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The shaking in her hands had settled to a slight tremble, but more than that, she was much too distracted.

Her mind raced to catch up with too many events occurring in one day.

The rain and wind had picked up, and frankly, she preferred to be alone with her thoughts, or rather preferred that someone else be at the wheel right now.

She was not in a good place after witnessing a murder, being left to drown in a sinking car, and—oh yeah—being rescued by none other than her ex–almost boyfriend, Cole Mercer.

She was grateful beyond words he’d shown up, but her emotions were tumbling down a staircase of confusion into a dark dungeon of anguish, at least where he was concerned.

She wanted him here.

She wanted him gone.

She wasn’t too proud to admit that she needed his protection.

She needed his assistance and connections for two separate investigations, though he was working for someone else on her mother’s investigation and unofficially helping her learn more about her father. Where had he gone? What was the danger?

How had this all happened in one day? When she woke up this morning, the stormy day seemed like any other in her life.

A person just never knew what the future held.

Only God knew, and he had her in the palm of his hand right now.

She had to believe that and lean into it if she was going to survive this mind-warping experience.

Cole’s cell buzzed, and he turned it on speaker as he drove so she could hear the Clallam County deputy.

“We have deputies all over the county looking for the aggressive driver and have notified the troopers for a statewide search.” Cole glanced her way.

She shared his concern that someone after her was still out there.

“The Sequoia license plate revealed the vehicle had been stolen.”

Figured.

“Thank you for your information,” Cole said. “Stay safe out there.”

“You keep her safe,” the deputy said.

See? Cole really knew how to make friends with law enforcement.

The call ended. He accelerated as they steered around Lake Crescent.

He floored it, and the vehicle took off. “What’s under the hood? Feels like a turbo.”

“For all my mechanical prowess, I really couldn’t tell you.

” Now she wished she had taken more interest in the work Pop had done.

She thought it was just a hobby. She hadn’t for one minute considered it had been part of a proactive protection plan.

Maybe it was just a hobby, and Jo, per usual, was overthinking and living in fear.

“I had a thought when that Sequoia rammed into me, I didn’t feel it all that much.

It could have been worse. It would take a lot more than that to move this vehicle around or off the road.

So I half wondered if Pop knew something was coming and just added this extra layer of protection.

But that sounds ridiculous now that I say it out loud. ”

“No, it doesn’t. I had the same thought. Still, we could both be way off.”

“He could have done it just for fun.”

“Did he customize other vehicles?”

She scratched her head. “That wasn’t really his business. Not what he was known for, but occasionally, sure, he would add some headers, upgrade the wheels and tires, and yeah, turbochargers.”

“Sounds like you should know what’s under your hood, Jo.”

She lifted a shoulder. “I know a few words that I sling around, nothing more.”

“You’re saying he never asked you to hand him a wrench? I happen to know that you’re pretty good with a wrench.”

Okay, now he was making her blush. “Not on cars. I can fix ... showerheads. I wish I had paid more attention to him. To the details of his life. Maybe he was trying to tell me something. Or left a clue. Something.”

As soon as she could, she would stop by the shop. Sit in his chair in his dusty, messy office. He had to have told his two employees that he’d gone. In fact, now that she thought about it, what would happen to R&D? Was Pop coming back? Was he selling it? What had he told Sarah and Jessie?

Cole pressed the accelerator with a brief punch, and the engine gave a deep, guttural rumble. “It handles really well on the slick roads.”

“You sound like you’re interested in buying this from me. It’s not for sale.”

He chuckled, flicking his gaze to the mirrors.

Small talk. Jo didn’t need it and would rather get lost in her own thoughts. A knot lodged in her throat, and tears threatened. She stared out the window at the lush evergreens, and beyond them, heavy gray clouds hovered over the Pacific Ocean.

****

Jo woke with a start. They were here at Spruce Hollow—the name she’d given to her tiny house in the rainforest. How could she have fallen asleep? She glanced at the house, then back at him. “Um ... Don’t I need to drop you off?” Because you’re absolutely not staying here to protect me.

