“I’m only going to ask you this one more time, son,” Chief Middleton said. “Who did you see kneeling over Gracie Gilbert’s body?”

They’d been through this a dozen times. Deke wasn’t about to give up his brother’s name. He’d find the mongrel first and get some answers.

“Same answer, Chief. It was too dark to identify the individual.”

“Sally Mullins said she heard you call out the name Dylan.”

“Not sure how she could’ve heard anything above all that caterwauling.”

“So you deny seeing your brother?”

“My brother and I haven’t been on speaking terms for a few years.”

“That’s not what I asked you.”

“Look, Chief. I don’t have anything for you. If something comes up, I’ll be sure to give you a call.”

“What do you know about the drugs we found on the victim?”

His attention sharpened on the chief. “Why would I know anything about a bit of marijuana?”

“Why do you assume it was marijuana?”

“Cocaine? Heroin? PCP?” He glanced at the scowling man standing to the right of the sheriff. “Maybe Sergeant Prickett can answer your question.”

The sergeant unwound his massive arms and took a step forward.

Holding up a hand, Chief Middleton said, “I could arrest you for obstructing justice.”

“What am I obstructing? If you believe Mrs. Mullins, go find my brother.”

“If I find out you’ve been lying to me, son, you won’t like the consequences.” The chief sat back. “Get him out of here, Sergeant.”

Prickett grasped his upper arm, his fingertips digging into his flesh. Deke shrugged him off. “I’m pretty sure I’m capable of standing and walking without your assistance.”

“Then get your ass out of here, fed man.”

The sergeant led him from the interrogation room that was the size of a janitor’s closet. He hoped Evie’s interview had been less intense. Growing up with older brothers, she knew all about bluster and intimidation. He didn’t think she’d buckle under either, though he did wonder what she’d told them about Dylan.

Prickett opened the door leading into the small lobby. “I know you’re lying about your brother. With or without your help, I’m going to catch his drug-pimping ass.”

“First a thief, now a dealer. Better make up your mind before you run off wasting your time and taxpayer’s money.” He plowed past the sergeant, wanting nothing more than to locate Evie and find a place where he could think.

Although his brother had never been an angel—except in his father’s eyes—Dylan wasn’t capable of murder. And Deke didn’t think he’d gotten mixed up with drugs. Probably a bazillion other things, but not drugs and murder.

At the sound of his voice, Evie whirled around in her chair. Worry etched her features before a smile of relief swiped it away. He didn’t give either of them an opportunity to indulge in an embrace. The less Prickett knew about their situation, the better.

“Outside,” he said in a low voice.

She seemed to understand, allowing him to guide her from the police station.

Not until he’d put a block between them and the station did he ask, “Where’s Lisa?”

“I sent her back to the RVs. Her headache had grown to the point of making her nauseous.” Evie slipped her hand into his. “Something’s not right. I wish she’d see a doctor.”

“Lisa’s tough. Whatever’s wrong, she’ll get through it.”

“You have a lot of faith in her.”

“I suppose I do.” He glanced down at her. “You survived their interrogation?”

“Amateurs. They have nothing on my brothers.”

“That’s my girl.”

“Why were you in there for so long?”

“They thought asking the same question a hundred different ways would result in a different answer.” He halted and faced her. “I need to ask you something. The answer itself isn’t important—other than giving me a heads-up.”

She placed a hand on his chest. “It was too dark. I didn’t see the person’s face. And I couldn’t hear what you said over Mrs. Mullins’s screaming.”

Deke released a breath that had been trapped in his chest. “Why?”

Shrugging, she said, “He’s family.”

He cradled her face in his hands. “Thank you.”

She rose up on tiptoes and kissed him. “You’re welcome.”

The ease with which she kissed him sent a shiver tripping down his spine. She’d kept the intimate contact simple and reassuring—exactly what he’d needed.

“What do we do now?” she asked.

“Check on Lisa. See if we need to strong-arm her into seeking medical attention. Then I’m off to track down my brother, which means I’ll need to drop out of the MedTour.”

She seemed on the verge of arguing but gave him a wan smile instead. “The tour won’t be quite the same without you.”

“I’d much rather stay with you than be chasing down Dylan.”

When they entered the staff RV, Deke spotted Lisa lying on the floor in the fetal position, her face carved by agony.

