Free Beyond Suspicion by Catherine A. Winn Page B

Where’s that search team?”
    The boy moved to her side and took her elbow. She liked the feel of his fingers as he guided her to the trail. She stole a glance at him. He had brown hair, longish at the top, but trimmed neatly at the sides and back. The breeze blew a few strands over his forehead. He brushed them away. When they reached the trail he stopped and checked to see if anyone was following.
    â€œI guess they’re really going to leave us alone. I don’t hear anyone coming.”
    Shelby turned around. He was right. No one had followed them.
    â€œThanks for what happened back there,” she said. She couldn’t help staring at him. She didn’t recognize him from school. But that was no big surprise, the high school was bursting at the seams with new students. Detective Rutherford assumed they were friends, but who was he? And what did he really want? Maybe he just wanted his fifteen minutes of fame to tell the world all about this.
    â€œNo problem.”
    â€œAm I supposed to know you?”
    He faced her. “Nope, I’m new in town. Matt Turner, brand new senior at Whispering Springs High, nice to meet you.”
    â€œLike the Turner Federal Court House?” Shelby couldn’t help being wary of his arriving-in-the-nick-of-time moment.
    He laughed. “No. I have no idea who Judge Turner was.”
    It was an adorable laugh, but Shelby was not about to be taken in. He had some explaining to do. She backed a few feet away. “Why did you do that? Do you know who I am?”
    â€œYes, and I know what everyone is saying about you, but your story sounds true to me. Lies are usually huge and involved.” He lifted his shoulders giving her a lopsided grin. “I’m on your side.”
    â€œYou’re probably the only one in town.” Shelby looked back toward the trees. Even her friends had turned on her, so what was this strange boy up to? She decided to be direct. “So what were you doing in there?”
    â€œI was curious,” he said. “I saw you walking while I was shooting hoops and thought you were cute. Then a couple of cops hopped out of cars and started running after you as soon as you got out of sight. Then that other man…”
    â€œDetective Rutherford.”
    â€œDetective Rutherford was running behind them. I decided to snoop. I didn’t know what was going on until I got in there.” Matt took a few more steps up the trail. “That detective was trying hard to get you to slug him so when you doubled up your fists I decided to interrupt things.”
    Shelby’s eyes widened. “Why would he do that?”
    â€œSo he could arrest you for assaulting an officer.”
    Her eyes flared. She had come close to slugging him and grabbing Brownie Bear. She shivered and wrapped her arms around her waist.
    â€œYou okay?”
    She nodded. “Just had a flash of being back in that interrogation room.”
    â€œRough, huh?”
    â€œHorrifying. Thanks, Matt, but I don’t think I actually would have hit him. But I wanted to.” Shelby relaxed. Matt’s story made sense to her. Like he said, it was simple, not all involved.
    â€œI’m glad I didn’t wait to see. I always wanted to rescue a pretty girl.”
    Shelby’s cheeks warmed. Matt chuckled. Why couldn’t she act cool in situations like these?
    â€œCome on, I better drive you home before the news guys get here. Just a second.” He dug in his back pocket and pulled out a wadded up baseball cap. “Here let me help get this thing on you.”
    Shelby let him take her hair, twist it up on top of her head, then cover it with the cap. She put both hands on top of it and grinned. “What do you think?”
    Matt tweaked her under the chin. “You could be my kid brother. Let’s go, bro.”
    Just two seconds ago her tummy had fluttered because he said she was cute. Now he thought she could pass for a boy. She