Page 32 of Solid as Steele
“That was very kind of you,” Owen said. “Not only offering dinner, but not calling him out on his error.”
“It was an honest mistake.”
“Mostly, you’re just a very nice person.”
“You think so, huh?”
“I know so.”And I can only hope I’m the kind of man you won’t run from when we find out who I am.
She headed toward Ryan who was squatting by the backpack he’d left behind. Owen could swear it looked like the guy was stocking his pack, but why, when they were heading back to the cabin?
“You going for a hike?” Mackenzie asked.
He glanced at her. “Figured I’d let you drop me off where I first spotted the tire tracks yesterday, and I’ll see where they lead.”
“You want us to come along?” she asked.
Ryan shook his head. “No offense, but I’ll move faster and have less distractions if I go alone.”
“You sure?” she asked, looking like she felt guilty over riding in a comfy car instead of toughing out the terrain. At least that was how Owen was feeling.
“Positive.” Ryan shoved a water bottle in the outside pocket of his pack then zipped it closed. “I’ll drive to the marker then you can take over.”
He led the way to his vehicle and climbed behind the wheel. Owen opened the front door for Mackenzie, then he slipped into the backseat. Owen sat back, and Ryan got them moving over the flat terrain, swerving to avoid clumps of tall vegetation that randomly grew.
Mackenzie looked at Ryan. “Can we use the Bronco to come back to get Kelsey and Sierra for dinner? It handles much better than my car.”
“You sure you won’t get lost?” He cocked a smile.
“I can follow your tracks.”
“Then sure. And I have my SAT phone in case you do get lost and need to call me.” He chuckled.
She swatted a hand at him. Playful. Like Owen would like to interact with her. But he had no right to engage with her in anything other than the business of figuring out Cassie Collins’s death—and if he had a connection to it.
He wanted to hold out hope that he’d just stumbled upon her body when he’d been out hiking, but that wouldn’t explain why her name put this deep ache in his gut. Plus he really hadn’t been dressed to be out in the desert hiking alone, and he wouldn’t have gone hiking on private property.
They soon arrived at the marker, and Ryan left the Bronco running while he jumped out.
“Want me to drive?” Owen asked.
“No license.”
“Right.”
She slid down and gave Ryan a high five as they passed each other. Owen joined her in the front seat.
She had to move the seat forward, but soon got them going. “When we run into town for some groceries for dinner, we should stop at the OSP office and get your prints taken.”
“Dahl said we should go to the jail to have them taken.”
“Those prints are for him, and he may or may not share. These will be for us.”
“Right. Good idea.” Not having enough energy to engage in small talk, Owen watched out the window and let the past two days play in his head, looking for any lead that might bring him closer to figuring out what, if any, relationship he had with Cassie Collins.
Please tell me how I know this woman. If I do. And don’t let me be a criminal. Worse yet, a killer.
He desperately wanted answers, but his gut, already in a tight ball, told him he wasn’t going to like what he learned.
