I didn’t want her seeing this.
She spots the police immediately. Slows. Her expression shifts—sharp, suspicious. She doesn’t trust them any more than I do, but at the same time, she doesn’t yet trust us, either.
“Hey, Sheriff Dawson,” Luke says easily. “What’s going on?”
“Just a wellness check on one of your… er… guests. A Mrs. Amanda Barnes.”
“Y’all got a warrant?”
The sheriff shifts his stance. “C’mon now, Luke. You know how much I hate paperwork. We just want to make sure she’s okay and then we’ll be on our way.”
Luke shakes his head. “Can’t do it. No warrant, no entry.”
“Come on, Luke?—”
“Sorry, Clay.” He doesn’t budge.
He flicks me a look—subtle, but clear. He’s got this handled.
Good.
No point in both of us standing here.
“Well,” I say brightly, already stepping back, “I’ll leave you to it. I’ve got things to handle.”
Not avoidance—control. Let Luke manage the front while I keep everything else contained.
I head inside and make my way to my office.
I barely have time to sit before the door slams open.
Sierra stands there, eyes blazing.
“Alright,” she says, “tell me the truth. What’s going on with Amanda?”
CHAPTER 21
Sierra
Reid doesn’t respond to my question. He doesn’t even turn around. Instead, I’m left staring at his back—corded, tense—as he looks out the window and drags a hand over his face.
“Reid…” I step closer, circling the table until I can see him. “This is serious. This isn’t just about her anymore. The cops were just here. If they start digging into your past, how long before they find…” I trail off.
I don’t finish it. I don’t want to.
The thought alone is enough—cold and heavy in my gut. Reid in handcuffs, being led away, a cop on each elbow. Gone forever. Maybe worse. Nebraska still has the death penalty in extreme cases. Rare, but not impossible. How long he’s got away with it…?
He should be nowhere near the police. Not now. Not ever.
“What’s going on?” I ask. “Why are the police looking for her?”
“Is this you being concerned about me?” A faint grin tugs at his mouth.
I don’t return it. “It’s me being concerned about myself, too. Or did you forget I could get dragged into this as an accessory?It’s a criminal offence to hide what you know from the police. It’s calledmisprision of a felony.I looked it up.”
Regret flickers across his face.
He finally turns to me, and for a moment, everything shifts—the years collapsing in on themselves.