Page 52 of Crow's Haven
I shake it off and keep going, “There’s a detail I forgot to say before. A co-worker called her at some point and tried to get her to turn herself in.”
“I remember you saying something about them thinking she might be a serial killer.”
“Yeah, that’s what the co-worker told her. Said the cops were floating the idea. I saw it as the person trying to scare her into coming in.”
“I agree. That sounds like secondhand information coming from the co-worker. It could be just some bullshit the other person made up to scare her into turning herself in.”
“But when Zen finally pulled the warrant, there wasn’t one damn word in there about her being flagged as some kind of serial killer,”
“Right,” Rigs agrees.
I feel like shit when the next part hits me. “She told the other person she knows they ain’t ever gonna stop hunting her. Said she was thinking about running again. She said she loves us too much to drag me and the boys into her mess. That we’re good people who don’t deserve the heat coming our way.”
Rigs’ gaze sharpens thoughtfully. “She sounds like a good woman who is backed into a corner and is worried about hurting the people she loves. Here’s the thing, people think only guilty people run. But innocent people run too. They panic and make mistakes out of fear. It doesn’t mean they’re guilty. It just means they’re desperate.”
I lean forward, dragging a hand down my face. “Fuck,” I mutter harshly, frustration and regret knotting in my gut. “I wish I had handled that better. If I had, we’d be halfway to solving the case instead of being shit outta luck finding her.”
Rigs shakes his head firmly, his tone steady and reassuring. “No sense beating yourself up about things you can’t change. What matters is bringing her home safely and helping her prove her innocence.”
I rub at my eyes, bone-tired and pissed at myself. Rigs is right, even if it stings to hear it.
He finishes, “We need to get some sleep so we can look at this with a fresh set of eyes. Maybe notice an angle we missed before.”
“I’d love to, but I should check on the boys first.”
Rigs gives me a firm shake of his head. “They’re fine at the cabin with Evan and Levi. As far as they know, it’s a fun campout with the prospects.”
I rake my hand through the side of my hair, jaw grinding. “Only seeing them every couple of days is killing me. I’m used to having ‘em under the same roof every damn night.”
Rigs gives me a tired smile. “They’re so excited to be doing all their favorite things, time is slipping by for them. They haven’t stopped long enough to ask for you. Just let them be this one time and focus on the job at hand. My boy is doing a good job of distracting them. They’re still asking about Sharon, but he told them she had to deal with a family emergency and she’ll be back.”
I nod, even though my whole damn body’s screaming to fire up the bike and ride straight to that cabin to be with my boys. This situation’s fucked six ways from Sunday. “Alright. I’ll try to crash a few hours. Hit the ground fresh in the mornin’.”
Rigs nods sharply. “Good. We’ve chased down every lead. Hell, we’ve even had brothers scouring hospitals for Jane Does.”
“And still not a goddamn thing,” I mutter, voice low and full of grit.
Chapter 16
Sharon
Iforce myself to do some deep breathing as I read through the information. The bus leaves at noon and it’s nine now.
Slowly, I stand and get dressed and tuck the cheap burner phone into my pocket. My life is a complete mess and the only person still in my corner is my cousin. Part of me misses Crow and his boys terribly, but another part is pissed that he wouldn’t let me explain the situation. I understand why he was angry and that I should have told him, but I thought our relationship was stronger than it turned out to be. His turning on me so easily hurt in ways I could never have anticipated. My cousin texted me to say he’d been asking questions. I never wanted her to get involved, though she promised me she didn’t tell them anything about my plans.
I need to forget about Crow and my life in Las Salinas and press on. Today, I’ll finally get to the place my cousin told me about. I’ll be able to disappear, go quietly unnoticed, and be safe from everyone who wants to see me behind bars.
I’ll survive this. And someday, I’ll clear my name and find my way back to Crow and the boys, no matter how long it takes.
And hope that they will forgive me for leaving.
By the time I reach the bus station, dark clouds are gathering overhead. I go inside and since I don’t have anyluggage I walk up to the ticket counter nervously. As casually as I can I ask, “Can I get a ticket for Hartford? The noon bus.”
The woman behind the counter hardly glances at me as she mumbles, “That’ll be fifty dollars, cash or card?”
“Cash,” I say as I pay. I take my ticket and slip away as quietly as possible.
My cousin lives very close to this apartment with the secret room, and it’s far away from where I used to work. I’m worried that being close to my cousin might not be a good idea, especially if Crow has been calling her to ask where I am. But right now I need a roof over my head. Once I’m settled I can decide where to go next.
