last night.”

She nodded, holding back a wince. The afternoon of militia research and dinner with Callum were doing a pretty good job of distracting her from her stalker, and she hated being reminded.

“We’ll do our best to find whoever’s doing this,” Rob said.

“Thank you,” she said sincerely. “Chris was really thorough in his investigation today. I know you guys are working hard on this, and I appreciate it—especially since you have bigger issues to deal with right now.”

Rob gave her a wry smile. “Despite that, we still want you to feel safe.”

“Thanks.” She figured it would be silly to pass up an opportunity to further her research. “How’s the other case going? Any luck finding out who the”—she paused before sayingheadlessordead guy—“victim in the reservoir was?”

“No.” Rob’s answer was definite and did not invite further questioning. He immediately followed up with his good-byes before heading toward the door.

Lou took a sip of her water as she watched him leave the restaurant. “The sheriff is not as generous in sharing information as our pal Belly.”

“No, he is not.” Callum leaned back against the booth. “Rob doesn’t see many shades of gray when it comes to the law. It’s part of why he’s so good at what he does.”

It was almost funny to hear Callum, of all people, talk about someone being too rigid. “Can I ask you a question?”

Despite his cautious expression, he nodded.

“Exactly how bat-shit nuts is our local militia group?”

Callum blinked before relief washed over his face. “I’d say somewhere in the mid-range. Why?”

“Actually, now I’m more interested in what youthoughtI was going to ask that made you so nervous.”

With a shrug, he took a drink of water. Lou figured it was to stall long enough for him to think of an evasion rather than out of actual thirst. “I don’t know. Something personal, I guess.”

She tapped her fingertips together, evil-genius style. “Which means you have all sorts of juicy personal secrets hiding in those closets of yours.”

From his flat look, she gathered that she wasn’t going to be unearthing any of those secrets anytime soon.

“Fine. Let’s talk about the antigovernment type of crazy rather than our own personal neuroses. When you say ‘mid-range’ nuts, would that include the possibility of homicide?”

One of his shoulders lifted slightly.

“I’m going to interpret your semishrug as a yes. Do you know any of the members?”

“I’m acquainted with a few.”

Lou waited a few seconds, continuing only when she was certain that he was not going to elaborate on his answer. “Do any of your acquaintances seem particularly…murderous?”

After closing his eyes and looking pained, Callum sighed. “No.”

“Sure?”

“Yes.”

“Okay.” She frowned at him, spinning her glass of water in circles. “Do you think HDG’s head is mounted on the wall of the sadly named Freedom Survivors’ compound game room? Could he have been a member? Or maybe he was actually a journalist trying to infiltrate the local militia group for a career-making exposé?”

“I thought we weren’t going to try proving wild theories.”

“But…” Her whine was interrupted by Bonnie’s return. After they both ordered the ribs without ever having looked at their menus, Bonnie topped off their water and left them to their conversation.

“No, I don’t.”