Walking in the sunshine, Kane found it hard to believe the ice-packed snow of winter had vanished. Spring had been a relief, but the first week of June arrived with a rush of color across the landscape and filled the gardens with flowers. A carnival atmosphere replaced the usual lazy-first-day-of-the-week attitude of the townsfolk. Bunting decorated shopfronts on the main road, and a series of signs hung between the streetlights, celebrating the first rodeo in Black Rock Falls on the circuit the coming weekend.

Wolfe strolled beside him, blond head erect, his attention moving from one group of people to another. He said little, obviously taking in the ambience of the town.

Kane glanced at Wolfe, trying to rid himself of a strange feeling he had met him before. Something about him was very familiar and he just could not put his finger on it. He cleared his throat. “I haven’t seen this many people on the streets since the last Larks game. This will be my first experience of the Black Rock Falls County rodeo crowd. Sheriff Alton tells me the crime rate goes up by ninety percent over the rodeo circuit weekends.”

“Looking at the number of deputies you have, I’m not surprised.” Wolfe stood to one side to allow two women pushing strollers to pass. “Why is everyone looking at me as if I have two heads?”

“You’re new in town.” Kane grinned at his dour expression. “They’ll have your picture up on the wall of Aunt Betty’s Café before you know it. It’s a friendly town.”

“Really?” Wolfe curled his lips. “I can deal with friendly.” A glistening black SUV screeched to a halt at the curb and he rolled his shoulders. “Now there is another thing I detest.” He indicated with his chin toward the vehicle. “Dangerous drivers. Men like him need to have their vehicles impounded and crushed. It’s the only way to teach them a lesson.”

Kane rubbed his chin and grinned. “It certainly would slow them down, but right now we need a new law passed.” He strolled toward Aunt Betty’s Café. “This is the best place to eat unless you want to go fancy, then it’s the restaurant at the Cattleman’s Hotel.”

“Who is the guy in the black SUV?”

“Dan Beal, the new captain of the Larks, the local hockey team.” Kane snorted. “Don’t worry, he doesn’t receive any special privileges.”

“Nice to know.”

Before Kane had time to pull open the door, it opened and Reverend Jones stepped out, giving him a beaming smile.

“Good morning.” He turned his attention to Wolfe. “I see we have a new deputy in town.”

Kane nodded. “Yeah, Reverend Jones, this is Shane Wolfe.” He noticed Wolfe’s expression harden but he gave the man a curt nod.

“Nice to meet you.” Jones’s lips quivered and he dropped his offered hand, but he lifted his chin and met Wolfe’s unfriendly gaze with a sunny smile. “I hope I’ll see you and your family at Sunday services. You too, Deputy Kane. All are welcome.”

“Thanks for the invitation.” Wolfe’s lips formed a thin line. “Maybe after we get settled.”

Wanting to get Wolfe away from any personal questions, Kane tipped his hat. “We have to be going.” He moved past the reverend and led the way into the café.

“Damn preachers.” Wolfe shook his head. “I saw him watching me with my girls earlier. I pushed them inside the house and shut the door. I am so over preachers right now.” Agitation rolled off him. “You should have seen them come out of the woodwork when Angie died. They were like flies—every time I turned around, another was telling me it was God’s will. Cancer killed my wife and God had nothing to do with her suffering.”

“He means well.” Kane frowned. “I’m sure he didn’t mean to offend you.” He moved through the busy café to his usual table set in the alcove bedside the bay window. He liked the more secluded spot with no one close by to overhear his conversations. “I doubt he’ll bother you again unless you seek him out. People need someone to talk to and he fills that spot along with some of the other clergy around here.” He sat down and peered at the menu, needing something to do. Noticing the waitress heading in their direction, he cleared his throat. “One thing about being a deputy in this town is we get served ahead of the rest.”

“Great.” Wolfe grasped the menu and ducked his head. “What’s good?”

“Everything. The chili is the best I’ve ever tasted and I’m pretty sure the cakes are becoming an addiction.” Kane grinned and lifted his head as Susie Hartwig sashayed toward him, coffee pot in hand.

“What will you have today, Deputy Kane?”

“I’ll have the usual, thank you.”

“I don’t believe we’ve met.” Susie stared at Wolfe and raised one penciled eyebrow. “I’m Susie Hartwig, and you are?” She filled the two cups on the table and set down the pot of coffee.

