He peered out the window and jumped back. “If Shadow catches wind you’re here, I’m dead. You got to leave. I don’t know who you are, and I don’t want to know.” He jerked his gaze to Colt. “I gave you a chance to save Opal. If you didn’t take it, that’s on you.”
Colt and Rusk moved, circling behind Steve and pushing him toward Maren. Haven stepped in front of Maren.
Steve held up his hands again. His gaze darting to the dog, to Colt and then to Maren. “I don’t want any part of this.”
“But youarea part of it,” Colt said. “How did you know Opal Anderson would be in Barren Valley?”
Steve chopped his hands in the air. “If I tell you, I’m a dead man.”
“We can protect you,” Maren assured him in a tone she used for children and animals.
“Who are you?” Steve asked again.
Wanting to stop this circling of the conversation, Maren said, “I’m Opal’s sister. And I’m with the Colorado Springs PD.”
Steve noisily inhaled. “Not cool.” He spun to look at Colt. “Talking to you was bad enough. Shadow’s got people in the PD.”
“In which PD?” Colt asked.
Steve shrugged. “I don’t know.”
Maren’s heart dropped. “Do you know who?”
“Naw, man. Shadow only tells what he wants to tell. He tests everybody. I bet me learning he knew Opal was in Barren Valley was a test.” Steve’s face fell. “I failed it. But I couldn’t let him kill Opal. She’s good people. A little lost. Especially now that Georgy’s dead.”
“Who’s Georgy?” Maren asked. “Is he the father of her baby?”
Steve eyes widened. “I don’t know anything about a baby.”
Maren winced inwardly at having just revealed her sister’s pregnancy to this man. Though she assumed he already knew, which was why he’d tried to help her in the first place. If Shadow did get to him and he told, what then? Her stomach muscles clenched with dread. Was Shadow involved in the illegal baby ring?
“I just know Georgy was tight with Shadow,” Steve continued. “But he and Opal, they wanted out. They wanted to skip town and go far away.” He nodded, his brown hair flopping over his forehead. “Makes sense if they were expecting. The only way out would be if they were dead.”
Hearing this only confirmed for Maren that Opal had faked her death because she thought it the only way to get out from under Shadow’s thumb.
“What do you know about Vinnie Homer?” Colt asked.
Recognizing the name of the person who’d witnessed Opal’s supposed drowning, Maren waited for Steve’s answer, her breath stalling.
Steve made a face. “Not much. I only met him once. He was pals with Georgy. Twitchy guy.”
Maren’s insides twisted with worry. She thought Steve was twitchy and he considered Vinnie twitchy? That didn’t bode well. “Do you know where Opal is now? Shadow’s men tried to kill her in Barren Valley.” She didn’t add that they almost took her out instead.
“No, lady,” Steve said. “I haven’t heard anything more. If I go back to Shadow now, I’m as good as dead, I tell you. I need to skip town.” He looked to Colt and held out his hand. “You gotta give me some money to get a bus out of town. Or better yet, the train. I’ve never been on a train.”
“Tell me where to find Shadow and I will,” Colt said.
Steve dropped his hand. “You don’t find Shadow…” His tone dripped with mockery. “Shadow finds you. That’s why they call him Shadow.”
Irritation crawled up her spine and she stepped closer. Haven moved as well, matching Maren’s step. The dog’s posture was one of readiness in case Steve decided to become a threat. Haven wouldn’t hesitate to sink her teeth into his flesh. “He has to have a base of operation.”
Steve swallowed, visibly frightened by the dog. Yet, he was smart enough to stay still. “If he does, I don’t know it. He shows up when least expected.”
“Where’s the last place you saw him?” Colt asked.
“He came round last week,” Steve said. “I’m not the only guy in this building who runs errands for Shadow.”
“You mean runs drugs,” Colt said.
