Free Reunion by LAURA HARNER

would be. Grant tried
to focus, but he’d be lying if he didn’t admit a large share of his attention
was focused on the backyard. 
    “Grant…” Graeme said. He had the feeling the
former sheriff might have called his name more than once.
    “Sorry, Graeme. This all seems too much. What…what
do you need me to do next?”
    Special Agent Trudeau stepped forward. “Don’t
worry, Mr. Anderson. You have the best there is working to solve the why of
this. For now, you and your daughter should consider taking a few days out of
town to avoid most of the media attention. Just make sure to keep us informed—”
She glanced at Agent Black. “Through Enwright’s is fine.
    “This case is going to generate a lot of
publicity, especially since the identities were leaked.” Trudeau’s gaze
flickered briefly to Detective Parker and back to the DHS agent. “Whether the
final investigation proves the killings were justified—oh shut up, Black—I’ve
seen the tapes and listened to the recordings. I know Enwright’s people didn’t
have a choice—except maybe to trust us at the beginning. But justified or not,
there are two dead high school football stars to explain, and the press and the
public are going to be all over this. So, rent or borrow a car, go someplace
beyond the metro area, but close enough we can get you back here in a hurry if
the need arises.”
    Graeme nodded in approval. “Agreed. Michael has a
place—”
    “I’ve got it taken care of,” RJ said, stepping
back into the room. “I’ll give you our location, Graeme, once everyone clears
out.” His words were casual enough, but he was looking directly at Detective
Parker, as if he didn’t trust him not to reveal where they would be staying. A look
at the detective’s face told Grant, RJ might be right.
    “All right, everyone. Let’s get out of their hair
so they can pack. The press is already starting to descend,” Graeme said with a
glance at the front window. A news van rolled into place across the street. “Marissa?
Bring Annie back inside.”
    Turning back to Grant, Graeme said, “Go on, get
out of here, we’ll take care of closing up your house. Take RJ’s rental—my folks
brought it from the restaurant and parked it down the street. You might want to
put the original license plate back on once you get where you’re going, though.”
    Grant didn’t need any encouragement. He packed a
bag for himself and another for Annie. Patti used cloth grocery sacks to collect
an assortment of toys while RJ backed his rental into the driveway. Ten minutes
later, the SUV was loaded and they were headed out of the subdivision while
Graeme and Michael hemmed the van between their own vehicles.
    “Where are we heading, RJ?” Grant asked as soon as
they hit the 101 Loop.
    “How do you feel about Sedona?” RJ asked with a smug
smile.
    Patti gasped. “You didn’t—it can’t possibly still—”
    “It is and I did.”
    The knot of tension that had been squeezing his
gut for days unfurled at RJ’s words. Seated in the back next to Annie’s booster
seat, Grant tugged at his seatbelt, then leaned forward. For a moment, all he
could do was rest his hands on the shoulders of his two best friends.
Swallowing hard, he said, “I don’t know how we would have gotten through this
without you. Thank you. And have I mentioned that I seriously love you both?”
    “What about me? Do you love me, too, Daddy? Is it
okay to love all of us?”
    Settling back against the seat, he reached across to
take Annie’s hand and bring it to his mouth for a kiss.
    “You bet it is, sweetheart. That’s just what I
intend to do.” Then Grant began to laugh.

Chapter Thirteen
    Recognizing it was too late to protect his heart,
but still trying to salvage a little of his sanity, RJ stepped outside in order
to give Patti and Grant their space while they tended to Annie. The rented
vacation house just outside Sedona was even better than he remembered from all
those years ago.