LITMIR.BIZ

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criminal?

      But there was no denying Melissa was in trouble. He’d been livid when he’d seen the guy slap her across the face. It was clear the guy’s intent was to take Melissa with him, and there was no telling what might have happened if Nate hadn’t got there in time. Thank goodness he’d heard her door shutting behind her when she’d left the motel. It had taken him a few minutes to verify that she was gone.

      A few minutes that could have cost her life.

      But was it really possible that his uncle Tom was involved?

      Nate shook his head helplessly. He tightened his grip on the steering wheel and considered his options. Taking Melissa and Hailey straight to his boss was top on his list. Griff was a good, honest cop, and Nate could trust his boss to get to the bottom of whatever was going on.

      Or he could take Melissa somewhere safe and begin investigating this on his own.

      As much as he’d rather do the latter, he knew that it was a better option to take her to his boss. But it was one o’clock in the morning. There wouldn’t be anyone at the sheriff’s department headquarters other than the single dispatcher who manned the graveyard shift.

      He reached for his phone and handed it over to Melissa. “Do me a favor and take the battery out of the back so I can’t be traced. And you need to ditch your phone, too.”

      She grimaced but did as he asked, dropping both the device and the battery back into the cup holders located in the center console. Then she opened her window and tossed the disposable phone she’d been using.

      “Nate, please, you have to believe me,” Melissa said in a low, desperate tone, as if reading his turbulent thoughts. “You asked me why I didn’t come to you after I witnessed the murder. Well, this is the reason. I was afraid your uncle would turn you against me.”

      He clenched his jaw so tight his temple ached. “Why would my uncle be involved in covering up a murder?”

      “I don’t know,” Melissa insisted, frustration edging her voice. “I wish I had answers for you, but I don’t.”

      “Yeah, and isn’t that convenient?” He felt his anger rising and did his best to lower his tone so he wouldn’t disturb Hailey. “You’ve been keeping secrets from me since I saw you on the escalator. Give me one good reason why I should believe you now.”

      “Because unfortunately, you were right,” she whispered. “Now that you’ve helped me, I’m afraid you’re in as much danger as I am.”

      “Maybe, but I think it’s time I listen to my instincts, which are telling me to hand you over to my boss right now.”

      Her eyes widened with fear. “If you do that, they’ll find a way to kill me.” The grim certainty in her tone nagged at him. “Tell me one thing, Nate. How did they find us at that hotel? You said yourself it’s a cop-friendly place. How many cops would know to look for your vehicle there?”

      Good question—one that had bothered him from the moment the guy in the black car had grabbed and hit Melissa. It couldn’t be a coincidence that they’d been found so quickly. “I don’t know,” he admitted.

      “Please don’t take me in. Not when there are dirty policemen involved who obviously won’t stop until I’m dead.”

      He couldn’t deny the fact that she was in danger. And if corrupt cops were in on this, keeping her safe would be even more difficult. He let out a heavy sigh and continued driving through the night.

      Melissa was right. He couldn’t take her in. Not yet.

      Not until he knew what they were dealing with.

      “Okay, fine,” he agreed in a resigned tone. “But no more lies, Melissa. No more escape attempts, either. We work together from this point forward. Understand?”

      “Yes,” she whispered. “I’m sorry I dragged you into this mess. I know this wasn’t at all what you bargained for.”

      “It’s not your fault,” he said. In all fairness, she hadn’t dragged him into anything. He was the one who’d recognized her on the escalator. And he was the one who’d followed her through the mall. Shooting and wounding two men hadn’t been part of the initial plan, but he knew that given the same set of circumstances, he’d do it all again without hesitation.

      “Maybe not entirely my fault, but I’m concerned that your reputation will suffer if you continue to help me,” she said in a resigned tone.

      He didn’t bother pointing out that his reputation had already taken a hit the moment he’d decided to leave the crime scene at the mall.

      The way she truly seemed to care about his fate helped ease his anger and frustration at waking up and discovering she’d sneaked away during the night.

      “I can’t worry about my reputation,” he said, even though being a cop was important to him. “Hopefully I’ll be able to salvage it once we get to the bottom of this mess.”

      “I hope so,” she whispered, resting her head back against the seat. “I truly hope so.”

      Nate reached over to give her hand a reassuring squeeze, a bit surprised when she responded by tightening her fingers around his and flashing a tentative smile.

      They would uncover the truth of the murder Melissa had witnessed twelve years ago.

      Because the alternative was too painful to contemplate.

      * * *

      Melissa stared down at their joined hands for a long moment, humbled by Nate’s forgiveness. He had every right to be angry, but at least he wasn’t taking her to his boss.

      She was sorry that she’d inadvertently involved Nate, but she was relieved that she and Hailey weren’t alone. If Nate truly believed her, then maybe they could get to the bottom of this by working together.

      The warmth of the car caused her eyelids to droop heavily, but she forced them open. She was going to be Nate’s partner in this, and she needed to stay awake and alert.

      Glancing into the backseat, she was glad to see Hailey had fallen asleep.

      “Where are we going?” she asked when Nate turned onto a remote country road.

      “Another motel. We need somewhere to crash for what’s left of the night,” he said. “But I’m not about to use anyplace I’ve been before.”

      She was relieved to hear that, although that meant they might be forced to use a credit card.

      She racked her brain for an alternate plan but couldn’t come up with anything better. “I’d offer my father’s house, but I’m sure they have the place staked out, since they found me at the hospital.”

      “Yeah, I was thinking of using one of my buddies’ places,” he admitted. “But if they know who I am, it won’t be too hard to find out the names of my friends, and I don’t want to expose any of them or their families to danger.”

      She didn’t blame him. She thought about the church friends she’d left back in South Carolina and knew she wouldn’t be willing to put any of them in harm’s way, either.

      “There’s a place up ahead,” Nate said, breaking into her thoughts. “It’s small and well off the highway. Should work for our needs.”

      “Sounds good.” She hoped and prayed his uniform would convince the motel clerk to let them pay cash rather than leaving an electronic trail.

      Nate pulled into a parking space near the lobby, then turned to face her. “It will be easier to request one room, pretending we’re a family. I’ll make sure there are two double beds. You and Hailey can share one, and I’ll crash on the other.”

      “All right,” she agreed.

      Nate slid out from behind the wheel and then disappeared inside. He returned about fifteen minutes later, a satisfied

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