Secret Mountain Hideout. Terri Reed

His sandy blond hair swept over his forehead in an appealing way and his intense blue eyes bored into her. He’d always been kind and charming when he’d come into the Java Bean for coffee.

      In different circumstances, she might have been tempted to flirt with him, but there was no place in her life for a man. It was bad enough she’d made friends who were going to be hurt and disappointed by her departure. She regretted causing anyone pain and wouldn’t make that mistake again.

      What did the deputy want? Dread clawed through her. Was her ruse up? Would she find herself in jail? Or worse—dead?

      Desperate to get on the bus, Ashley thrust her ticket at the driver, but he didn’t reach for it as he stared at her a moment and then turned his gaze to the deputy who’d come to a halt at her side and touched her elbow.

      Panic revved Ashley’s pulse. “What are you doing here?”

      “I could ask you the same thing.” His blue gaze searched her face. “Why are you leaving town?”

      Stiffening her spine, she replied, “It’s none of your business.”

      “It is my business if you’re a criminal,” he stated in a low voice.

      She drew back. Fear fluttered in her chest. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

      Turning to the bus driver, Chase said, “She won’t be taking this bus. Can you unload her bags?”

      Giving Ashley a cautious glance, the driver’s head bobbed. “Straight away, Officer.”

      “No! I have to go,” she protested. “I need to get on this bus.”

      The driver hurried to the cargo hold and dragged her duffel out, setting it on the ground before resuming his position at the bus door.

      Drawing her away from the curious gazes, Chase said, “Jane, be straight with me. There’s a detective from Los Angeles here searching for a woman wanted in connection with a murder. And I’m pretty sure the woman in the photo he has is you.”

      Her stomach dropped. Fear squeezed her lungs, making breathing difficult.

      “Did you kill a man?”

      She swallowed back the bile rising to burn her throat. “Of course not. I could never—I wouldn’t—”

      She wasn’t a murderer.

      But she knew who was.

      Gregor had warned her not to tell anyone, not even the police. They were not to be trusted, he’d said. “I’ve got to go. This is the only bus out today.”

      “You’re not going anywhere—” Chase’s voice was hard and his eyes glittered with warning “—until you tell me the truth.”

      “Last call,” the bus driver called out, sliding a cautious glance their way.

      Her gaze darted from the bus to Chase. “Please,” she pleaded. “I need to leave. You don’t understand. If he finds me, he’ll kill me.”

      Confusion tampered down the hardness of Chase’s features. “Jane, trust me. I can protect you. Just tell me what it is you’re running from.”

      She shook her head and took a step back. “No. I was warned not to say anything. Not even to the police. I can’t trust you. I can’t trust anyone.”

      The driver stepped into the bus and closed the door. The bus’s engine rumbled and a few seconds later a plume of exhaust filled the air as the bus drove away. Frustration pounded a rapid beat at her temple. Now she was trapped with no way out.

      Chase snagged her hand and gently coaxed her fist open. “Jane, listen to me carefully.” His voice softened to a smooth tone that seemed to coil inside of her. Her pulse leaped. His touch soothed.

      “My job is to protect and serve the citizens of Bristle Township. You are one of its citizens.” The intensity in his clear gaze mesmerized her. “I will protect you. If you committed a crime, it is better for you to face it than to run.”

      Though his hands were warm and reassuring, her heart turned cold. She jerked away from him. “No. I didn’t commit a crime. I didn’t see anything. I don’t know anything.”

      He stepped closer, invading her space. “I understand you’re afraid. Whatever it is, I will be with you the whole way. Please, trust me.”

      She angled her head to stare at him. “Why is my trust so important to you?”

      As if her words were a splash of cold water, he abruptly stepped back. “It’s my job to protect you.”

      She shook her head with a dash of cynicism. “I know you want to believe you can protect me, but the type of people I need protection from don’t respect authority. They’d just as soon kill you as look at you.”

      Chase stood tall as if her words had been a personal assault. “Jane, tell me what you know.”

      She glanced around to make sure she wouldn’t be overheard. She hated how exposed and vulnerable she felt out in the open. She gestured for him to follow her beneath the shade of a large Douglas fir. “If I tell you, will you help me get out of here?”

      “If you tell me, I promise I will protect you.”

      More frustration bubbled inside her. What choice did she have? Her only option was to trust Chase and his promise of protection until she had an opportunity to run again. She had to stay vigilant if she wanted to stay alive.

      Her heart raced. Her gaze darted from shadow to shadow, half expecting Maksim Sokolov to step out from behind a tree like a bogeyman from a horror movie. “A year and a half ago—” her voice dipped as the secret she’d held inside escaped like a bat out of a dark cave “—I witnessed a murder.”

      Jane’s words echoed through Chase’s brain. Sympathy squeezed his heart. Ever since the detective, who’d appeared this morning without warning at the sheriff station, had shown Chase the photo of a woman with long dark hair and bangs dressed in a black dress and pumps at the back door of a brick building, Chase’s stomach had been tied in knots.

      Though only the woman’s profile had been visible, there had been something vaguely familiar about the curve of her cheek, the line of her jaw. And then it had come to him. The woman in the photo was Jane.

      And she apparently was hiding in Bristle Township because she’d witnessed a murder. “Tell me what happened.”

      She shook her head. “If the killer finds out that I can identify him...” A visible shudder rippled through her. “He will kill me and anyone else in his path.”

      Her palpable fear sent all his protective instincts into high gear. She was in danger. Her life threatened by what she’d seen. Reining in the urge to comfort and assure her that she was safe, he let his training prompt him to ask, “Why is Detective Peters convinced you’re involved?”

      She turned to pluck the bark off the tree. Her shoulders slumped. “I don’t know.”

      Was he being played? He sent up a quick prayer, asking for God’s wisdom and guidance here. Keeping his voice from betraying the anxiety her words caused, he said, “We have to get you to the sheriff’s station so you can give your statement. You need to be brave now.”

      Chase hoped she would come willingly. He didn’t want to have to compel her by putting her in cuffs.

      For a long moment, she simply stared at him. He could see her inner debate with herself playing out on her face. Trust him or not.

      He couldn’t help her with the decision.

      Finally, she seemed to deflate. “I’m so tired of being scared. I want to be brave.”

      He covered her icy hand. “I’ll help you.”

      Snagging