“Maybe. Still, it feels personal.” Because it was personal. He was the suspect here, not Evie.
“Try not to worry.” A faint smile creased her features as her fingers tightened around his. “Let’s stay focused on the plan. I highly doubt Rueger or any of the police officers are planning to buy snorkeling gear to join you in the river.”
“They might if they knew that was our goal.” He took a deep breath and tried to relax. Evie was right. There was no reason to think the worst. The cop driving behind them for a few miles didn’t mean anything. “Okay, thanks. I guess I just panicked there for a moment.”
“You don’t have anything to worry about.” She didn’t release his hand, and he was struck by how badly he wanted to pull her into his arms. To hold her close.
To kiss her the way he’d longed to do back when they were teenagers working as lifeguards at the lakefront.
Talk about rotten timing. He hadn’t considered he’d ever see Evie again, and now that he had, he was the prime suspect in a brutal murder.
“You’re innocent, Cam.” Evie’s earnest voice broke into his tumultuous thoughts. “And we’re going to prove it.”
“Or die trying.” His attempt at humor fell flat. He sighed. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to sound cavalier. This is serious stuff, and I don’t like knowing some killer is walking free while the police remain focused on me.”
“If Rueger is smart, which I’m not necessarily saying he is, he’ll make sure to consider all possible suspects.” Again, Evie’s staunch belief in his innocence touched his heart. “Not just you.”
He nodded slowly. “Like Dan Johnson.”
“And anyone else who’s been in the area for the past fourteen years,” Evie agreed. “I could be wrong, since Grand Rapids isn’t that far away, but I think the killer is someone who’s lived here all this time. Maybe he started with locals, then moved onto tourists.”
“Yeah.” He forced a smile and released her hand to start the car. Sitting around and ruminating over his situation wasn’t going to help solve this.
They needed to find other suspects, along with locating Skye’s car.
After making a Y-turn in the road, he headed back into town toward the super store that would likely have snorkeling equipment. As he slowed to pull into the parking lot, he caught a glimpse of the police cruiser coming toward them. He considered waiting for the vehicle to pass, but there was plenty of time to make the left-hand turn. He did so, heading down one of the aisles that were filled on both sides with parked cars.
Stunned, he stared as the police car had turned into the parking lot too. But the cop didn’t follow him up and down the aisles as he searched for an empty parking spot.
No, the officer positioned his squad near the parking lot entryway and remained there, the engine idling.
Now he knew for sure he hadn’t imagined the cop following him earlier. Whether the officer was Kyle Abernathy or someone else, there was no doubt he was going to wait there until they left.
Cam pulled into an empty space. His gut clenched at the likelihood the cops intended to watch his every move, just waiting for the moment the warrant was issued for his arrest so they could toss him behind bars for the rest of his life.
7
Evie eyed the police car with trepidation. Cam’s grim expression mirrored her thoughts. Why was the officer just sitting there near the exit? Was he planning to wait for them to leave so that he could follow them for the rest of the day?
Cam’s phone dinged, startling her badly. She pressed a hand to her galloping heart as he reached for the device. His tone was calm as he reviewed the screen. “Looks like our rental came through.”
“Great.” She strove to sound normal. The stress of finding another dead body and the police scrutiny were starting to wear on her nerves. “We may as well head inside to shop. We’ll need food for the rental property anyway.”
Cam grimaced and killed the engine. “Fine. But I don’t want the police to know where we’re staying.”
“I agree with you on that. But who knows? Maybe the officer will be gone by the time we come back outside.” She pushed open her car door, then paused as she remembered her dog. “We can’t leave Bruno out here. Do you think the store will allow him inside?”
He frowned. “Doubtful. Maybe you should wait here with Bruno.” Cam hit the button to open the back hatch. “I’ll grab the food and snorkel gear.”
“Okay.” She stood and called Bruno to her side. He bounded toward her, tail wagging. She bent to pet him, then reached up to close the hatch.
From there, she and Cam split up. He strode inside to shop while she took Bruno over to a shady spot along the edge of the parking lot. There were several tall trees along with a stretch of grass that was a perfect waiting spot.
She imagined the officer’s gaze following her and Bruno as they left. Was Kyle Abernathy the cop behind the wheel? Had he recognized her from high school? As Bruno watered a tree, she turned to look toward the police cruiser. The sun was too bright on the windshield for her to see the person inside.
Then a flash of anger hit hard.
This was ridiculous. Why wasn’t that cop doing real police work? Talk about a waste of time and resources. Glancing at Bruno, who stood sniffing the air, she abruptly stepped forward, intending to give the officer a piece of her mind. “Come, Bruno.”