A vehicle pulled in behind them. Hawk. That made sense.

“I’ve got a ride. I wanted to clear your house first. Unless, of course, you’re willing to stay at the lodge tonight, just until we figure things out.”

A small laugh burst out. “Seriously, I’m good. This place isn’t even in my name. You know about it because I brought you here. As for clearing it, you can see everything from the front door.”

“Okay. Then I’ll take a quick look.” Cole hopped out and then followed her up to the door, which she unlocked. “Hawk is checking the perimeter.”

“Really?” She opened the door wide to let Cole inside.

“Really.” He stepped past her and gave her a “get real” look.

“I’m taking this seriously, Cole,” she said. “Don’t act like I’m not.”

He cleared her house so fast it was almost laughable, then stood in the doorway.

She looked at him, and that unwanted memory of them standing here kissing good night rolled through her.

Awkward. He could probably hear her pounding heart.

Heat flooded her cheeks, and Cole stared at her face.

The way he looked at her, she knew he was thinking the same thing.

Longing erupted in his gaze, then he shuttered it away.

And that hurt. But it shouldn’t have. She should have been the one to hide her emotions.

Hawk clomped up the steps, breaking the moment. Relief flooded her.

She closed her eyes, grateful for the rescue from her own embarrassment, then quickly opened them. “I’m good, boys. You can leave now.”

Cole didn’t appear convinced, his face serious, as if he was about to jump out of a helicopter on a covert operation in a forbidden jungle. He stalked to Hawk’s vehicle. Honestly, she was surprised she’d gotten rid of him that easily.

And there it was again. That thought to get rid of him, when deep inside, she wanted the exact opposite.

If he looked back at her, maybe he could read that on her face.

You don’t have to leave , Cole.

Cole opened the truck door and turned to her. “We need to talk soon, Jo. I’ll be in touch but call me if you need me.”

“I will.” She shut the door.

Alone at last. She’d wanted the space from him and to be alone with her thoughts, away from anyone and everyone, but now that she was here—no Cole, no passengers or city dwellers, no exhaust, and nothing but fresh rainforest air—regret coursed through her.

She missed Cole and wished he could be with her here in her small corner of the property behind Mrs. Crawford’s house. Spruce Hollow.

She sighed a weirdly happy sigh, given her day.

But every time she looked at the place, a sense of peace engulfed her.

She’d put her heart into decorating, letting the vines grow over the outside walls, except for the windows, so it would meld into the rainforest. Her small—very tiny—place in this world, hidden away in this corner of the Olympic Peninsula.

Inside the home, she sat in the plush chair and looked out the window at her view of the lush moss-covered branches and trunks of the evergreens and ground cover.

God is good.

She believed that once. She had to keep believing that now. But sometimes it was hard.

Like when your dad left—oh, and by the way, he wasn’t your real dad. And when your mom was murdered and nobody believed you, and your real dad left too, and the man you thought you could love turned up after hearing nothing from him for months and months.

God is good. I know you are , God. It’s not you , but it’s people who have left me in pieces , who aren’t so good.

She pushed the morbid thoughts away and focused on the beauty of God’s creation through her big window. Answers would come. She just had to wait for them.

Her mother’s framed picture hung on the wall near the window. Mom needed justice. Pop could take care of himself. The thought didn’t soothe the pain in her heart. As for the incident on the ferry, she had told the police all she knew. But who was the victim? A father, a husband, and a son?

There was too much death in this world.

****

The next day, Jo blew out a breath and pretended like yesterday had been a day like every other day.

After she showered and dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, she did a few chores—part of her mission to put normalcy back into her life, if only for one day.

Remi knew she was back and told her to take the day off.

By late afternoon, Jo had run out of things to do and debated settling in with a bowl of popcorn and a good movie. Whatever. Jo couldn’t just sit anymore, and she’d put Cole off all day. He’d texted her one too many times to check on her, to which she’d replied,

I’m fine. Need space.