Free Riverbend Road by RaeAnne Thayne Page A

stop of a gray-haired couple driving a sedan with Ohio plates. None of his other officers would have found anything unusual about them but Wyn had caught a subtle vibe about the pair and ended up asking their permission to search the vehicle. When the couple refused, he brought in Rusty, the drug-sniffing dog from the Lake Haven Sheriff’s Department, who found a quarter million dollars’ worth of heroin sewn into the hollowed-out seats.
    He would have said she had her father’s cop instincts—except for the last few weeks he had served under her father.
    â€œHave you met them already?”
    â€œYes. Well, the mom and the kids. Andrea Montgomery and two kids, Chloe and Will. I don’t know if there’s a dad in the picture. I didn’t see any evidence of one but that doesn’t mean anything. I said hello to them on my way to the trailhead. When I was coming down, I found her sprawled out on the trail with a sprained ankle. I helped her back to her house.”
    â€œYou’re on a roll. How many more people will you rescue today?”
    She made a face. “I couldn’t just leave her there.”
    No, she wouldn’t. Wynona was like her father in many ways, full of compassion and concern.
    â€œWhat makes you think something’s off?”
    â€œShe doesn’t seem very crazy about police officers. When I told her I worked for the local police department, you would have thought I told her I drowned kittens for a living.”
    â€œPlenty of people don’t like the police. That doesn’t make them criminals.”
    â€œI know that. This was something beyond dislike. More like...fear.”
    Perhaps she was exaggerating or had misunderstood the woman’s reactions but, again, he trusted her gut. He had guys in the department who could shoot the hell out of a bull’s-eye at the shooting range and one who could bench-press three-hundred-fifty pounds. None of them had Wynona’s instincts with people.
    â€œYou think she’s on the run?”
    â€œMaybe. Maybe she’s got an abusive ex in the background. Or maybe it’s a custody case. Who knows?”
    â€œMaybe she’s witness protection.” He couldn’t resist teasing her a little. “Maybe she testified in a mob hit back in Oregon and now she’s got a new identity here in Haven Point. Or maybe she’s a superhero and her secret identity is a suburban mom.”
    She smacked his arm. “You can mock me all you want but something was up. My spidey sense is tingling about this one.”
    Cade dropped the teasing tone. “Want me to run the plates and see if anything pops?” he asked.
    â€œThat might be overkill at this point. She hasn’t done anything wrong, as far as I can tell. I only wanted to give you a heads-up so you can keep an eye on things, especially since you’re just across the street.”
    â€œI’ll do that.”
    His phone timer went off and she raised an inquisitive brow.
    â€œJust telling me the coals are ready for my dinner.”
    She looked shocked. “You’re cooking? Really?”
    â€œI guess you can call it cooking. Grilling, anyway. I’m throwing on a couple of steaks.”
    â€œAh.” Her stomach chose that moment to rumble with enthusiasm, so loudly that Pete looked up and cocked his head to the side. Wyn—the steadiest, most unflappable person he knew—looked flustered. Her cheeks turned pink and she gave an embarrassed-sounding laugh.
    â€œThat wasn’t a hint, I swear. I’ve got leftover Chinese at home.”
    â€œI’ve got an extra steak, if you want it.”
    He wasn’t sure which of them was more shocked by the invitation. She stared at him, eyes wide.
    What was the big deal? They were friends. They had been for years, long before she ever came back to work for the Haven Point Police Department after her father’s shooting and Cade became chief.
    He had known her