“Could go to Montana,” Denver said. “Go off the grid like the Gray brothers have.”
Heath rubbed his chest. “There’s nooff the grid. They’re safe now, but they won’t be forever. There’s no way they’re not having this same conversation on a regular basis, especially now that our brothers have taken in the next generation and started having their own kids.”
Ryker nodded. “Exactly my point. There’s no future and no safety as long as Cobb and Madison are breathing. We want a future, and we have people to share that with. There’s only one way it can happen.” His gaze was stark. “It’s our only option, as much as I hate it.”
“Fine. I agree that we’re all in if we go,” Denver said. “We don’t know where they are.”
“We can find them,” Heath countered. “We can find Cobb, and I’m sure he’ll lead us right to Madison, even though he’s on sabbatical from his sheriff job.” He eyed Ryker. “You brought Zara into it, and we’re fine with that. But you should stay safe.”
“No. We’re all in—together. Period.” Ryker reached for the bottle and tightened the cap. “I won’t let you guys down. I’m not distracted.”
“Didn’t think you were,” Heath countered.
Ryker cut him a look. “Really? Part of the reason you won’t go for it with Anya is that you don’t want to have your attention split when we rush into hell. I’m not better than you.”
Huh. Heath frowned, his mind spinning. “I know, but—”
“No buts. If you had a future, a good one, would you keep Anya?” Ryker asked.
“She’s not a puppy,” Heath muttered.
Denver snorted.
It was a good question, though. Forget reality and timelines. Could he imagine a future without her? His chest hurt again.
Ryker kept the bottle. “I say we finish this case and cut off the Copper Killer’s head. Then we take out Madison and Cobb.”
“Aren’t we macabre tonight?” Denver asked, eyeing his bottle.
“Yeah.” Ryker glanced toward the door to the stairs. “If that’s what it takes to protect Zara, I’ll do it.”
Denver nodded. “Agreed. One case at a time, though.”
The idea of anything harming Anya propelled Heath right back to the current issue. “All right. We have to get back to work. A serial killer is planning his next move, and everything in me says it’s gonna be soon.”
The words hung in the air like an icy omen.
Anya finished wiping up in the kitchen, her nerves almost frayed. Tension hung over the office, heavy and ominous. Ryker and Zara scouted outside as if they were going for a walk, Denver typed furiously on the computer, and Heath checked the motion sensors set into the office for about the millionth time. What if the trap sprung and locked them in instead?
The waiting was going to kill her. Forget about the bad guy.
Was it possible her impromptu news conference had been only last week? If so, that had given the guy enough time to scout Snowville and find a good killing spot. There were tons of abandoned barns throughout eastern Washington. “He should be getting antsy from seeing me cozying up with Heath.”
Heath rubbed the back of his neck. “Agreed, but he’s smart. He may have a different victim already chosen, and he’s taking her while we’re waiting with a trap.”
“Yeah, but Anya’s challenge would be hard for him to resist,” Denver said, not looking up from his computer.
“Yeah. He’s locked on.” Anya placed the dishrag over the faucet. Denver had begun speaking more freely around her, and that warmed her thoroughly, even as Heath appeared to be more distant than ever. He hadn’t joined her in bed all night. She tried to make herself okay with that fact. They weren’t a couple in real life. This was make-believe for a killer. But one more night with Heath would’ve been nice to keep her mentally warm in the future.
She ran her thumb over her naked finger where the ring had been—an obvious connection to Heath. It represented a feeling of security and protectiveness that she missed. Man, she had it bad.
Why wouldn’t he trust her with everything about himself? She would be able to handle it. Trust was the only way they could go forward.
If that’s what he wanted. Maybe he truly didn’t want more than right now.
If so, after they caught the killer—if they did—she’d go on a cruise. Somewhere warm, all by herself, to figure out her life before she went back to work at the college. Then maybe—in the far, far, far future—she’d be able to forget Heath Jones and find somebody else.
Yeah, right. Plus, she wanted to stay in touch with Zara. The former paralegal had an infectious laugh and such a brave way of facing life. They’d formed a good friendship already.