“Deputy Wolfe.” Wolfe’s icy gaze flicked over her then returned to his menu.

“And what can I get you, Deputy Wolfe?”

“I’ll have the chili, side order of fries, and apple pie with ice cream.”

“Sure, right away.” Susie took a notepad from her pocket and jotted down the order, picked up the coffee pot, and wiggled back toward the kitchen.

Wolfe lifted his gray gaze and lowered his voice to just above a whisper. “Now let’s cut the chit-chat and tell me why the hell I’m here.”

Mind reeling, Kane adopted a nonchalant pose and piled sugar into his coffee. “What do you mean?”

“Don’t act like you don’t know, ninety-eight H.” Wolfe glanced casually around the room then brought his cold gaze back to Kane. “You must recognize my voice. I’ve been your handler at HQ for the last three years.”

Only three people on Earth knew Kane’s identity and location. Sure, his handler at HQ was one of them, but why the hell would HQ risk his cover by sending Wolfe to Black Rock Falls? Not easily drawn into a trap, Kane shrugged. “You are talking a load of crap, man. You on some crazy meds or something?”

“Nope.” Wolfe rubbed both large hands over his face. “I worked as a round-the-clock handler for you and three other agents during the time I cared for my wife until she died. The moment the funeral was over, three black SUVs rolled up and insisted I accompany them. Two agents drove off with my kids and another escorted me at gunpoint to a chopper. They secreted me in a military base. I underwent intensive training on police procedure, including Montana criminal and misdemeanor law. I have a degree in forensic science but I had to do a refresher course and apply for a license to practice here.” He rubbed his temples in slow circles. “I thought I’d kept fit until they put me through intensive physical and arms training. I had an idea they wanted to send me back into service but not to this flea on a dog’s back.” His attention shifted over Kane’s shoulder, and he cleared his throat. “The food is coming.”

Kane glanced behind him. Susie Hartwig was heading toward them, carrying a laden tray. Heart thumping against his ribs, he smiled at Wolfe in an attempt to keep the atmosphere casual. “I see, but what has all this got to do with me?”

“I’ll be straight back with a pot of coffee.” Suzie unloaded the tray and strolled back to the kitchen.

“I have no idea why I’m being forced to take a job as a deputy in a backwoods town, unless you put in a request to HQ for backup and I’m it. Although, I don’t know why the hell they picked me. I’m not an agent and I’ve been behind a desk for years. I don’t have your training.” Wolfe’s glare spoke volumes.

Not willing to give an inch, Kane let the man’s words percolate through his mind and waited for Susie to deliver the coffee pot. He ate a spoonful of chili and sighed in contentment then lifted his attention to Wolfe. “As a deputy, you will watch my back. It’s normal procedure.”

“Cut the crap, Dave.” Wolfe spit out the words. “I can give you information on the last three calls you made to me. The name of the man you suspected set the bomb that killed your wife. I won’t go into details. I know you sent a request to attend your own funeral. The next call was a background check on Sheriff Alton. Don’t worry, your cover isn’t compromised.”

“Really?”

Wolfe sipped his coffee, and his ice-gray eyes observed Kane over the rim of his cup. “You know damn well the line is secure. How else would I know?”

“Maybe you tortured some poor bastard to death for information.” Kane snorted. “There’s been a lot of that going around here lately.”

“That’s not my style.” Wolfe attacked his meal. “And before you ask, intel on Alton was way above even your security clearance. What I can tell you is the Department of Homeland Security has her file locked up like Fort Knox. I could hack it but the information wouldn’t be worth spending the rest of my life in federal prison.”

Not willing to trust anyone claiming to know him, Kane placed a plate over his bowl of chili to keep it warm and stood. “I’ll be back in five.” He walked out of Aunt Betty’s and strolled two doors down to the cellphone store.

After purchasing a burner phone, he punched in the number of his contact. When a stranger’s voice greeted him, he gave his code name and asked to speak to the chief of operations, code name Purple Sky. A familiar voice came down the line. He sighed in relief. “I’ll keep it short. Did you send a man by the name of Shane Wolfe to my location?”

“Affirmative.”

“Why?”

“I was informed Alton was recruiting more skilled deputies and we couldn’t risk an unknown quantity working alongside you. Wolfe is solid. You can trust him.”

Relief flooded over him and he relaxed. “I don’t trust too easy.”

