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Ian took a predatory step forward. “I don’t want you sharing any of this with your deputies. Do they know where we are?”
Donahue frowned. “Not yet. But Ian, we work on cases like this all the time.”
Ian let out a derisive laugh. “Really? When was the last time you handled a bunch of blood-thirsty drug dealers?”
The sheriff’s hands dropped to his sides as he shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “I was afraid that’s who we were dealing with. It’s the reason I didn’t mention to my deputies where I was going when I found this.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small silver object. “I couldn’t remember which one of you liked to carry this around, but I’d seen your father with it enough to know it belongs here.”
Jessica got a closer look. Recognition filled her. She’d seen Ian with that lighter more than a few times. In fact, she’d called him Jacob the first time she’d met him because he’d had it with him. He must have dropped it when they ran from the shooter.
Ian snatched the lighter. “No one else saw this?”
Donahue shook his head. “We couldn’t see much outside by the time we arrived at the scene. I found it this morning partially covered in dirt.”
Ian’s stiff frame relaxed slightly.
Donahue met her eyes. “It’s Jessica, right?”
She nodded.
“Your manager is sick with worry. She thought something happened to you.” He tilted his head, his eyes trailing over her body then back to her face. “Looks like you got out of there okay. Thank God for small blessings.” He lifted the pad of paper and scribbled something more before turning to Ian. “You think this has to do with the local drug ring?”
Ian lifted his chin. “I know it does. There were three men at the diner last night meeting with another man named Tucker.”
Jessica flinched upon hearing his name.
Donahue wrote down more information. “There were two dead at the scene and another three in critical condition. Do you think you could describe them?”
Ian nodded. “One was tall and slim. He wore a suit, and he was the one who talked the most. He had gray hair and…”
Jessica’s vision blurred. Her breathing became shallow and her legs went numb. Some small part of her had brushed off the incident. Her memories of the night played like a movie in her mind. She had been able to distance herself from it somehow. But listening to Ian speak with the sheriff shattered that protective barrier she’d placed between herself and the murderers.
Two dead.Three in critical condition. There were about a dozen people there, maybe a few more than that. That meant there were more people who survived. Maybe the drug dealers wouldn’t try to come after her. There were multiple witnesses.
But somehow she knew better. It was like she was seeing things clearly for the first time. She’d spoken with them. She’d asked their names. She knew what they looked like. Her chest burned. She couldn’t breathe. Safety was a luxury now beyond her reach.
A sharp pain sliced through her head and she hunched over, yanking her hand from Ian’s and placing it on her head. He whirled around, but everything went dark.
She blinked and groaned. Her eyes opened to find Ian staring down at her. They were no longer outside. The room was familiar. Furniture, light pouring in from the large windows, and a fireplace on the far wall. Jessica brought a hand to her aching head and winced.
Ian grabbed her other hand. “You collapsed outside.”
“How long was I out?” she groaned.
“Only long enough for us to move you in here.”
She scanned the room again, finding Sean, Brock, and the sheriff. Cal was gone.
The sheriff moved closer to her, his brows creased. He glanced at Ian and then at her. “Are you okay? Do we need to get you to a hospital?”
Ian scowled at him. “I told you that isn’t safe.”
The sheriff’s jaw tightened. “I assure you, I have my deputies already at the hospital keeping an eye on the witnesses. Everything is perfectly safe—”
His walkie crackled and incoherent words came through. Donahue sighed. He gave an apologetic look to Jessica. “The walkies don’t work very good up here. I’ll make a phone call and be right back.” He moved to the other side of the room and lifted his phone to his ear.
Ian’s face came into view again. His eyes were full of concern. “Cal said he thinks you might have had a panic attack. He noticed when you went pale just before you passed out.” It was like saying Cal’s name summoned him. He wandered in with a glass of water and a bottle of aspirin.
Cal placed his offering on the table and glanced over at the sheriff. “Based on what you told us, I think you’re right to keep her here. There’s got to be some reason they chased you down the alley and left some of the other patrons alone. You’re sure they couldn’t see your truck?”
Ian nodded. “I was parked too far away. If anything, they might have gotten one or two letters on the plate. But it was too hard to make out the model of my truck at that distance.”
The sheriff returned, his face contorted in a grimace and his eyes darting from Jessica to Ian. “It’s unprecedented, but I think you may have a point. You said this Tucker character—he was involved with Jessica?”
“That’s correct.”
He turned to Jessica. “I’m sorry for your loss. My deputy just alerted me he didn’t make it. And it looks like foul play.”
