Satisfied, Eban headed back to the main road, passing an evidence tech who was tromping along carrying a large toolbox. Eban wasn’t about to stand over the man and tell him how to do his job no matter how great the temptation. The grouchy detective stopped to talk to the guy, so Eban pulled far enough ahead to risk a quick call to Quentin.

“How’s it looking? How’s Darby?” asked Quentin.

“I haven’t spoken to her yet,” Eban admitted. “I’m out at the crime scene.”

“How bad is the situation?” Worry laced Quentin’s tone.

Eban stared up at the sky. The clouds were billowing angrily. The wind had begun to strengthen. A winter storm was forecast for tomorrow—a portent of what they faced. “It’s bad.”

Quentin swore. “I’ve been trying to get some time off, but headquarters denied my request.”

“There’s not a lot you can do right now.” Eban kept his voice calm. “She’s still in jail unless the wonder-boy has gotten her released already.” Even now it was hard to quell his distaste for criminal defense attorneys, especially rich, handsome ones.

“I want to be there for her. I want to support her.” Quentin and Haley had rescued Darby from her attackers that day on that remote volcanic island, and the bond that had been forged between the three of them during their escape was something no one could ever weaken.

Quentin released a big sigh. “I could just ignore headquarters.”

“They’d fire you.”

Quentin grunted.

“You love your job,” Eban argued. “And the Bureau needs you.”

“Doesn’t matter.”

Eban understood his boss’s feelings as the thought had also crossed his mind. “Look, Darby would hate for you to quit the job you love because of this. Plus,” Eban eyed the stern-faced detective as she came toward him. “I think having us in her corner is a big advantage. You resign, you’re back to being a civilian and the local PD won’t care much for your opinion and you won’t have any influence or pull when it comes to getting answers. They are already wondering why I’m here…”

“Tell them it is need to know and refer them to me if that doesn’t suffice.” Quentin sounded pissed. Because he knew without saying there was a limit as to what they could do without making things worse for Darby.

The weight of his boss’s concern hummed along the connection, along with everything they both knew about her past. Quentin cleared his throat. “Haley is beside herself with worry.”

Eban kept quiet. Haley clearly wasn’t the only one. Eban knew exactly how they both felt.

Finally, Quentin asked the million-dollar question. “Did she do it?”

The cold wind scraped Eban’s cheeks, and he murmured quietly so as not to be overheard, “I don’t know for sure. The most damning thing is, neither does she.”

* * *

Darby stood and pulled up her borrowed leggings. The nurse had been kind and her touch gentle. Darby hadn’t mentioned she knew the drill. She wasn’t about to reveal her history as she’d belatedly wised up to the fact that it could be used against her.