CHAPTER 2
As Sheriff Micah Sutherlandrounded the bend on Hollow Ridge Road, he spotted two vehicles sitting at odd angles to each other on the shoulder just ahead.
An accident? That was his best guess. The spotty cell service out here may have prevented it from being called in.
He eased his foot off the gas.
As he headed toward them, the pickup suddenly swerved back onto the road.
Sutherland flicked on his lights.
The truck continued to accelerate, gravel spraying as it cut back onto the road and sped toward him.
As the vehicle passed, he caught a glimpse of the driver’s face through the side window.
Travis Henderson.
Ofcourseit was Travis. That man was nothing but trouble.
Micah watched him disappear around the curve. Then he shifted his attention back to the SUV still in front of him.
Was that . . . Naomi King standing beside it?
His heart quickened. It was.
And she looked shaken.
He’d deal with Travis later, he decided. He knew exactly where to find the man. Right now, he needed to check on Naomi.
He pulled in behind her SUV, parked, and stepped out.
He quickly soaked her in. Her long, brown hair fell loose around her shoulders. Her dark eyes were focused and assessing. Not guarded exactly, but alert.
As she drew in a breath, he noted her lips quivered. Her arms were pulled over her chest.
Whatever had just happened, it had left her on edge.
But at least he didn’t see any visible signs of injury.
As he stepped toward her, leaves skittered across the asphalt. The woods pressed in close on both sides, and branches rattled overhead.
He paused in front of Naomi. “You okay?”
She nodded once, but he noted how her arms were shaking. “I . . . yes. Yes, I think so.”
He scanned the scene.
It appeared that Travis’s truck had caught the rear corner of her SUV. He hadn’t hit her straight on, but angled, as if the truck had come out of the side road too fast.
Though no one was hurt, Travis should have remained at the scene.
Micah would have a serious talk with the man later. Leaving the scene of an accident was a misdemeanor at least, a felony at most.
Tension crawled up his spine. Based on what he knew so far, he didn’t like the picture forming in his mind. “Henderson did this, I assume.”
“He did. He would have hit me straight on if I hadn’t seen him and accelerated when I did.”
Micah’s back muscles clenched tighter. “You want to tell me why he took off when I came around the corner?”
