Her employees offered her the herbal tea they’d brought and chatted until a police officer arrived. He introduced himself as Detective Romano and said he’d come to take her statement.

“I’m very sorry,” Finley told him when they were alone. “I wish I could remember the things that happened that night, but I can’t. My doctors tell me this issue is common for someone who’s experienced a head injury like mine.”

“I understand.” Romano was of medium height. He had a wiry frame and a still, observant manner. The front middle of his brown hair looked like it wanted to remain on his forehead, but the sides had given up and receded. “Can you tell me what you do remember about the treasure hunt and the days leading up to Sunday?” he asked.

She recounted every detail until the point when her memories abruptly cut off.

“Ken Vance and his brothers admit that they were on the side of the mountain that night. They say they were out there for fun, enjoying a drive.” He scratched his cheek. “They saw Luke push you off the cliff and then place the gold in a backpack. They say they tried to intervene, but that Luke shot at them to protect the treasure.”

Fury swept hotly up Finley’s face. “That is a pack of lies.”

“How can you be sure?” he asked calmly.

“Because I know Luke.”

“He’s out on parole for felony theft.”

She wanted to scream. Her hands fisted in the hospital sheets. She’d never felt such a primal need to defend another human being in her life. The need was so all-consuming that it blotted out everything except one diamond-bright revelation, simultaneously earth-shattering and simple.

She loved Luke.

Heaven help her, she did.

“Are you all right?” Romano asked.

“Yes.” She had no idea how long she’d been silent as her thoughts reeled. Think, Finley. Tell him about the evidence that points to Luke’s innocence. “Did Luke signal you the other night when you were responding to the reports of gunshots?”

“Yes.”

“If he was the one who’d injured me, he’d have taken off with as much gold as he could carry as soon as he heard sirens. He didn’t. He stayed, and he signaled to you, because he wanted you to reach us as quickly as possible.” Her words gathered steam. “How likely is it that Carla Vance’s brothers would be out on a joyride and just happen to drive their ATV past the exact spot where Luke and I were unearthing a treasure of historic proportions? Totally unlikely. Luke told the truth when he told you what happened. I trust him. So please focus all your energy on investigating Ken Vance and his brothers.”

“Rest assured, we are investigating them, miss.”

“Do you have any leads?”