Free Pushed Too Far: A Thriller by Ann Voss Peterson, Blake Crouch

when I arrived?”
    “A county detective. He’s looking into the original case I built against Dixon Hess.”
    “You’re being investigated?”
    “Yes.”
    “Are you worried?”
    “About the investigation? No.”
    “About solving the case?”
    “It keeps me up at night.”
    “And you think I can help.”
    “I hope so. I need it.”
    “Why the change? The first time, talking to you was reminiscent of the Spanish Inquisition. Now you’re asking for my help?”
    “I think we got off on the wrong foot.”
    “You accused me of murder.”
    “And I’m not certain if you’re innocent now.”
    Now he really didn’t know what she was up to. He took a sip from his cup to cover up the fact that he had no idea what to say. The powdered creamer congealed on the top in clumps, making for an all-around unpleasant coffee drinking experience.
    “You look confused,” she said.
    “You got me there.”
    “I’ve decided to be straight with you in hopes that you’ll be straight with me.”
    Now that was a change. “And how does it seem to be working so far?”
    “Pretty well, I think. You?”
    “I don’t have a clue.”
    “I have a few more questions then, if that’s all right.”
    He settled back in his chair. No doubt, he should get the hell out of here while he still could. If his lawyer was present, Lund was sure that would be his advice. But he was starting to find Chief Ryker’s honesty game fascinating. He wanted to see what happened next. “Shoot.”
    “Why did Kelly start seeing Dixon Hess?”
    “You asked me that two years ago.”
    “Checking to see if you’ve gained any insight.”
    “Insight? Not me. My shrink thought she was looking for someone to treat her the way she was comfortable being treated. Going back to what she knew and all that.”
    “Her father. The abuse.”
    He nodded.
    “And what do you think?”
    Now she sounded like his shrink. “I think that seems too simple. Like something he pulled from a damn textbook.”
    “When she came to see you right before she disappeared, what did she say?”
    “I never told you she came to see me.”
    “But she did?”
    “You’re guessing, aren’t you?”
    “Yes. But only because I knew you were lying about that the first time. It was one of the things that put you at the top of my suspect list.”
    He couldn’t help giving a little chuckle. “Is this some sort of good cop/good cop technique you’re using on me? Or is it bad then, good now?”
    “I’m being straightforward, like I promised.”
    He heaved a deep breath. Now that Kelly’s body hadn’t been the one in the burning barrel, he supposed what happened that night didn’t matter. “Yeah, she came to see me.”
    “Did she tell you her plans?”
    “That she was going to run away? Somehow fake her death? No.”
    “She didn’t ask for help?”
    “Not in so many words.”
    “What do you mean by that?”
    “When I look back on it, I think that’s probably why she came to me, but I didn’t see it at the time.” And ever since, he’d regretted letting Kelly down.
    Val rubbed her right hand for a moment, as if buying time to come up with her next question. “Were you intimate that night?”
    He probably should feel offended. Two years ago, he would have. Hell, an hour ago. Now, it was part of the game. You tell me yours, I tell you mine. “Sex was the way Kelly got what she wanted. My shrink had a theory about that, too.”
    Her gaze shifted, to the front of her desk, to her hands folded in her lap, seemingly anywhere but at him.
    Finally he broke the silence. “Did I pass the test?”
    She nodded.
    “Then it’s my turn.”
    “Okay.”
    “Do you believe I’m a killer?”
    “I don’t have any evidence that proves you are.”
    “That’s not what I asked.”
    “Do I believe it?”
    “Do you?”
    She scanned his eyes, but this time her scrutiny didn’t make him uncomfortable in the least.
    “Well?” he prompted.
    “No, I don’t. I have a few things left to sort