Page 69 of Under Fire in Big Sky

“You didn’t lose her.” Autumn held his gaze. “Olivia chose to leave. It was something she wanted to do, no, needed to do. We have to figure out why.”

He put a fist on the table. “Shepherd probably threatened me or the rest of the team if she didn’t agree to go meet him.” A vein throbbed in his temple as the possibility took root, fueling a fresh surge of anger.

“She didn’t sound scared. She almost sounded resolved. Like she wanted to give you hope that it would be okay. Not as though she was making a great sacrifice. Think of how she talked about you going to visit her after this was finished. What was so special about your final day on your last trip that she wanted to do again?”

“Nothing.” That wasn’t the day they’d had unprotected sex, so it couldn’t have been about making the baby. “We made love. Ate. Checked out the Raptor Refuge, where they rehabilitated wild birds, then she took me to the airport. It doesn’t make any sense. We had more fun at the concert and something significant happened but on a different day.”

Frustration pounded through him. The effort to maintain control was a struggle.

Autumn covered his hand with hers and he realized his fist was shaking. “We’re hungry,” she said, lightly. “I think we need to eat.”

The statement threw his chaotic thoughts for a loop he didn’t need. “I guess we can order something.”

“There’s a fully stocked pantry and a few things in the fridge. You should whip up something for us to eat.” Autumn smiled, pearly whites against her brown complexion. Before he could formulate an objection, she said, “Cooking isn’t just cooking for you. I’ve noticed that on several cases we’ve handled together.”

Autumn was too observant.

“I’m not in the mood,” he muttered.

“We have a lot of pieces that aren’t adding up,” she said. “Why the parley? Why not kill you both? Was it just a means to get the NOC list? Or some other ulterior motive?”

“Wish I knew.”

“I’m confident about two things. You were set up to fail in those woods. Shepherd expected you to break the rules. That typed note wasn’t in Tristan’s back pocket just in case. And Olivia is shrewd. If she could have given you some kind of signal or clue, she would’ve. Maybe she did.”

“She shouted something to me before she reached the bottom of the canyon. I couldn’t make out the whole thing, but I caught the last bit. Ree.”

“Like free? Or something to do with the number three?”

“I don’t know.” He slammed a fist on the table.

“Get up.” Autumn gestured for him to move, and he stood. “Go cook or bake something. You need to calm down, so you can think clearly and figure this out. You might be the only one who can. Olivia is counting on you. We all are.”

Chapter Fifteen

They’d spoken for hours and neither of them had made any headway in their positions despite each other’s efforts.

If Olivia pretended to see eye to eye with Sean too quickly, too easily, he wouldn’t buy it.

“You must be famished.” Sean stood from the chair. “We should eat. You’ve got to keep up your strength now that you’re pregnant. I suppose congratulations are in order,” he said, no hint of happiness in his voice.

She tried to recall how much of her conversation with Eli had been inside the motel room, where Sean had been watching and listening. She drew a blank.

He opened the door and poked his head out. “Can you bring us two bowls of stew, a jug of water, and a cup of juice?” Turning, Sean glanced at her. “It’s beef. I trust you still eat meat.”

“Yes.”

Sean leaned against the doorframe and stared at her. “Are you excited about the baby?”

She wrapped a protective arm around her stomach. “I am.”

“You probably never thought you’d be a mother.” A statement, not a question. “I think you’ll make a great one.” His eyes shone with affection. “The best.”

“Will I live long enough to find out?”

“That’s the goal, Dove. I’m working very hard to make sure that you do.” He smiled, and it was warm and sincere, and she almost believed him. “How far along are you?”

“Two months.”