Mercy craned her head around the seat to see Erin’s face. “Why not?”

“Because that man behind the deli counter was watching us the whole time we were looking at that jewelry box and now he’s talking on the phone. Don’t look,” Erin added in a hiss.

Mercy didn’t twist to look through the store window, but she did glance at Rafe, who appeared unsurprised. “You noticed him, too?” she asked.

Rafe nodded. “Yep. And it gave me the same bad feeling.”

“Maybe we shouldn’t go off-road,” Mercy countered. The last thing she wanted was to put these people in danger because of her.

Not because of you. Because Ephraim and DJ are monsters.

“He could have been a homophobe,” Sasha ventured. “I don’t think he liked it when I kissed Erin’s cheek.”

“Which is why you did it,” Erin countered.

Sasha tossed her head, making her ponytail swing. “Duh.”

Erin checked her watch. “Going into the forest will be fine, Mercy. We have more backup coming.”

Rafe lifted a brow. “You called Gideon?”

“Texted him before we left your house,” Erin replied, not one bit repentant. “Kept calling once we got on the road until I woke him up. He was most unhappy that he had not been invited to our little party.”

“I tried to invite him,” Rafe said. “He never replied to my texts.”

“He was asleep, and he about had a panic attack when he saw the missed texts from you. Luckily I was specific in mine. Why didn’t you tell him what you wanted?” Erin asked.

Rafe gave her a withering look. “No way was I going to put that information in writing. I’m on leave, remember?”

Erin pouted. “So I was your second choice?”

“You were the one who pushed yourself into our trip,” Rafe pointed out. “I would have waited for Gideon. Probably.”

Erin scowled. “You could have told me.”

He shrugged. “Before or after you tore me a new one, Detective High-Handed and Superior?”

Erin sighed. “Okay. I might have deserved a little of that. Sorry.”

“It’s okay,” Rafe allowed. “But only because Mercy reminded me that you care.”

Mercy checked her own phone and sighed. She also had two texts that had downloaded when they’d rolled into town. There wasn’t enough signal for Rafe to do an Internet search, but there was apparently just enough to text. “I’ve got two messages from Farrah. She isn’t happy with me, either. She and André woke up, found me gone, and are on their way up here as well.”

“I know,” Erin said. “She texted me and Gideon, too. I figured I’d let her communicate her own irritation.”

Sasha was just staring at Erin. “So that’s why you bought eight sandwiches. I was wondering, since you can’t even finish one. You know, being so tiny and all.”

Erin chuckled. “Throw your worst, Amazon Girl. Tiny is not an insult.” She rewrapped the uneaten half of her sandwich in its plastic. “I’m good to go whenever you are, Rafe.”