“I’m moving around,” I say. “And I borrowed some lady’s phone. I need to go. I’ll call you when I can. I’m chasing a lead.”
“Tell me what it is and I’ll help.”
“Too dangerous. Stay safe.” I disconnect and stand up, handing Luke the phone. “He seemed off. I don’t like how that call felt, but if he’s dirty, he’s also the only path to answers we have. At some point, we’ll have to decide how I use my relationship with him to get answers.”
“Don’t underestimate Adam and Savage. They’re watching him. Let’s get out of here. We have an SUV waiting on us downstairs, with the keys under the seat.”
I nod and we both grab our bags and head for the door. Our stay in the hotel room is over. And somehow, we both kept our clothes on.
These are not the good old days. Not even close.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
ANA
From the moment Luke and I step out of the room, we’re both on guard, cautiously analyzing our surroundings. Once we’re inside a shiny black SUV that looks and smells new, Luke’s phone rings. “Adam,” he answers on speaker. “You’re on with me and Ana.”
“He called Mike, and had the conversation you’d expect. Worry for you, Ana, and yadda, yadda, yadda. But what was interesting was that he then pulled out a throwaway phone and made another call. I was at the next table.”
“He didn’t recognize you?” I ask.
Luke answers. “He’s the invisible man, sweetheart, a master of disguise. You’d be shocked at how well he can change his looks.”
Sweetheart.
It means nothing except that old habits don’t die easily, but I still notice. I still feel it in my belly. “What did you hear?” I ask.
“Nothing. The dirty bastard got up and walked away. But he’s using a throwaway,” Adam adds. “That looks dirty to me.”
“Maybe,” I say.
“Maybe?” Luke asks in disbelief.
“Probably,” I amend. “But I’m not working his present case with him. I have no idea how that might play into whatever he’s working on right now.”
“I’ll get Blake to find out what’s he’s working on,” Adam replies, “but the man wears Snoopy socks. I don’t trust him.”
I laugh. “He must be working a case. He doesn’t wear Snoopy socks. I’d have noticed.”
Adam grunts. “He’s on the move. I need to go.” He hangs up.
“I thought you two were partners?”
“Not since I started profiling.”
“Then why were you at his place?”
“He wanted some advice on a case.” I glance over at him. “Maybe he just wanted to get me there. I just don’t want to believe that.”
“Of course not,” he says flatly. “You’ve been friends so long. Why would you jump to conclusions?”
The words jab at me and I say, “Luke.”
He turns on the radio and shifts into gear, setting us in motion. I want to turn the radio down and tell him I’d only found out Kasey was dead minutes before he arrived. I was in shock. I was grieving. I was not in my right mind. I want to tell him it was an accident. I want to tell him I still love him.
But he doesn’t want to hear anything I have to say.
This is going to be a long drive to Breckenridge.
Chapter Thirty
ANA
The ride to Breckenridge is a scenic two hours with decent two-lane roads, unless you get detoured for high winds, which is more common than anyone hopes for. Thankfully we are not detoured, but the winds are nevertheless crazy high and intense. So is the silence between me and Luke that is filled with classic rock, which Kurt always loved. I can barely take the silence, and I try to focus on the songs, on the words, and I know he is as well.
I even think that’s a good thing, until it’s not. We lose the channel and I work the knob to find another station. The dial lands on a country station, which works for both of us. Usually. Maybe not so much today. The first song that starts playing is Dustin Lynch’s “Love Me or Leave Me Alone.” The words: So love me or leave me alone
Hold me or just let me go, don’t exactly set the tone we’re going for right now, and I don’t miss the way Luke’s fingers curl around the steering wheel. I reach over and flip the channel again, and leave it on some DJ talking to another DJ. It’s a good plan, but I’m back to, until it’s not. This is apparently another country station. Carly Pearce’s “Every Little Thing” begins to play and my stomach knots. I haven’t been able to listen to this song since Luke and I split up.
Every little thing
I remember every little thing
The high, the hurt, the shine, the sting
Luke starts driving faster. I draw a deep breath as he slides in between two cars and tails the one in front of us so closely that they move to the next lane. We’re now at the part of the drive where there are steep drops to our left, drops without rails—long, deep, dangerous drops that go on and on forever, and ensure certain death should you tumble off the road.