Grave Secrets (Manhunters 1)

Savannah’s heart hammered against her ribs like she’d just finished a snowball fight with Jamison. Only without the happy high that fun left behind. Now, all she felt was scared. Scared and embarrassed and guilty.

She let Ian walk her to the passenger’s side of the truck, but never took her gaze off Hank. Before she got in, she cautioned Ian, “Watch your back with him.”

He nodded. “No doubt.”

Once Ian made it back to the driver’s side, Hank said, “Your days are numbered, Heller.”

“Everyone’s days are numbered, Sheriff. Some of us just get more than others.”

The way he stood up to Hank was so…shocking. So unexpected. Confrontational in the most respectful way. Savannah never dreamed something like that could be so sexy on a man.

Ian slid behind the wheel. Then, while Hank stood in the deserted road, hands on hips, glaring at them, Ian swung the truck in a U-turn and started back toward town.

Goodbye, Smoke.

Goodbye, freedom.

Goodbye, hope.

Savannah couldn’t stop wondering how Hank could use what she’d just told him against her. He’d find a way. She just had to figure it out first if she was going to protect herself and Jamison.

Thoughts of Jamison had Savannah pulling out her phone.

Just checking in. Is everything okay? she wrote.

“Texting Misty?”

She looked up from her phone. “You always seem to be one thought ahead of me.”

“It’s a gift.”

She would have laughed if her stomach wasn’t knotted. If his jaw wasn’t ratcheted tight, his lips pressed into a grim line. Savannah worried about Ian’s safety now that Hank had seen them together. And she hated to think of how Ian viewed her now that her dirty laundry was strung out right in front of him.

“What kind of phone is that?” he asked. “I thought you had an iPhone.”

“Oh.” She looked down at the cheap device. “It’s one of those pay-as-you-go phones.”

His gaze drilled into hers. “A burner?”

She was starting to feel boxed in again. “I guess some people call it that.”

“Why do you have two phones?”

She heaved a sigh. Man, she really didn’t want to get into this right now. “Can we talk about this another—”

“He’s got your phone bugged?”

“No,” she answered in a knee-jerk reaction. “I mean, I don’t see how he could. I always have it with me.”

“Where is it now?”

She rolled her eyes. “It’s at home. I meant I always know where it is. I don’t just leave it out where someone could get to it.”

“Why did you leave it home and take a burner with you tonight?” he pressed. “I can’t help if you don’t talk to me, Savannah.”

She stared out the windshield, considering. She wanted to confide in him—really bad. But she’d stopped trusting anyone but Misty and Audrey years ago.

“Misty told me there’s a way to remotely tap into your phone so someone can listen to your calls. I’ve snuck out on my own before. They don’t watch the back of the house because my car’s always out front, and there are only so many men Hank can spare from regular duty. Besides, I can’t exactly get very far on foot this time of year, so they’re more concerned with my use of the car. I coordinated with Misty to take Jamison to Splash Montana in Missoula. But somehow, they still knew where I was. Every time I’d reach the county line, one of his deputies would be there to turn me around. Every time I’d buy something off Amazon aimed at keeping my privacy, the orders vanished before they reached my porch or they were canceled, but I didn’t cancel them.”