“Does the name ‘Terabyte’ ring a bell?”

Oh yeah, he recognized the code name of his handler. The mysterious man at the end of the phone who had saved his life many times. “Yeah.”

“Same person. He is the only one in the loop we could trust. The rest of the world believes he is a desk jockey and retired to care for his wife. He has been unofficially retired for years. It’s not as if you are in witness protection or working undercover. Being off the grid makes you vulnerable and without the resources you used to rely on if compromised. We don’t intend for that to happen. Sheriff Alton needed boots on the ground and he’ll slide in under his own name without question.”

“Before I arrived here, you should have given me the heads-up on Alton. I recognized her as an agent the moment I dragged her out of a car wreck. Up until now, I wasn’t sure whose side she was on but had an idea she was in witness protection. I guess you don’t have plans to bring me up to speed?”

“Not exactly. I can tell you she has clearance and you can trust her. We didn’t give her a handler because it’s not necessary. Some years back, she brought down a major player, and she has enough information in her head to bring down a country. We need her safely tucked away where no one can find her. She was perfect for the job—no family ties.”

“Why send us all to the same location?”

“Black Rock Falls isn’t the most popular of towns. It’s hardly noticeable on the map but big enough to swallow you. Only two people know where you are now: the president and me.”

“Off the grid, huh? Really? HQ acted like I was finished, retired, and sent out to pasture. Does this mean I will be called back to active duty?”

“Yeah. You’ll be involved with catching the men who killed your wife. I’m sure you and Alton would make a good team when the time comes but for now, nothing has changed and we have zero intel on who was involved. The moment I have more, you’ll be informed.”

“Then I want out now. You know damn well, I’ll be able to find the assholes.”

“Not yet. You are far too valuable to risk, and Black Rock Falls is the closest to secure we could find. Play the role, that’s an order, and allow us to do our job. Do what you do best and work with Alton. Don’t contact me again unless you are compromised—understand? Every call you make puts you both in danger of exposure.”

Kane scratched his stubble and groaned. “Sure, I’ll be a good boy and spend my time filing complaints about cats peeing on cars. Have a nice day.” He shut the phone, removed the SIM, snapped it in half, then dropped the phone and SIM down a drain.

Irritated, he walked back to Aunt Betty’s and slid into his seat. As he removed the plate covering his lunch, Wolfe cleared his throat and Kane lifted his hand to stop any questions. “I checked you out and we’re cool.”

“What can you tell me about Sheriff Alton?” Wolfe narrowed his gaze and eyed him critically. “She sure doesn’t look like she needs any help.” He leaned back in his seat.

“Trust me, Sheriff Alton is as tough as anyone I’ve worked with but she does have a vulnerability, which in my opinion makes her human.” Kane sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. “My orders are to stand down, so it looks like I’m here for the duration too. We might as well make the most of it while it lasts.” He shrugged. “Think of it as an early retirement in a sleepy, not-so-little town.”

“I’m bored already.” Wolfe gave an irritated snort and refilled his coffee cup. “On the upside, I guess it is a decent place to raise my kids.”

The door to the café opened, bringing a summer breeze and lifting the paper napkins on the tables, and Deputy Rowley strode purposely toward them, grim-faced. Kane swore under his breath then lifted his attention to him. “What’s up?”

“Someone found a body in Stanton Forest.” Deputy Rowley whispered so low Kane had to lean closer to hear him.

“Did anyone check to see if the victim is actually dead? It could be someone sleeping off a hangover.”

“No, the victim is female, and from the woman who examined the body it might be a bear attack. The victim is cut up real bad.” Deputy Rowley swallowed and his Adam’s apple bobbed in his long neck. “Sheriff Alton is heading to the scene with Deputy Walters. Her orders are to wait for her call. She will examine the scene and speak to the kids who found the body.”

“A bear attack?” Kane frowned at him. “Why didn’t you call me rather than leaving the office unmanned?”

“Maggie’s on the desk and I’m following orders. The sheriff sent me to tell you in person and told me to buy lunch to take back to the office. No one is available to relieve me.” Rowley’s cheeks pinked. “I’ll grab some sandwiches and head back.”

Why didn’t Jenna call me? “Okay.” Kane stared after him, confused. “Thanks for letting me know.” He flicked a glance at Wolfe. “Did you have to tempt fate by complaining you were bored?”