“Yeah?” Jericho checked the wall clock. It was almost six, and it wasn’t like he was doing anything important. He could leave, guilt-free. But why should he drive all the way up into the mountains to meet Wade at a dingy old cabin when they could be at the apartment instead?
He had his mouth open to comment on that when Wade added, “Bring Kay.”
Jericho’s imagination slammed to a halt. Kayla. Wade wasn’t—no. He wasn’t suggesting that. This was something else entirely, and the remote setting suddenly made sense.
“Okay,” Jericho agreed. “See you soon.”
Kayla raised her eyebrows in question when he stuck his head into her office and invited her to join him for dinner, but she didn’t protest, just grabbed her jacket and hat, strapped on her borrowed sidearm, and followed him out the door. They were halfway to the car when she said, “I actually am hungry.”
“Wade wants a meeting,” Jericho said. “Food wasn’t mentioned.”
“Strange world,” she mused as she cut in front of Jericho and headed for the driver’s seat of her cruiser. “A known criminal wants a meeting, so the sheriff doesn’t get dinner.”
“We could hit the drive-through,” Jericho offered, “except Mosely doesn’t have one.”
“Where’s the meeting?”
“Up by the old copper mine.” It occurred to Jericho that he and Kay had visited the cabin together a few times in high school when he’d been experimenting with heterosexuality. Possibly it would be a bit awkward to go back there with her. And possibly Wade had already thought of this complication, the bastard. “That cabin,” he said, and left it alone.
She glanced over at him. “Wade asked you to bring me to a meeting at the cabin by the copper mine?”
Jericho kept his gaze fixed out the front windshield. “Yup.”
“Did he mention a reason?”
“Nope.”
“But you think it’s important.”
“You’re not his favorite person, Kay. He’s probably not just looking for a chance to catch up on old times.”
She was silent for a while, then said, “Even before you came back? Before you and Wade started whatever you and Wade have started? Or restarted, I guess. Even back then, if Wade had called me and asked me to meet him in a remote location, I would have gone.” She sounded thoughtful. “I know he’s a criminal. A dangerous criminal. I might not have enough evidence to get any convictions, but that doesn’t change what I know. And still, I would have met with him, and I wouldn’t have been worried about my safety. Like I’d have thought he wouldn’t hurt me for old times’ sake.”
Jericho wasn’t sure what to say, so he waited, and eventually she said, “I can’t figure out if that means there’s something trustworthy about him, or if I’m hopelessly naïve.”
“When dealing with Wade, I’ve found it’s best to generally avoid any black-and-white answers.” Jericho smiled despite himself. “It’s entirely possible there’s something trustworthy about him and you’re hopelessly naïve. Just like it’s possible you’re not his favorite person and he wouldn’t hurt you because of old times.”
“And you don’t find that kind of . . . hard to manage?”
Jericho shrugged, almost shy. “I guess I think it’s worth it.”
Kayla didn’t respond to that, and they drove the rest of the way up into the mountains in silence.
When they arrived at the cabin, an unfamiliar truck was parked on the rutted track, and two men stepped away from the bumper. It was almost full dark, but Jericho recognized Wade easily. The other—
“Shit,” Kayla said. “That’s Sam Tennant.”
“It appears the feds don’t have the compound quite as contained as they think.” Jericho tried not to be smug, but didn’t try all that hard.
Kayla sighed and turned the engine off, then pushed her door open, and Jericho climbed out with her.
“Heard you were asking about me,” Sam Tennant said, his gaze on Jericho, sounding belligerent. “Heard you think you need to save me.”
“Nah,” Jericho drawled. He stepped closer to the other two and said, “If you invited this shit into our town, I don’t have any interest in saving you or helping you out. I was trying to be sure you did invite it. Because if you didn’t? Then, yeah, in that case I’d assume you’d be hoping for some help.”
“And you think I’d want it from you?”
Jericho turned to Wade. “So, we’re here for a friendly visit? Good to see you, of course, but maybe next time we could stay in town.”
