Conflicting Evidence. Lena Diaz

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more reason than most to want to catch him? You’ve got that right. But out of respect for your parents, whom I once thought of as my own family, I’d like to capture their son alive and give him a chance in the courts instead of against a hail of bullets. If you cooperate fully, help me figure out where he might be hiding, then I’ll hold off on arresting you for now.”

      His implied threat had her tugging her hand free. “Hold off? For now? What does that mean?”

      He flexed his fingers and sat back, his face an unreadable mask. “I reserve the right to arrest you and charge you with a felony for that stunt you pulled at your family’s house today. If you don’t legitimately help me figure out where he is, I will put you in jail and bring you up on charges.”

      “You’re forcing me to choose again? Between you and my brother?”

      He arched a brow. “What would be the point? We both know how that would turn out.”

      She jerked back, his words stabbing her like a hundred daggers straight to the heart. But it wasn’t the words that hurt the most. It was the pain that leached through his tone, pain he was obviously trying to hide beneath a veil of rage. His pain was so much worse to bear than his fury, because she was the one who’d caused it. She’d taken a sweet, kind young man and twisted him into this bitter, angry person in front of her.

      She wrapped her arms around her middle and closed her eyes, shutting out the ugliness of everything that had happened, everything that was still happening. Somehow, she had to get a handle on her swirling emotions, without relying on her former childhood sweetheart to help her. She had to find the inner strength to do this on her own. If she gave in to her emotions, she’d slide onto the floor in a boneless puddle of anguish and self-disgust. And that wouldn’t help anyone.

      “Peyton?” His voice was laced with impatience now.

       Breathe. Just breathe. Pull yourself together.

      “Peyton? Are you okay? Do I need to call an EMT?”

      The genuine concern underlying his tone had her eyes fluttering open. The truth was there, in the way he was watching her so intently. In spite of everything, he still cared. Maybe she hadn’t destroyed him after all. Maybe there was still some goodness left inside. Maybe, just maybe, she could trust him to help Brian.

      She straightened, drew a bracing breath. “No, I’m... I’ll be okay. Thank you.”

      He frowned, seemingly unconvinced. But he gave her a curt nod and motioned toward the groups of officers scattered around the room. “You can play the odds and wait and see if the makeshift posse shoots first and asks questions later. Or you can work with me to increase his odds of being brought in alive. That’s the offer that I’m making. It’s your choice. But you have to make a decision. Right now.”

      “What happens if I say yes, that I’ll try to help you?”

      “Since your house is still being processed as a crime scene, we go back to my place and you answer my questions there. You tell me everything he’s told you through the years, in every visit you made to the prison or every letter or email you exchanged. We make lists of places he mentioned, places he talked about visiting again one day, any people still in this area whom he might turn to for help. And we make a plan to lure him into a trap.”

      A trap for Brian, just like the trap closing in around her. She shivered even though the air-conditioning wasn’t all that successful in keeping out the brutal summer heat.

      “If I don’t help you, my brother could be killed and I go to jail. If I do help you, he could still be killed, but you’ll do your best not to kill him. And even then, he faces the possibility of the death penalty. In return, I have no guarantees that I won’t go to jail at some point too. Do I have it right? That’s the so-called deal you’re offering?”

      The fight seemed to drain out of him, leaving him looking tired, almost defeated. “That’s the deal. I know it’s not much. But it’s the best I can offer.”

      “Okay.”

      His eyes widened. “Okay? Just like that?”

      “I’m not an idiot, Colin. I can see for myself that you’re right about the danger that Brian’s in. And I can’t help him while sitting in a jail cell. I’m going to have to trust that the Colin I once knew is still inside you somewhere—the man with honor, integrity and mercy. I’m putting my faith, and my brother’s life, in your hands. We have a deal.”

       Chapter Four

      After conferring again with some other officers, Colin returned to the desk. “The police are gathering in the main conference room to ask you some questions,” he told her. “They’ll let us know when they’re ready.”

      Peyton followed his gaze to a door on the other side of the room. “The police? You make it sound like you aren’t one of them.”

      “I’m not.” His eyes hardened like brittle chips of ice. “Guess I neglected to formally introduce myself given our past...association.” He pulled an ID badge out of his pants pocket and held it up. “Deputy US Marshal Colin McKenzie. At your service.”

      She ignored the gibe about their past, and his sarcasm, even though it was hard to keep absorbing his barbs without lashing out. That wouldn’t do her or her brother any good. Still, she secretly admitted that the shiny silver circle with a five-point star in the middle that said United States Marshal made her proud. He’d followed his dream, kept his family legacy alive by going into law enforcement like his prosecutor mother and federal judge father. The Mighty McKenzie must be very proud of his third-born son. She wondered if his brothers had pursued similar careers.

      “I didn’t realize there was a US Marshals office in Gatlinburg.”

      “There isn’t.” He slid his badge back into his pocket. “Knoxville’s the nearest field office. But that’s not where I work most of the time. Usually, I’m on taskforces throughout the state. Last week I started a new assignment here, working out of the Gatlinburg police station as a liaison, tracking down fugitives with outstanding warrants. Cold cases, basically.”

      That explained why she hadn’t seen him around town since she’d gotten back. She’d both hoped for and dreaded bumping into him at some point.

      “And you’ve been assigned to hunt down Brian?”

      “No. A team of marshals was assembled out of Memphis to recapture him and the others immediately after the escape. The only reason I’m involved is because when I heard Brian was spotted heading toward this area, I decided to check out your place, just in case he went home. I was surprised to find that he had.”

      “No more surprised than I was.”

      His jaw tightened. “Your interference allowed him to get away.”

      “I’m—”

      “Sorry. Yes. I know.”

      An uncomfortable silence settled between them until an officer opened the conference room door and waved at them.

      “That’s our cue. Chief Landry is ready to

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