Free Once a Rebel by Sheri Whitefeather

boy. The youngster didn’t seem to mind. If anything, he appeared comfortable with the gray-haired duo. It was the blonde seated across from him who made the child frown.
    A woman, Emmett noticed. His mother? His older sister? Emmett couldn’t tell. All he could see was the back of her head and a long, flowing mane of golden hair.
    Turning away, Emmett scanned his menu. He had enough childhood memories locked away in his own troubled mind. He didn’t need to concern himself with someone else’s family.
    Nothing could be as bad as claiming a killer, as having a man like Jason for a brother.
    The waitress returned, and he ordered a burger and fries. The kid at the corner booth had been eating the same meal. Emmett cursed his curiosity and took a quick glance in that direction. The older couple seemed a bit too chipper, as if they were trying to make everything all right. But the boy’s expression faltered every time he looked across the table at the blonde.
    Who was she? Emmett wondered. And why did she make an innocent child struggle with his emotions?
    She had pretty hair, that much Emmett could attest to. Which was a stupid, superficial thought, he told himself. An observance that didn’t deserve merit.
    By the time his food arrived, Emmett filled his empty belly and ignored the other patrons in the restaurant, including the boy and the blonde.
    They didn’t factor into his life. Or the reason he’d come to Red Rock. Catching a killer was his only agenda.
    And he wouldn’t rest until it was done.

Six
    S usan couldn’t sleep. She squinted at the digital clock beside her bed and wondered if Ethan was still awake. Should she take a chance and call?
    She couldn’t explain her restlessness, the feeling that something was wrong. Then again, a lot of things were wrong. Ryan was dying, and Lily was trying to hold on to every ounce of strength she had.
    As for herself, she wanted to make everything better for both of them, to erase the pain in their lives.
    But she couldn’t. Not completely.
    Wavering with temptation, she picked up the portable phone from its cradle and held the device in her hand.
    Call him, her heart said.
    And say what? her mind asked.
    She glanced at the clock again, and Chocolate stirred beside her, too sleepy to open his eyes.
    Having Ethan’s dog close by should be enough. But it wasn’t. She wanted to hear Ethan’s voice. She wanted him to soothe her discontented soul.
    The phone grew warm in her hand, and she loosened her grip, trying to remember the number she’d written in her day planner.
    Finally, she gave up and opened the top drawer for her little black book.
    The connotation made her smile, then frown, then sigh. Seventeen years ago, her number had been scribbled in a lot of little black books. And on a few bathroom walls, too.
    She dialed the digits that would connect her to Ethan, listening to each tone beep in her ear. When his phone started to ring, her nerves danced on the hot-tin roof of her heart.
    â€œHello,” he answered, but he didn’t sound groggy. If anything, he sounded overly awake.
    She wondered if he was having trouble sleeping, too. “It’s me.”
    â€œSusan? Is everything all right?”
    â€œI’m just a little restless.” She paused and snuggled into bed, nudging Chocolate, who didn’t budge an inch. “I needed to hear a friendly voice.”
    â€œThen I’m all yours.”
    All six gorgeous feet of him, she thought. “What were you doing before I called?”
    â€œWatching cable TV, but there’s nothing on.”
    â€œWhat channel?” she asked, expecting him to sayAnimal Planet. Every time she watched it, she thought of him.
    â€œPlayboy,” he said.
    She blinked, kicked out her legs and caught her toes on the blanket. “What?”
    â€œThe Playboy Channel. That’s what I was watching.”
    He subscribed to that? “I thought you said