LITMIR.BIZ

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a federal agent is here. He needs to see you—”

      Strickland grabbed the phone. He lifted the receiver and punched in the erase code. “I didn’t tell you to leave a message. Can’t risk it.”

      The deputy stood up, his gaze narrowed, suspicious. “Why are you here?”

      “Your sheriff might not be who he says he is, Deputy. I’m here to find out exactly who Garrett Galloway is.”

      “With all due respect, no way, sir. Sheriff Galloway is the real deal.”

      “You think so, do you? He ever talk about his past? He ever tell you anything about where he came from?”

      “Well, no, but still, he’s a good sheriff. Everyone says so.”

      “Maybe now. My agency has reason to believe he’s behind a lot of crimes. Under his real name. You recognize the name Derek Bradley?”

      The kid gasped. “He’s a traitor. Sold secrets to terrorists. Caused a lot of men to get killed overseas. He got himself blown up a couple years ago.”

      “So the public was led to believe.”

      The deputy shook his head. “Not Sheriff Galloway.”

      Strickland leaned in. “Does he trust you?”

      The kid nodded. “Yeah.”

      “He wouldn’t leave town without letting you know, would he?”

      “No, sir.”

      Strickland patted the kid’s cheek. “Okay, then, here’s what I want you to do. If he contacts you, I want you to keep your phone on. Don’t end the call.” He squeezed the deputy’s shoulder. “What’s your name?”

      “Deputy Lance Keller, sir.”

      “Well, Lance, are you a patriot?”

      The kid sprang to attention. “Yes, sir.”

      “Okay, then. You do this, and your country will thank you.”

      The deputy met his gaze. “I think you’re wrong about the sheriff, sir.”

      “Could be. If he’s innocent, nothing will happen, will it? And you’ll have helped clear him.”

      Keller smiled. “Yes, sir.”

      “If he’s guilty, you’ve saved a lot of lives.”

      Strickland turned and opened the front door. “I’m counting on you, Keller.”

      He walked back to his truck and picked up his phone. “Kid’s clueless.”

      “You kill him?”

      “Came a second away from pulling the trigger, but not yet. Galloway’s a straight-as-an-arrow spy. It’s what got him into trouble in the first place. He might contact the deputy. And if he does, we’ll have him.” Strickland paused. “Then I kill him.”

      * * *

      GARRETT PEEKED INTO the living room. Laurel and Molly were playing hide-and-seek, with Hairy Houdini the key player. He smiled softly. It had been so long since he’d heard that kind of joy.

      So many lost memories.

      And Laurel. She had his heart beating again. He didn’t know if he liked feeling again. A cold heart made it easier to focus on revenge.

      She let out a laugh and tackled Molly in a gentle hold. Those two had melted the ice encasing his heart. And Laurel had lit a fire.

      He wanted to scoop her into his arms, touch her and hold her until she trembled against him. They could both forget the past and lose themselves in each other. He’d recognized the heat, the awareness in her eyes.

      She wouldn’t say no.

      Problem was, Laurel was a forever kind of woman. And Garrett had stopped believing he had a forever.

      The reality made this decision easier. He planted himself in his office chair and picked up the secure line. For a moment he hesitated. Daniel Adams had been through hell, but the man had connections...and he was one of the good guys. These days, men who lived by a code of honor were few and far between. Many talked the talk. Few walked the walk.

      He punched in the number Daniel had given him.

      “Adams.” Daniel’s voice held suspicion.

      Garrett was silent for a few moments. Daniel said nothing either, obviously unwilling to give anything away.

      “It’s Garrett Galloway,” he finally said.

      “If you’re calling on this line, it must be serious, and not to request an invitation to Christmas dinner.”

      “You said to call if I needed a favor. I might. And it’s a big one. Just how covert can your friends be?”

      “Very. What’s the situation?” Daniel’s voice went soft. A few loud squeals sounded in the background before the snick of a door closing muffled the noise.

      “My past is raising a dangerous head, complete with teeth. A woman and her niece are in the cross fire. If I fail, they need new identities and a new life. Untraceable, undetectable.”

      Daniel let out a low whistle. “I always wondered about you, Garrett.”

      “Look, Daniel, don’t run a search on me. Eyes are everywhere. The minute you pull strings, those eyes will come back on you and your friends. You get me?”

      “I played the game,” Daniel said. “Do your friends know what they’re in for if they disappear?”

      “I’ll make sure they understand. We’re not far from that gorge you hid out in. How long will it take you to get here?”

      “I can have a chopper there in less than an hour.”

      “I think we’ll have to talk about that.” Behind him Laurel stood in the doorway, foot tapping. “You’re palming us off? Where’s that idea of working together, Sheriff? I’m not ready to give up on having my life back yet.”

      Daniel chuckled at the other end of the phone. “She reminds me of my wife. Doesn’t take any prisoners. You need me, call this number. I’ll have the helicopter on standby.”

      “No details. To anyone.”

      “None needed. They know me. You had my back once, Garrett. I’ve got yours.”

      Garrett hung up the secure phone and turned around in his chair. He’d know very soon which direction this operation would be taking.

      He had a feeling he knew. And that Laurel wasn’t going to like it.

      * * *

      NOON HAD COME and gone. Laurel kissed Molly’s forehead and quietly closed the door to the bedroom. The little girl had fallen asleep before her usual nap time, but she was exhausted. Even though the weather was brisk, the sun had shone. They’d explored outside, careful to make enough noise to startle any other predators from coming too close. They’d collected pinecones. The moment Laurel had crossed the baseball-sized tracks of the big cat, she and Molly had scurried back to the house. She didn’t want to come face-to-face with it again, even with her SIG.

      She hovered over the sleeping girl for a few minutes. Molly hadn’t mentioned her brother or sister all morning. Laurel couldn’t help but worry. When the truth hit, it would hit hard.

      She left a small crack between the door and the jamb so she could hear Molly if she woke.

      Quietly she exited into the living room. Garrett must still be in his office. She padded across the wood floor and stuck her head through the door.

      He sat in front of the wall of electronics, bent over, studying the monitor intently. He typed in a few keystrokes. The screen turned red.

      He cursed and quickly pressed a button.

      “No

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