Stranded

was watching them right now? Did he know this woman was an FBI agent? No, there was no way he would think she’s anything more than a family friend.
    “He had a knife hidden in the sling.” Noah’s eyes darted around and over his shoulder.
    She glanced at him but didn’t say anything. He could feel his breathing change. That fight or flight panic kicking him in his gut.
    “I ran.” He wiped his sleeve across his forehead. He was still chilly but sweating. “I left Ethan and I ran.”
    “That’s it?”
    That was it. That was all she was getting. Can’t tell. Don’t tell
.
    “I ran. I left him there with that madman.”
    He took a gulp of fresh air. Let it out slowly. Their pace had slowed but they continued walking. His pulse was still racing. He was two or three steps ahead when he realized she had stopped.
    “So how did you end up with Ethan’s blood on you?”
    “I guess he must have cut Ethan.” He shook his head, wanting the images to stay away. He did
not
want to see the knife plunge in again. The blade slicing flesh. The sound of joints snapping. “There’s a lot that’s still blurry,” he lied and closed his eyes against the memories that came flooding back without control. There was nothing blurry about them, but with any luck, that’s what Agent O’Dell might think.
    When he opened his eyes she was staring at him. She didn’t believe him and she didn’t care if he knew that she didn’t believe him. She waited for him to meet her eyes.
    “I’m your best bet for catching this killer, Noah. And if I don’t, you have to know he’ll be back. He won’t give you a chance to run a second time.”
    Then she turned and walked away from him. He watched her return to her SUV, never once glancing back at him.

CHAPTER 47

    Maggie got back to the Holiday Inn just as twilight transformed the sky into a neon blue. When she walked into the hotel room she noticed the doors connecting hers and Tully’s rooms were still open. She could see Tully’s bathroom door was closed and the sound of the shower brought her overwhelming comfort. She left the doors open.
    Earlier her nerves had been frayed. She had come close to grabbing Noah Waters by the jacket collar and shaking him until he told her the truth. Now exhaustion seeped in, replacing adrenaline. Her body ached from climbing down the ravine. At the veterinary hospital she had washed off the dirt and wiped her face with harsh brown paper towels. She knew she’d find cuts and bruises once she started removing her clothing. A long hot shower would help.
    She was glad Tully was here. He’d listen and shrug and say something that would put everything back in perspective. Then he’d suggest they order room service, some beers, more of those sliders that he gobbled up last night.
    She heard the shower turn off. She’d give him time to put some clothes on. She checked her cell phone. The battery was almost dead. There was only one voice message, from a number she didn’trecognize. She dug her charger out of her laptop case and plugged it in. Checked again and noticed a text from Ben.
    “YOUR BOYS R MISSING U.”
    A photo was attached and she opened it to find not just Jake and Harvey mugging for the camera, but Ben and his Westie, Digger, too.
    “Your boys.” She read the single line of text again. Did he mean Harvey and Jake or was he including Digger and himself?
    She heard noise next door. Tully was out and it sounded like he was shoving around furniture.
    She went to the adjoining doorway. “Hey, are you decent?” she asked as she walked in. Creed stood at the other side of the room wearing only a towel wrapped around his waist.
    “Oh, my God, I’m sorry.” Immediately she felt her face go hot. “I was expecting Tully.” She took one step back and dipped her head but her eyes darted back to his chest, his torso, his legs.
    “No, it’s okay. Come on in. I don’t mind if you don’t mind.”
    To leave now would be an admission that she actually did mind. And he honestly didn’t seem to care. He went back to what she had interrupted, spreading out a folded map over the bed closest to the window. Her eyes took the opportunity to scan the length of him. But then she felt the heat flush more than her face. What the hell was wrong with her?
    “Is Tully here?”
    “He should be back pretty soon. He took my Jeep. Had an errand or something.”
    He kept opening the rest of the accordion map, fold by fold, and smoothing the creases. He