Page 137 of What She Saw

“You’re saying it’s not?”

“The timing is worrisome.”

My mind skidded over my memories of Fletcher’s bloodied body. I’d not studied it. I’d not lingered. I’d been more worried about leaving my DNA than analyzing the scene. The forensic team was in that room now, studying and photographing blood spatter, analyzing the position of the handgun relative to the wound, and dusting for fingerprints. Maybe my first impression was wrong. Maybe he didn’t kill himself.

“You think Susan could have killed him? Her father protected her secret for thirty-one years. But their silence created a lot of suffering.”

“Who else knows Tristan is alive?” Grant asked.

“I don’t know.”

“This second person who was in the trailer with Colton would’ve realized one of the girls was missing. He would’ve known all along that Tristan had escaped,” Grant said.

“And this person knows where the bodies are buried. Bodies mean Colton never sees the light of day again,” I said.

“A devil’s bargain.”

“What time is my appointment with Colton?”

“Tomorrow. Four o’clock.”

I didn’t experience fear like most, but the pressure in my head expanded. “Great.”

Grant followed me to the cabin. I’d told him I was fine, but he had a bit of a savior complex, which I didn’t mind right now. One thing to be brave, another to be foolish. Cody drifted off to sleep until I made the turn onto the gravel road leading to the cabin. He raised his head, looked out at the woods, and sniffed. I supposed the woods had better smells than suburbia.

I slipped Cody’s leash on, and we got out of the car. I walked him to the woods, and when he’d taken care of business, I took him inside. I filled a water bowl for him.

I grabbed the dog food bag from the Jeep and filled his bowl. He gobbled, his tail wagging.

A car pulled up outside, and seconds later, Grant’s steady footsteps climbed the porch stairs. Cody looked over at him, wagged his tail. “Great guard dog.”

Grant scratched the dog’s head. “Lucky for you.”

“I’m hoping the woods will help him tap into his inner wolf.”

“Not likely.” He pressed his mouth against mine.

He tasted good. “Has anyone checked Susan’s house? Is she there?”

“The local cops are short-staffed. They’ll report back as soon as they can.”

I wrapped my arms around him. He felt so solid and steady. Grant was proving to be the kind of guy who showed up in a pinch. His hand slipped under my T-shirt and cupped my breast. A twist of a swollen nipple, and I groaned. I was beginning to crave this from him.

Cody barked.

I glanced at the dog. I grabbed a blanket from the bed and laid it on the floor. Cody looked at the blanket as if to ask,What am I supposed to do with this?

I went to the refrigerator and grabbed the remains of a sandwich I hadn’t finished. I handed it to Cody. He took it and settled on the blanket. He grunted his pleasure, his teeth gnawing the doughy bread.

Grant followed me into the bedroom. I shimmied out of my jeans as he undressed. I pulled off my T-shirt, the cool air teasing my barenipples. I reached for my thong, but he told me to keep it on. The bed squeaked as I lay back and propped myself up on the pillows.

Grant was very focused. He prowled between my open legs and kissed my belly. Then he slipped his finger under the delicate fabric of my panties. He cupped my face in his large hand and locked on my gaze. I threaded my fingers through his hair and kissed him. Energy radiated inside me, scraping the underside of my skin.

He unfastened his belt buckle and opened his pants. Seconds later, he angled around the small scrap of fabric and then pushed inside me, fast and hard.

The sex was rough, his thrusts aggressive. I liked the way he took me to the brink and then eased up, over and over, before I tumbled. Our bodies grew slick with sweat. My heart pounded in my chest as he again teased me toward climax.

He circumvented my dampened emotions and communicated directly with my body. We both came at the same time, and when he fell on the bed beside me, my heart thrummed in my chest.