“Collier, what’s your plan?” he asked.
The three of them looked at each other before he answered. “We know we can’t keep this a secret for long, a few days at most. There are already mumblings in town about people hearing gunshots. Fletcher put out a cover story about poachers and an accident on the main road to explain the debris after we quietly hauled away that SUV and did our best to get the area rinsed down. But people will talk. The truth will come out. We need to do everything we can in the next forty-eight hours to delay that. But more importantly, we need that time to dig in and get as much information as we can before all hell breaks loose.”
“That’s as apt a description as I’ve heard so far. All right. If you’re looking for my blessing, I’m afraid I can’t give it. Not telling the truth, hiding any of this, puts all of your careers in jeopardy. So the decision is entirely yours, as a team, including Ortiz.”
“We’re all in agreement,” Collier said. “We already voted on it earlier. The result was unanimous. We want all five of us, including you, Chief Dawson, to resolve this together or go down together. Fighting. And even though I’m acting chief, that’s just for show, for the mayor and the city council. We’re looking to you for direction. Give us our marching orders, Chief.”
Beau shook his head. “I never realized you were this stubborn, Collier. All right, then. We do this together. As a team. Buckle up. It’s going to be a fast, bumpy ride. I’m tired of running.”
“So am I,” Sierra said, still clinging to his hand.
He gave in to the impulse and lightly squeezed her hand in response and gave her an encouraging smile, in spite of the officers watching. “No more running. No more hiding. It’s time to go on the offensive.”
Nearly an hour later, Beau ended the call and turned off the TV.
“We need to talk.” Sierra crossed her arms.
He drew up one knee to face her as he rested an arm across the back of the couch. “You don’t agree with everyone’s assignments? I could see you weren’t exactly thrilled when we discussed our plans for today.”
“Honestly, I’m not thrilled about any of this. In spite of my earlier teasing, associating so closely with police and trusting them to actually help me doesn’t come easily. Not that I have anything against law enforcement in general. It’s just that they’ve always been so aggressive in their pursuit of my family that I don’t exactly trust them to have my best interests at heart.”
He considered that. “I understand your concern.”
“No. I don’t think you do.”
“Then enlighten me.”
She let out an impatient breath. “I appreciate what your people are doing, in theory, if they really do dig for information and pound the pavement or whatever they called it, trying to get a lead on any nonlocals hanging around the area. And them looking for clues up at the safe house to try to pick up the trail. Researching the SUV to see if they can figure out where it came from, who owns it, all of that. And checking the vacation cabinsin the mountains to see which ones show signs of four-wheelers being in the area and—”
He laughed and held up his hands. “If you’re trying to prove that you paid attention, I believe you. You listened to the discussion and understand what each person is going to do today. Trust issues aside, what’s bothering you?”
“You.”
His smile faded. “Me? You don’t trust me?”
Her eyes widened. “No, no. I mean, yes. I do. Well, as much as I can trust any cop. I was getting nowhere on my own and was desperate for help. I slogged through the internet for weeks for background information on you before I decided to risk approaching you.”
“Basically you don’t trust me because I’m a police officer, or was one, and—”
“Once a cop, always a cop. Kind of like the Marines.”
“Maybe you’re right about that. Regardless, what you’re telling me is I’m the lesser of evils and you wouldn’t have come to me if you believed you had any other option. Is that accurate?”
She rolled her eyes. “Don’t get all defensive. You know my situation, my background. It was beyond difficult going to you. But I did. And I don’t regret it. You’ve saved my life over and over and risked your own each time, for no reason other than you’re one of those really good people that is so rare these days.”
“You make me sound like a dang Boy Scout.”
“Were you? A Boy Scout?”
“That’s not the point. What’s the problem, Sierra? What do you want me to do to make you feel more comfortable with how we’re approaching the investigation?”
“Take me with you.”
He stared at her, then shook his head. “No. We agreed you would stay here when I go out.”
“No, you and your team agreed. I wasn’t consulted about being told to stay put. I want to be an active participant in the search for the truth.”
“You’ve been investigating for months with no progress. It’s my turn to give it a try, which would be much easier without me worrying about your safety. I need you here, in the cabin, with a locked door, a gun—although the thought of that actually scares me—and an emergency phone. Keeping you out of sight is the best way to ensure your safety.”
