Page 85 of Home Town Knight

I knew what he was trying to do. “I turned over the murder investigations to you. I trust you to handle the situation. I’m going to focus on getting Genevieve to safety.” And then, on finding Stillwater, though I couldn’t share that with him.

“But I still don’t like it,” Norris murmured. “You don’t deserve the way Grissom’s painting you.”

“I thought you had some of the same concerns about my relationship with Gen. You warned me not to be reckless.” A warning I hadn’t listened to.

He winced. “Perhaps, but I’m still loyal. It’s not in my nature to be anything else.”

“Noted.” I patted him on the shoulder. “Don’t worry, though. I’m not resigning my office anytime soon. We’ll weather this, and you can get back to being second in command.”

His mustache twitched as he smiled. “Looking forward to it.” He lifted his empty coffee cup. “Going to top up for the road. Head out in five minutes?”

“Sounds good.” When I turned away, I caught Genevieve frowning at Norris. I crossed the lobby to meet her and asked, “What is it?”

She shook her head as if shaking off whatever she’d been thinking. “Nothing. Just…I’m ready to get back to Hartley. I need to pack up my things from your place.”

Right. Suddenly I wanted to swoop in for one more kiss. But we’d already had that in the hotel room. Already said our real goodbyes. Still, I couldn’t stop myself from sliding my hand down her arm. Gen took a step back, causing my hand to fall away.

“Let’s go,” she said, and set off toward the lobby doors.

It was time. I just wished it didn’t hurt so much.

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

Genevieve

Keira and Norris rode together,leading the way, while I rode with Owen in his unmarked SUV. Owen and I were quiet as the scenery flashed by.Goodbye Hart County, I thought. Maybe I’d make it back out here again, especially as I continued to work on the Stillwater story. It would be hard though. To see Owen and not have more with him.

In the hotel room that morning, part of me had wanted to ask Owen if we could keep our options open. Get together the next time I was in his area. Anything but ending itnow, when I wasn’t ready. He’d kissed me in front of his employees and the DA.

But then he’d made it clear that we were going in different directions. In more ways than one.You can go back to your life, he’d said. And he would go back to his, rooting out bad guys and serving up justice the best that he could. I admired that about him.

Maybe that explained the disconcerted way I’d felt in the hotel lobby earlier. Owen had been talking to the undersheriff about the murder investigations, and it had struck me as ridiculously unfair that Owen had to turn them over to hissecond in command. If the people of Hart County didn’t reelect him, they were fools.

As we drove, I watched him from the corner of my eye. His sharp profile and unshaven jaw. We’d only spent a few days together, yet I knew it would take so much longer to get over this man.

In front of us, Keira’s vehicle slowed to a stop. She radioed to Owen. “We’ve got a disabled CSP vehicle ahead.”

I craned my neck. A silver and black SUV was parked at an angle, blocking the road. It had a light bar on top of it.

“I see it,” Owen responded. “Have you checked the serial number?”

A pause. “It’s Trooper Sykes,” Norris said.

Sykes. Who Owen had confronted at Jessi’s Diner. He’d told Owen about Rossiter taking the coin from Tucker’s hotel room.

“Looks like he lost control,” Norris continued. “Hit a tree. Maybe he’s unconscious, and that’s why he hasn’t called for help.”

Owen cursed. “Sykes was at the Alpine overnight. He was one of the units who responded to the double crime scenes. He was working an extra shift, and I have no doubt he’s nervous about what happened with Rossiter. Sykes was probably tired. Stressed. But still…” He put his SUV in park. “Norris, Keira, approach the vehicle and see if you can render aid. I’ll call for medical.”

Had Sykes been attacked? Was it a coincidence? “I don’t like this,” I murmured.

The two got out. They carefully walked toward the disabled SUV, their hands near their weapons. Owen radioed to his dispatcher.

Keira spoke into the mic at her shoulder. “I see him! Sykes is slumped in the driver’s seat. The airbag deployed.”

The undersheriff was signaling to Keira. He went ahead ofher and approached the driver’s side door first. Looked in. “Sykes is unconscious,” Norris reported. “Bleeding from the head. I’m going to try opening the door.”

Norris tugged the handle, stepping back as he did. The door opened. Swung wide. I couldn’t see that well, but Sykes was visible in the driver’s seat. Slumped, like Keira had said.

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