“What?” she asked miserably.

“We’re taking a break from the case. We’re going to light a fire, and eat pizza, and maybe watch a movie. What we aren’t going to do, for a few hours at least, is dissect all the possibilities of who might be behind this. Until we have more evidence, we can pretty much suspect everyone in your life and I don’t want you to have to do that.”

She let out an audible sigh of relief. “I think that is a great idea.”

Next moment they were pulling into the cabin’s driveway. Unfortunately, they weren’t alone.

“Who is that?” Darby asked sitting up straighter, eyes stretching wide in alarm.

“Probably the owners. The welcome note said they check the hot tub daily, but they don’t go inside the cabins.”

“There’s a hot tub?” Darby sounded excited which amused him.

“Cover your hair and put your sunglasses on and pretend to be on your phone. If they look at you, smile like you don’t have a worry in the world while I go make sure everything’s okay.”

She pulled her hat on and hood up. Slipped on her shades.

He grinned. She was cute as hell. “You’re a natural.”

“Yep. If we ever need to go on the run, I’m your woman.”

The words jolted him a little.

If he was ever on the run, there was no one else he’d rather have by his side.

“Give me two minutes and then follow me up the front steps. I’ll distract them. Lock the vehicle doors when I leave, okay?” He handed her the car key.

“Okay.” She nodded and stuck the phone to her ear. “Eban.”

He raised his brow in question as he leaned back inside the car.

“Be careful.”

* * *

Darby was embarrassed that she had to skulk outside like she had something to be ashamed of, but it beat the general public finding out where she was staying. Despite her joke in the car, she didn’t wish to be constantly on the run. She wasn’t sure where else she had to go except maybe visit Haley and Quentin in Virginia and the cops had warned her not to leave town.

She was bone tired after sleeping fitfully last night, unable to shake the image of that knife embedded in Martin’s chest from her mind.

Thankfully, it was so cold no one would question her staying in the car to finish a phone call, nor the fact that when she got out, she rushed straight into the house with her head down and only a quick wave of acknowledgment to the woman standing outside the rear deck, talking to Eban.

Inside the cabin, she could hear the woman laughing and joking with Eban about the weather. Then Eban referred to Darby as his wife and she froze. She knew it was a front, a disguise, but the idea of being something other than a case to this man filled her with a feeling that was way too close to joy for her to grapple with. At least it was a change from being a pathetic victim.