Page 27 of When the Silence Breaks

She’d been holding on to hope that she could avoid him, and since he’d snuck up on her and gotten this close, maybe she really had lost her touch. If she didn’t go to him now, he’d come to her and unfortunately draw attention she didn’t want. She tugged one of the parka jackets off the rack—slim and boasting cold-weather protection—then put it back. Headed over to peruse the hiking shoes. Lifting up one of the boots to look at the sole—would it grip icy patches?

“What are you doing here?” She ground out the words, speaking in low tones so no one except Malcolm would hear.

The teenagers by the sunglasses laughed.Good, keep up thenoise.

“You didn’t get my message?” He picked up a wide-toe Keen.

“Why the drama? You sent someone to break into his house. Someone could have gotten hurt or killed.”

“Had to get your attention.” He set the shoe down and moved to the sunglasses, then put a pair on to stare at the mirror, close enough that they could continue their conversation.

“Did you send someone to follow me? Pick me up off the street?”

“That wasn’t me, and I’m here to warn you. Do not go down this path.”

Sarah was hard-pressed not to stare him down as incredulity flooded her veins. She replaced the boot and examined another pair, another brand. “What path, exactly?”

“You don’t think I know what you’re doing?”

“Your warning only serves to confirm what I suspected all along about my brother.”

“You think this is about your brother? It’s bigger than that.I’m telling you that someone has spent decades keeping these doors locked. Some things shouldn’t be found, Sarah.”

She marched over to the other side of the shoes, breathing entirely too hard. The display wasn’t that exciting. She had to calm her nerves. From the other side, she sent her old boss a lethal stare. Malcolm followed her but continued perusing as if he wasn’t following and they weren’t talking. If anyone cared to pay attention, neither of them would be convincing.

“I’m concerned for your safety,” he said. “That’s all.”

“What about Aaron’s?” She flicked a glance his way.

Then she saw it. Malcolm was scared. She’d never seen him scared, and for a moment her own hands shook. Her throat went dry. She’d never been scared either, not ... for herself. Not to the level of fear in his eyes.

“You think it’s about justice,” he said. “But what’s buried in those mountains—it’s a reckoning.”

The teenagers had left the sunglasses, and the store was quiet and empty for the moment. It was big and packed with merchandise, but Sarah feared their whispers could be heard all the way to the counter where Ryder remained. She couldn’t hear him and Maisie, and maybe that meant they could not hear her and Malcolm.

“Who is going to stop me?” Sarah asked. “Who knows about it and who cares this much?”

“I’ve told you all I can tell you.”

The same line and verse she’d used on Ryder. She knew he meant that he knew so much more, but that was all she was getting.Gee, thanks.“If you told me everything, maybe I wouldn’t need to hike up a volcano.”

Should she continue to trust him? She’d trusted him with her life before. He’d been a mentor and a friend.

“I’m retiring.” His shoulders drooped.

Oh, she got it now. He couldn’t mess that up for himself and Seine, his wife, by telling Sarah anything. Helping her in any way.

He looked at her now, held her gaze, uncaring if anyone might be watching them. “I thought you should know.”

“Because of this?” Whatever this was.

“Partly.”

“I have to go before my friend sees us talking.” She turned.

Malcolm gripped her arm and squeezed. She almost reacted and took him down but reined in her reflexes. “Doesheknow the danger?” he asked.

Guilt suffused her. “I’ll tell him. I’ll warn him.”