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Jonah’s face flushed. “What kind of questions? Nate Shiloh is guilty as sin! Everyone knows that! A jury found him guilty! Hell, he tried to kill me! You were right there. You saw him. What questions could you possibly have?”

“I’ll go first,” Hunter tossed out.

Jonah’s head jerked toward him. “What?”

“You asked what questions Shelby and I could possibly have. Figured I’d get the ball rolling.” He shrugged his broad shoulders. “I’ve been investigating for…what? Twenty-four hours now? Forty-eight?” he inquired, shooting a quick glance Shelby’s way.

She swallowed. Didn’t reply.

“About forty-eight,” Hunter concluded with a nod. “So, yep, I’m still new and forgive me if this has been addressed, but how come you didn’t tell the prosecutors that you had picked up Nate Shiloh after a violent altercation at the diner? An altercation that occurred before the murders? How come you didn’t tell the DA that he’d been attacking a waiter named Mika and that you hauled Nate away in your patrol car?”

The red flush vanished from Jonah’s face.

“Has this been addressed?” Hunter tapped his chin. “I don’t believe it has. But then again, I am the new guy in this investigation, so do clarify for me.” His hand fell.

Silence.

“Uh, huh.” A long exhale from Hunter. “See, fair questions, right? Questions that deserve answers. The past isn’t settled yet, not in Shelby’s mind and not in mine. Also, considering that we arrived in town and a woman was immediately murdered, I’d say we have good cause for our suspicions.”

“Copycat,” Jonah snapped. “A copycat is stirred up because of the seven-year anniversary that is looming. I was already worried about shit like this happening even before I realized Shelby was in town. I told the college admin from the very beginning that the fountain was a mistake. Just glorifying the past. It’s like the fucking fountain is a tribute to him and not the victims.” His gaze swept back to Shelby. “You should have stayed away. It was safer for you that way, don’t you see that?”

Goosebumps rose onto her arms.

Hunter’s falsely polite mask seemed to shatter. He surged to stand in front of her, not beside her any longer. A big, angry shield. “Are you fucking threatening her?”

“No.” A quick denial as Jonah backed up a step. Shelby craned her head around Hunter and saw Jonah raise his hands toward them, palms out. “I’m merely stating the obvious. She left Hathaway for a reason. There is nothing for her in this town, not any longer. Unless she’s here to stare at headstones.” He sidestepped, moving so that he could better see Shelby again. “You told me once that you would never step foot in Hathaway again. What in the hell changed? Why the sudden focus on the past again?”

“I’m remembering more.”

His lips parted, but Jonah didn’t speak.

“Flashes. They started a few weeks ago.” Her hands had fisted, and she felt the bite of her nails in her palms. Deliberately, Shelby uncurled her hands. “I had to come back.”

“Even if it’s dangerous?”

“She didn’t come alone.” Hunter’s immediate response. “I’m here with her, every step of the way.”

“Looks like you’re here to fuck her,” Jonah blasted as his face twisted.

Hunter—

Laughed.

For a moment there, she’d thought that he would lunge at Jonah. Now she frowned, her forehead scrunching up.

“You think it’s gonna be that easy to get rid of me?” Hunter asked Jonah. He laughed again, only this time, the sound was mocking. “You think you can piss me off, I’ll take a swing at you, and you can toss my happy ass in jail? Is that truly the plan you’re plotting?”

Uh, had that been Jonah’s intention? To push Hunter into taking a swing?

“Dumbass attempt,” Hunter assured him. “I’d suggest that you dig a bit deeper into my life so that you can understand who you are dealing with. I don’t make foolish mistakes. If I need to eliminate a target, the target will be eliminated.”

Jonah sucked in a breath and straightened to his full height. A height that put him several inches shorter than Hunter. “Did you just threaten me?”

“Are you a target?” Almost a lazy question. “You tell me.”

Jonah’s stare jumped from Hunter to Shelby, then back to⁠—

“Who she fucks or does not fuck is not your concern.” Nothing lazy or casual about that fierce statement from Hunter. “Shelby saved your life once upon a time. The way I figure it, that means you should probably be really, really grateful to her. And by grateful, I mean try being less of a jealous ass. Because whatever you think might happen between the two of you? Not going to be. Not ever. You need to let that dream die.”