He Kills Me, He Kills Me Not

of Logan that it hurt to look at him.
    “I thought you’d gone home to Jacksonville weeks ago,” she said.
    “I had some unfinished business so I drove back in for the day.” He eyed the stacks of boxes. “I guess that “for sale” sign in your yard should be a “sold” sign. Looks like you’re all packed up and ready to leave.”
    “I’ve had a few nibbles, no firm offers yet. But I didn’t want to wait. The movers are coming tomorrow. Everything will go into storage until I find a permanent place.”
    “You’re leaving tomorrow?” His brows raised in surprise.
    “Actually, I’m leaving today, as soon as the taxi arrives. The plane leaves in two hours. I’m moving to Tennessee, renting a furnished apartment down the street from my sister for a couple of months. After that,” she shrugged. “Who knows?”
    “Heather, right?” At her nod he continued. “I met her at the hospital. She and Madison hit it off, if I remember correctly.”
    They had indeed. After finding out Amanda had an estranged sister out of town, Madison had made it her personal crusade to shame Heather into coming for a visit. When Heather stepped into the hospital room, Madison had promptly berated her for allowing her husband to come in between her and her family. Once Heather got over her initial shock over the lecture, she and Madison had spent hours debating everything from politics to shoes. They’d enjoyed every minute of it. “They’re already planning a shopping trip to New York together. How is Madison?”
    “I wouldn’t know.” His face was impassive, giving nothing away, but his voice sounded guarded, as if he didn’t want to reveal too much.
    “I thought you two had a thing going?” Madison had been close-mouthed about her relationship with Pierce, but when she went out of town last week Amanda had assumed she was going to Jacksonville to see him.
    He shrugged. “We went out a few times. We still talk on occasion.”
    “I’m sorry it didn’t work out.” And she was. She’d hoped Madison had finally found that special someone who would see past the bubbly image she projected to the world, and heal the pain Amanda sometimes glimpsed in Madison’s eyes when she didn’t think anyone was looking.
    “Don’t be. We only dated a handful of times. Neither of us had much invested in the relationship.”
    She wasn’t sure she believed him, but he obviously didn’t want to pursue that topic any further, so she didn’t press. “You said you were in Shadow Falls to take care of some business?”
    He adjusted his tie, suddenly looking uncomfortable. “I came back to talk to Logan.”
    Amanda stiffened, no longer feeling enthusiastic about Pierce’s visit.
    He sat forward, his forearms resting on his knees. “Did you know he’d resigned as chief of police?”
    Surprise had her leaning forward as well, wincing when the movement tugged at her side. “Logan resigned? Why? Did he take a job somewhere else?”
    “I think you know better than anyone why he quit. He feels guilty, like he failed everyone, especially you, by not stopping Riley after the first murder ten years ago.”
    She shook her head. “It wasn’t his fault.”
    “Maybe he needs to hear that from you.”
    If that were true he’d have called her or come to see her when she was in the hospital instead of leaving that cowardly note. “I suppose he’s going back to New York.”
    “As far as I know, he’s staying in Shadow Falls. When I spoke to him this morning he didn’t mention anything about leaving.”
    She stared at him, genuinely shocked. “Are you saying he’s giving up being a police officer entirely? It’s in his blood. It’s who he is. How can he throw that away?”
    “Maybe you could ask him that question. I tried to change his mind but he wasn’t in a talkative mood. He’s lost weight, looks like he hasn’t been sleeping well.” He stared at her pointedly.
    Amanda squelched the little nugget of hope that tried to flare to life inside her. Logan wasn’t suffering because he missed her. If that were the case, all he had to do was pick up the phone and call her. No, Logan was suffering because of his misguided sense of honor and guilt. “Pierce, I understand what you’re trying to do, but it’s too late for Logan and me. He doesn’t love me. He made his feelings, or lack of them, perfectly clear in the note he left me at the hospital.”
    “He left you a note? He told you he didn’t love you?” He sounded