“Keep them,” Avery said. “It’s good to remember.”

“Okay.”

“What are you two up to today?” Avery asked.

“We’re now leaving to investigate a lead,” Jordan said.

“No.” Avery set her glass down hard on the counter. “That’s the craziest thing you’ve said in a long time, Jordan. You were released from the hospital yesterday.”

“I’ll be fine, Avery,” Jordan said. “Ranger Spencer will drive, escort me, and then deliver me back home.”

“Is that true, Spencer?” Avery asked.

His silence telegraphed indecision and perhaps a little frustration. “I’ll make sure she doesn’t overdo it, and I’ll bring her back safe and sound.”

“I cannot believe we’re having this discussion,” Avery said.

“Avery, I need to do this,” Jordan said. “If this is my new life, I’ve got to figure out how to navigate it.”

“This crazy guy out there almost killed you,” Avery said. “He’s delivered flowers to our house!”

“And we’ll both be safer as soon as Spencer and I find him,” Jordan said.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Thursday, April 22

7:30 a.m.

Jordan stepped out of her house, searching the shadows and shards of light for any landmark or anchor. She felt Spencer stand beside her and imagined him slipping on his Stetson, his crow’s-feet deepening as he glared at the morning sun. She liked the look of his face and missed seeing it.

“How do you want to do this, Detective Poe?” he asked. “I can offer you my arm. I can offer verbal directions or let you go it alone.”

“I want to do it myself.” She fumbled in her purse for her sunglasses. The sun was not at its peak, but already the light bothered her.

“I want to be on my new land north of the city, sipping coffee and enjoying the morning. But it’s not likely to happen anytime soon. What I need is to stay in the game and find this killer.”

“I need that, too.”

“Then we’re both putting our wants aside and doing what needs to be done. After the killer is caught, I’ll head to the ranch, and you’ll do whatever you want. But for now, we suck it up.”

She could not imagine what want would make sense without her vision. “I’ll take your arm and all the verbal cues you think I need.”

The air shifted as he held out his arm.

She laid her hand on it. The cotton shirt was a fine weave and stiff with starch. Under the fabric the muscles of his forearm felt like corded steel. “Let’s do this.”

“All right then.”

He guided her down the front steps along her walkway toward the curb. “My SUV is parked at eleven o’clock.”

“Understood.”

He paused, reached, and opened the door.