Chương 13
“So we wait.”
“For professionals who aren’t personally entangled to preserve the scene, yes.”
Amelia laughed without humor.
“I’m beginning to understand why people do stupid things.”
Rusk said, “That realization is useful if it stops you doing one.”
The doorbell rang.
Amelia jumped.
Logan did not move toward the door.
Rusk heard it.
“Who is it?”
Logan checked the doorbell camera through the wall-mounted tablet near the kitchen.
Two uniformed deputies stood on the porch.
Krall was one.
The other was a heavyset man Logan recognized as Deputy Paul Mendez.
Behind them sat a sheriff’s SUV.
“Deputies.”
Rusk’s voice sharpened.
“Do not open the door until you establish why they’re there.”
Krall rang again.
Then he knocked.
“Mr. Mercer, Sheriff’s Office.”
Logan approached without unlocking the deadbolt.
“What do you need?”
“We need to speak with you and Amelia.”
“Through the door is fine.”
“We’d rather come inside.”
“No.”
Krall paused.
“We’re investigating missing county property.”
“My attorney is on the phone.”
Mendez shifted his weight on the porch.
Krall looked toward him, then back at the door.
“Do you have the property here?”
“What property?”
“A box of county financial documents removed from the administration office.”
“No.”
“Does your wife?”
“She can answer for herself through counsel.”
Amelia whispered, “That makes me sound guilty.”
Rusk whispered back through the speaker, “Sounding polite does not require volunteering information.”
Krall knocked harder.
“Mr. Mercer, open the door.”
“Do you have a warrant?”
Silence.
Then Krall said, “Not at this time.”
“Then contact Daniel Rusk.”
Logan gave the attorney’s office number.
Mendez leaned toward Krall and said something too low for the doorbell microphone.
Krall’s jaw tightened.
“We have reason to believe evidence may be destroyed.”
Rusk spoke loudly enough for Logan to repeat him.
“Tell them no evidence is being destroyed and they are free to preserve whatever legal remedies they believe appropriate.”
Logan did.
Krall stepped closer to the door.
“You think hiding behind a lawyer makes this look better?”
“No.”
“What does it make it look like?”
“Like I have a lawyer.”
Mendez turned his face away.
Logan could not tell whether he was hiding amusement or discomfort.
Krall did not appreciate the answer.
“Sheriff Vance said you might be difficult.”
Amelia stiffened behind Logan.
He kept his voice flat.
“Is Sheriff Vance directing this investigation?”
“He’s the sheriff.”
“That wasn’t my question.”
Krall’s expression changed.
Mendez looked at him.
Rusk said softly, “Enough, Logan.”
Logan obeyed.
Krall waited several seconds.
Then he stepped backward.
“We’ll be in touch.”
“Through counsel.”
Krall stared at the door.
Mendez was already moving toward the SUV.
Before following, Krall pointed at the doorbell camera.
“Make sure that keeps working.”
The comment sounded almost helpful.
Almost.
They drove away.
Amelia released a breath.
“You could have opened the door and broken both their necks.”
Logan looked at her.
“That’s your takeaway?”
“I’m adjusting to new information.”
“Poorly.”
“I’ve had a difficult afternoon.”
“So have I.”
She sat down.
After a moment, Logan sat beside her.
Not across the table this time.
Rusk remained on the phone.
“You handled that adequately.”
“High praise.”
“Don’t get used to it.”
“What now?”
“Now we wait for the warrant they may or may not seek.”
Amelia stared at the door.
“Can they get one?”
“Possibly.”
“Based on what?”
“If they claim missing records are connected to you, a judge could find probable cause depending on the evidence presented.”
“But the box is in Cal’s truck.”
“That does not necessarily help.”
“Why?”
“Because they could argue Harris and you acted together.”
Her shoulders sagged.
“That’s what he warned us about.”
“Yes.”
Logan said, “If a warrant comes, we comply.”
“Correct.”
“And document.”
“Correct.”
Rusk paused.
“I have another call coming in.”
“Federal?”
“Maybe.”
He disconnected.
The house seemed suddenly too quiet.
Logan walked into the garage and returned with two bottles of water.
He handed one to Amelia.
She stared at it.
“I want wine.”
“Water first.”
“There he is.”
“Who?”
“The husband I recognize.”
She twisted the cap.
“You’ve been nagging me about hydration since our second date.”
“You drank three margaritas.”
“It was a wedding.”
“It was Tuesday.”
She smiled despite herself.
Then she began crying.
No warning.
No dramatic collapse.
She simply sat at the kitchen table with the water bottle between her hands while tears ran down her face.
Logan reached toward her, stopped, then tried again.
Amelia leaned into him.
Her forehead pressed against his shoulder.
“I’m sorry about the diner.”
He closed his eyes.
“I know.”
“No.”
She pulled back.
“I need to say it.”
He let her.
“I knew he was going to humiliate you.”
Her voice shook.
“I didn’t know about the milkshake, but I knew he planned something.”
Logan said nothing.
“He told me if you reacted violently, he could put pressure on you instead of me.”
“And you agreed.”
“Yes.”
The word hurt more the second time.
“I told myself you’d be fine.”
She wiped her cheek angrily.
“You’re always fine.”
“No one is always fine.”
“I know that now.”
Logan looked at the strawberry stain still visible along one cuff of his undershirt.
“Why didn’t you trust me?”
Amelia stared at the water bottle.
“Because you never trusted me first.”
He almost argued.
Then he stopped.
She was not entirely right.
That did not make her entirely wrong.
“I should have told you.”
“Yes.”
“I was ashamed.”
That surprised her.
“Of being a SEAL?”
“No.”
He looked toward the darkening window.
“Of how much I missed being useful.”
Amelia said nothing.
“Retirement was supposed to feel like getting my life back.”
He rubbed his hands together.
“Sometimes it felt like I’d been erased.”
“You had me.”
“I know.”
“That wasn’t enough?”
The question was quiet.
Logan answered carefully.
“It should not have been your job to be enough for everything I lost.”
She looked down.
“That is probably the healthiest thing you’ve ever said.”
“Don’t spread it around.”
May you like
A faint smile appeared.
Then headlights swept across the front window.
