Her stupid mouth wouldn’t stay quiet. “So, he’s going to what ...sniffout Mars Sorros?”
“Yep,” he said, his tone cool, measured. Unfazed. “I know he doesn’t look it—he was the runt, so he drew the short straw on size—but he’s smart. And sturdy.”
“Seems your type.”
He raised an eyebrow and, oh, why did she say that? Sheesh. Jericho had never drawn the short straw on anything. Especially his size. Or his smarts.
Maybe just on his ability to keep a promise.
Oh, calm down. Seven years was a lifetime. For all she knew he was married, had a kid or two. Had probably ditched his nomad ways.
And now that felt like a punch to her throat. Because if he had settled down, then maybehewasn’t the problem.
Another beat.
“I’m still asking the question. Why is she here?” Jericho looked at Deke.
“She’s the PI helping with the investigation,” Deke said.
She put her hands on her hips. “I usually work solo.”
“Surprise, surprise,” Jericho said.
Her mouth opened.
And then, weirdly, he closed his eyes, almost a wince. Opened them. “Sorry. Listen. I didn’t come here to fight.” He took a breath. “Good to see you, Harley. You look ... wait—is that ablack eye?”
Oh great. She sort of forgot the throbbing on her cheek and just barely resisted the urge to put her hand over it. “Work injury.”
He shook his head, his mouth a tight line.
Yeah, this was fun.
“So, now that the reunion is over, let’s talk about Mars,” Deke said, pointing to the map on the wall.
So far from over, but, “Yes, let’s.”
Deke crossed his arms. “We saw Mars’s license plate in town yesterday—he was in a ’98 Ford. Our traffic cam outside the station flagged it, and one of our deputies recognized the truck as one he’d seen at a Sons of Revolution camp last summer.”
“Sons of Revolution?” Jericho asked. His dog sat next to him, as if paying attention.
“They’re a militia group that a local smoke jumper team ran into this summer. They caused some trouble, and we were able toshut them down. But they have camps all over the region. If Mars was a part of their group, he’d likely hole up at one of them.”
“You already checked his house or other known places?”
Deke nodded. “Although, who knows. The Sorros brothers are ... diversified. They know a lot of...”
“Drug users?” Harley said quietly.
Jericho shot her a look, his mouth tight. So, he’d heard about Gabe. She didn’t know why that sent a sliver into her heart.
“Yes,” Deke said. “And other troublemakers. But it’s a small town. You can’t get into trouble without it making it back to me. Which is why I think he’s been avoiding Copper Mountain.”
Deke stepped up to the map. “We think he’s hiding at one of these abandoned militia camps, but I don’t have the manpower to track him down. State doesn’t care—he’s a low-level crook in the bush, they say. But I’m tired of the Sorros brothers terrorizing this town. So I’ve organized this little search party with you two sports fans. Please don’t make me referee. I’m out of practice.”
“You’re a cop,” Jericho said. “Isn’t that what you do?”
“I meant between you two.”
