Page 25 of Kian

Kian sighed. “Okay. I hate not letting them know I’m alright, but I understand. I hate it for my parents, my brother, and the department.”

“One more day isn’t going to make a difference.” She tilted her head. “Let’s get you up and get out of this.”

“Alright.” He stood, took her hand, they entered the cabin.

After removing their items, she hung them up, put the rifle away and looked at him. “So, you’re a twin?”

“Yep. Everyone says you can tell we’re brothers but not twins. Today when that image of those men came into my head, I was looking in the direction where it happened. I know I can find it.” He shook his head. “My brother and I are close and I know he has to be worried, and I can’t imagine what my parents are going through.”

“Well, we’ll try to get there tomorrow. If you were able to send your brother a text message from there, we should be able to make a call. This cabin is in a bad area for cellphones and internet.”

“How do you keep in touch with anyone?”

She shrugged. “As I said, I’ll walk through the woods until I reach a clearing, and I go into Clifton a couple of times a month to get supplies and groceries and visit my parents. Sometimes, I’ll use my mom’s computer to order things, then have it delivered to my P.O. Box or to a friend’s place. I keep in touch with her.”

“Is she the one who gave you the box of condoms?” he asked with a grin, then chuckled when she blushed.

“Yes.”

Later, as they watched TV, she saw Kian glance at the clock.

“You fell asleep,” Gretchen said.

“Sorry.”

“It’s fine.”

“You like living here alone?”

“I have Lobo.” She smiled.

“That’s true. That dog wouldn’t let anyone hurt you. I know that firsthand.”

“He could have hurt you a lot worse.”

“I know. I apologize for that.”

“It’s okay. You didn’t hurt me, just scared me.”

“I could have.”

“No, I don’t believe that. You were just having a bad dream.Please don’t worry about it. I think I’ll head to bed.”

“Me too.”

“We’ll go early in the morning if the weather cooperates.”

“Sounds good.” He stood. “Goodnight, Gretchen.”

“Goodnight, Agent Kian Doyle.” She headed to her bedroom and smiled when he chuckled.

“That sounds so good,” he called out to her as she entered her room, closing the door.

Gretchen woke up to see the sun shining through her window. She stretched her arms above her head and yawned. Tossing the blankets aside, she got out of bed, pulled her robe on over her lounge pants and T-shirt, then left the bedroom to head for the kitchen. She could smell coffee.

“Good morning,” she said when she entered the kitchen.

“Morning. It’s about time you got up.” Kian stared at her with a cup of coffee in his hand.

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