Page 113 of Second Chance Savior

Two hours later, I was parked beneath the shade of a cliff. Waiting.

My head drooped as I nodded off, resting my forearms against the ATV’s handlebars. The sun was setting, and I’d been fighting off exhaustion for a while.

Then I heard an engine and snapped upright.

A truck stopped on the side of the road, though I couldn’t see it from my hiding place. A car door opened.

“Charlie?” a deep voice asked. “You here?”

“I’m here!” I jumped off the ATV, grabbed my pack, and ran through the trees.

Trace Novo stood on the embankment with his thumbs hooked into his jeans pockets. His tanned face and sun-bleached hair looked just like his image on the screen the other day. But his smile was far bigger.

“There you are.” Trace held out his hand, bending to help me up the embankment.

“I amreallyglad to see you. Thank you so much.”

“Not a problem. Anything for a friend of River’s.”

Trace took my pack and opened the passenger side door for me. The moment I was sitting in the oversized seat, I slumped with relief. I’d decided not to ride the ATV back to the 4Runner, opting instead for a shortcut to meet Trace as quickly as possible just off the nearest main highway. River’s plan had been solid. But mine was better.

Trace came around the other side and climbed in. “I thought something might be up. The FBI suddenly withdrew from Hartley a few hours ago, taking their watchers with them. Convenient for us, since there were no agents left to follow me when you called. So River’s gotten himself arrested?”

I hadn’t had the chance to explain everything on the satphone. “He’s with the FBI. I didn’t want to leave him, but I had to.”

“I’m sure he’ll be fine.” Trace put the truck in gear and pulled away, glancing over at me. “You said something on the phone about going to Silver Ridge. No offense, but you look pretty worn out. River will get pissy if I don’t take care of you, and so will my wife. Sure you don’t want to head back to Hartley first? Get some rest and good food? I’ll find you asecure spot if you’re worried the FBI or Stillwater will come looking for you.”

He had no clue how tempting that sounded. I was a grimy mess and barely keeping my eyes open. But thoughts of River kept me going. “This is almost finished. I have to see it through to the end. You know?”

The sooner I had that list in my hands, the sooner I could breathe easier. And hopefully, know that River was safe.

“I do understand how that is. Most definitely.” Trace grinned, skin crinkling around his eyes. “I’m at your service, Lieutenant Governor. Let’s go get this done.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

River

Two days after my arrest,I got my release papers. No contrite apologies. SAC Stanford didn’t even deliver the news himself.

But when I walked out the doors of the federal holding facility, Owen was waiting for me in his uniform.

So was the media.

I passed through a gauntlet of reporters shouting questions. Owen waved me toward his Hart County Sheriff’s Department SUV, and I jumped in.

“Personal pick-up service. I’m flattered, Sheriff.”

“Thought you could use an official escort. Didn’t want you getting lost on the way.” Owen gave me a rough pat on the back, which turned into a genuine hug. I hugged him right back.

Federal custody hadn’t been that bad. But I was damned glad to be out of there.

Two days away from Charlie. I was champing at the bit to see her. And to find out what the hell I’d missed.

He pointed at my nose. I had a nasty bruise from the smack that Stillwater gunman had given me, though the cut was healing. “That looks painful.”

“It’s nothing. How are things in Hartley?” I’d spoken to Charlie and Trace on the phone, but the Feds eavesdropped on all such jail calls. Charlie hadn’t been able to share anything except for the barest assurances. She had said that all was well, which I took to mean she’d gotten the list from Jud’s safe deposit box.

“A little chaotic,” Owen said. “The FBI was pissed that Charlotte took off without a word, but it’s getting smoothed over. There’s far more attention on you. The valiant hero, wrongly framed as the villain. That’s the new narrative in the media. The state and Denver police and the Feds are busy pointing fingers at each other.”

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