“Gideon, you butted in.”
He waved a careless hand. “Sue me.”
She rested her head on the back of the sofa and emitted a long-suffering sigh. As if she were the one being put upon. A piece of work, as his father would say. But his father would likely know how to approach Mackenzie with more tact and grace. Gideon was not overflowing with tact, as both his brothers regularly reminded him. What was the right approach here?
Rain pummeled the roof, echoing like mini explosions.
“You think Kevin is going to call the cops?” she said.
“He might have already, but I doubt they have the manpower to make it here to arrest you at the moment, especially in light of having to evacuate the station and deal with the river incident. Bigger problems. You’re likely going to enjoy another night of freedom, at least.”
She smoothed her borrowed clothes. “You know I can’t go to the police tomorrow.”
And there it was, the pronouncement he’d expected. He kept his tone level and sure. “Yes, you can, Mackenzie. When Kevin leaves us at the stables, we’ll make our way back to my Jeep if possible. Ten miles, max. I’ll give you a ride to Clover, drop you at the police station there. I’ll see to it you get there safely. We can explain the delay, no phone service, et cetera. Get you a good lawyer. They maydrop the whole thing at some point if you turn yourself in.”
She shook her head, and he resisted the urge to thunk his skull on the window behind him. Through gritted teeth, he tried again. “All right. Why don’t you explain to me your big plan, then, huh? How do you see this thing playing out? Are you proposing to live like a fugitive for the rest of your life?” He let the arrow fly. “Disappear and have your parents wonder what happened to their only living child?” He saw his words hit their mark as she paled, and he felt sick with shame. She was a piece of work, but bringing up Aaron was a low blow.
Her nostrils flared, fury painted on her face. “Don’t talk about my parents.”
He held up a palm. “I’m sorry. That was crossing the line, and I shouldn’t have said it. But the question is valid. What is your plan, Zee? You have cop training, you’re not naive. You know what happens if you run from the law. A fugitive life? That’s no life at all.”
She cocked her head, and the lamplight caught the delicate curve of her cheeks and lips, at odds with the ferocious gleam in her eyes. He’d blown it with his earlier comment, and whatever chance he’d had to convince her was gone.
“Of course I’m not going to live as a fugitive. I’ll go to the cops as soon as I’ve done what I need to.”
“And what exactly is that, now that your contact is out of reach?”
“You don’t need to know,” she said coldly.
“Humor me.”
“I don’t think so. Go home to your parents and your brothers and enjoy the rest of your leave. I’m not yourconcern any longer. I appreciate what you did for me, and I’m sorry I used you to get to my informant in jail, but we’re done. Tomorrow we part ways at the stables, and I don’t expect we’ll see each other again.”
Surprising how the words hit him hard. It was what he wanted too. Wasn’t it? To say goodbye for the last time to the passionate, furious woman who’d pretended to steal his wallet and almost gotten them both killed? Repeatedly?
Her gaze drifted again to the framed map. What was she planning? He had to know.
“But have you thought it through? What are your options if you don’t go to the cops? You can’t return to your hotel. You won’t be able to talk further to your informant.” An idea surfaced. “Wait a minute. She shared something with you, didn’t she? In the van maybe, before the crash? Some type of lead here in town and you’re determined to follow it.” She didn’t react, but he knew he’d hit on it. “It’s a bad idea, Zee. A real bad idea.”
Her face was stony and she allowed him only a brief glance. “Like I said, Gideon, you don’t need to know. I’m not your concern.”
The unspoken swirled between them like a poisonous mist, and he couldn’t stand it another moment. “Since we’re about to part ways, then why don’t you just say what’s on your mind? Get it off your chest.”
“Say what?”
“You know what. We won’t have another opportunity. Now or never.”
The seconds passed between them, their gazes locked.
“Okay, I will.” Her chin raised a half inch. “Like I said, I’m not your concern, but Aaron was. We both failed him.”
Failed him. The blow cut into him, deep to the core where the reservoir of darkness pooled. He was suddenly desperate for her to understand. The words flowed out before he could stop them.
“I didn’t have the conversation with Aaron that night. You’re right. And I’ll feel the guilt of that for the rest of my life. But even if I had, I couldn’t take responsibility again.” The last word slipped out before he could stop it.
She jerked. “What do you mean,again? What are you talking about?”
With great effort, he rose from the sofa and straightened the chairs around the kitchen table. “Nothing.”
