Nightfall Read Online Free Page B

on it yet?”
    “ It’s at an auto shop in
town. But I sent one of our local guys over to get latents. He’s
got CSI training.”
    “ What about the
girl?”
    “ She’s still in town.” It
wasn’t the truth, but close enough as far as his boss was
concerned.
    “ You tell her you’re
undercover?”
    “ You think I want to blow
this op after five months?”
    “ Well, don’t tell her. Don’t
tell her anything. Last thing we need is some civilian botching
this up.”
    Colin pressed the remote to
open the gate. As it swung open, he noticed the fresh tire tracks
on the narrow road.
    “ Denton? You
there?”
    “ I’m here.” Shit, no way…
    “ Nail down that meeting,
ASAP. We need to know who, when, and where so we can get our team
in place.”
    “ I’ll do it.”
    Colin skidded to a halt in
front of the cabin and rushed up the steps. He opened the door and
checked the hook.
    “ God damn it!”
    He glanced around. The note
he’d left under the cereal box was still there, but a sentence had
been added in woman’s loopy script.
    Need to make my delivery!
Hope you don’t mind-- I borrowed your Suburban.
    ***
    Despite the sunny sky, it
was still freezing out, and Holly was caught between a desperate
desire to meet her deadline and an equally desperate desire to
avoid another wreck on the way to the wedding venue. As she
approached a curve in the road, she eased her foot off the gas and
checked the speedometer. She checked the clock. A horn blast behind
her had her checking the rearview mirror.
    Holly recognized the truck
and murmured a curse.
    Another honk accompanied by
a flash of headlights. She pulled onto the shoulder and buzzed down
the window of the borrowed SUV.
    Colin stalked up to the
window, eyes sparking with fury. “What the hell do you think you’re
doing?”
    “ Did you get my note?” She
flashed him a smile. “I hope you don’t mind, I—”
    “ Damn right I mind.” He
glared down at her, and she felt a rush of irritation. He had a
right to be annoyed, sure—but a full-blown temper tantrum was going
to make her even later than she already was. She forced a
smile.
    “ Sorry, but I just need it
for a few hours.
I’ll replace the gas and—”
    “ Move over.” He jerked open
the door.
    “ Excuse me?”
    “ Move over. I’m
driving.”
    She cast a frantic glance at
the clock. “I really don’t need an escort.”
    “ You have no idea what you
need. Now, move over before I get pissed.”
    She took in his blazing
eyes, the tight set of his jaw. Maybe he was one of those finicky
men who didn’t like anyone else behind the wheel of his
vehicle.
    Holly scooted over the
console and into the passenger seat. Before she’d even fastened her
seatbelt, he’d thrust the Suburban into gear and pulled onto the
highway, leaving his pickup behind them.
    He shot her a scowl. “I
could have you arrested for auto theft. This isn’t even mine—it
belongs to the ranch.”
    Holly sighed. “I left you a
note. And I’ll fill it with gas, so what’s the harm? This thing was
just sitting in the barn while my entire business goes down the
tubes.”
    His phone buzzed and he
jerked it from the pocket of his hunting jacket.
    Holly glanced guiltily at
the leather jacket she was still wearing.
    “ Denton,” he snapped. “Yeah…
yeah…” Another dark look in her direction. Then he checked his
watch. “Okay, call you in ten.”
    He dropped the phone in the
cup holder and trained his gaze on the road.
    “ So, Colin… I know you’re a
cop.”
    He glanced at her. Then back
at the road.
    “ I’m not a cop.”
    “ Okay, now I know you’re a
cop and a liar.”
    He didn’t say
anything.
    Holly gazed out the window
and watched the woods rush past. A thick blanket of snow covered
the forest floor. “My dad was a cop, so I know, all right?” She
looked at him. “What are you—working undercover or
something?”
    “ I’m not a liar.” He flicked
a glance at her. “And I’m not a cop—not like