Grave Secrets (Manhunters 1)

Everly pulled open her dresser drawers and created a small pile of underwear, T-shirts, and jeans. When she turned toward her again, she gave Savannah’s arm a reassuring squeeze.

“I’ll tell you now that Ian has been a champion for you and Jamison from the beginning. He’s a genuine man and one of the best human beings I’ve ever met. Whatever you’re feeling or thinking right now, set it aside until we can give you the whole story, okay?”

“Champion to who? And why?”

The back door closed, and Jamison’s voice floated through the kitchen. Savannah’s focus took a one-hundred-eighty-degree turn—to her boy. He was her soul. Her true north.

“Come on,” Everly said. “We’ve got to move.”

Savannah grabbed Everly’s arm. When the other woman’s blue eyes met Savannah’s, she said, “Promise me, no matter what happens, you’ll keep Jamison safe. Keep him away from Hank and Lyle. If something happens to me, I want him with Misty.”

Everly covered Savannah’s hand and squeezed. “I’ll do you one better. I’ll promise he’ll stay with you. Let’s go.”

Jamison passed Everly in the hall with a quick “Hi” as if having strangers in the house was no big deal.

“Hey, buddy,” Everly said as she passed. “Grab your mom and let’s hit the road.”

Everly turned out of sight just as Jamison launched himself at Savannah. She crouched and caught him. She pressed her face to his hair and held him tight.

“Officer Rosen says we’re going on an adventure with Mr. Ian.”

Savannah ground her teeth but curbed her anger and hurt before she pulled back and looked at her adorable son. She pushed his hair out of his eyes, thinking she needed to get his hair cut. Those mundane things felt so solid and safe in the moment.

“I just heard about it,” she told him. Jamison was clearly thrilled by the idea, and she played along. There would be plenty of time for reality later. “Ian has your blanket and clothes.” She kissed Jamison’s forehead, closing her eyes to absorb his little-boy scent. Savannah pulled back. “I just need to grab a few things from my room.”

Jamison pulled from Savannah’s arms and sprinted back through the living room, calling Ian’s name with glee. That grated over Savannah’s nerves and stoked her anger. She moved into her room and opened the closet, where she pulled up the floorboards and dragged out her box of cash. She stuffed all the money into a backpack and tossed the bag over her shoulder just as Ian appeared in the doorway.

“Ready?” he asked.

“That’s a rhetorical question, right?” She pushed past him on her way to the kitchen. The back door was open, and the cold swept through the space. She took hold of Jamison’s hand and looked at Everly. “Where ar

e we going?”

“To meet the rest of the team.”

Great, more strangers. She cut a look at Ian. “Why are there so many people involved in this? If we needed to get out of town, we could have planned it between the two of us.”

“I’ll tell you once we’re on the move,” was his answer.

She looked at Everly, who was giving her more answers than Ian. “What’s going to happen with our car? With all our things?”

Everly’s gaze darted to Ian standing behind her, then moved back to Savannah. “We aren’t sure yet.”

“When will you be sure?”

“We don’t know. A couple of days, maybe.”

Savannah’s stomach dropped lower. “Perfect.”

Jamison tugged on her hand, smiling up at her with complete and utter trust. “Let’s go, Mom.”

Savannah let him pull her forward even as fear swamped her. Outside, she was faced with two vehicles. “We’ll go with Everly.”

“No, Mom. I want to go with Mr. Ian. He said I could watch movies on a DVD player.”

She cut a look at Ian. He stood nearby, hands on hips. He didn’t exactly look contrite or apologetic, but he didn’t look the least bit happy either.

“How long is the drive?” she asked Everly.