Evie ran to her side. “Lisa, are you okay? Where do you hurt?”

Lisa tried to cover her eyes. “Head,” she whispered.

“Help me get her into bed,” Evie said to Deke.

“Stomach.” Lisa crossed her arms over her middle.

“We’ll take it slow,” Evie promised.

Lifting a hundred and twenty pounds off the floor with one arm proved challenging, but with Evie’s help, he managed it.

“Have you taken anything?” Evie asked Lisa once they had her settled in bed.

“Couple acetaminophen.”

“How long ago?”

Lisa’s face contorted and she shoved it into the pillow, withdrawing.

Recognizing the signs of a debilitating migraine, he held a washcloth beneath the faucet, wrung it out and then folded it into thirds. He approached from the opposite side of the bed and smoothed Lisa’s hair away from her cheek.

“Let me see your forehead, Lisa.”

He heard her swallow hard, no doubt bracing herself against the movement and light. Finally, she turned enough for him to drape the wet cloth over her forehead. She tensed at first, then pressed the cloth against her eye sockets.

Evie readjusted the cloth. “It’s cold.”

“One of my good friends suffers from migraines. He swears by cold compresses, darkness, sleep, and a cool room.

He caught Evie’s eye and motioned her toward the door. Clicking off the light, he closed Lisa inside the cavelike room.

“How long did it take your friend to recover?”

“Depended on the severity and the medication.”

“She never indicated that the pain was at the level of migraine.”

“I’m only speculating based on my experience. It might just be a bad headache.”

“I’ll see how she’s feeling tomorrow. If there’s no change, I’m taking her to urgent care.”

“What about your patients?”

“Lisa’s supervisor at the Blue Valley Medical Clinic will know what to do. Maybe he’ll send a replacement nurse practitioner. In the meantime, I’ll do what I can for them.”

“Extreme on-the-job training.”

“I can handle it. I think.”

He brought her face up to his. “If anyone can handle this situation, it’s you.”

She curled her arms around his waist. “I don’t want you to go.”

“Why not?”

“I’ve gotten used to you being underfoot.”

He squeezed her, hard.

“What if you’re wrong about your brother? You could get stuck in the middle of something dangerous.”

He chucked her under the chin. “I have a big brother obligation to make sure he’s not in over his head.”

“Ugh.” She rolled her eyes and plopped down in a chair. “Lord save me from big brothers.” Her gaze climbed up to his and held there for several seconds. “What’s with you and Lisa?”

He tensed. “What do you mean? She’s a friend.”

“Perhaps more than a friend, at some point?”

Torn, he scrambled for the right response. If he lied, she would eventually find out and he’d lose her trust. If he confirmed her suspicion, she would constantly be analyzing his every word, every look, every gesture. Which hell should he pick?

“It was a long time ago, Evie.”

“Did you love her?”

He anchored his hands on his waist, staring at the floor, wishing he’d had a third option. “I cared for her.”

“You never loved her?”

“I suppose I did on some level. We were together for two years.”

“Why did you break up?”

He couldn’t tell her the real reason. That Lisa hated his long absences. Hated not knowing if he’d return home alive or stuffed in a body bag. If he gave Evie some vague reference to his work, she would pelt him with questions. And when he stopped answering, she would become suspicious or, worse, curious about his career. Evie Steele was the last person he needed sniffing around that area of his life. He couldn’t think of a more tenacious person.

“We grew apart.”

“You grew apart.” She repeated his words in a dull, disappointed tone.

“Expecting something more messy?”

“Something more, yes.”

“We’re friends, Evie. Nothing more.”

She gave him a tentative smile. “Have I ever told you that I’m territorial? It seems to be a Steele trait.”

“I’m a one-woman guy.” Where did that come from?

“I hope to be the one woman someday.”

The vulnerability in her beautiful eyes nearly forced him to his knees. “Evie—”

She held up a hand. “Don’t. Please. Let’s get through the migraines and murder case first.” Her eyes darkened to a deeper, more determined shade of blue. “I’m not giving up on you. On us.”

If anyone else had said those same words to him, he’d be running to the opposite side of the county. They would’ve sounded clingy and desperate. But not with Evie. Her quiet statement sent an inappropriate heat down his spine. Never before had a woman staked such a claim on him.

Evie was a force of nature.

One he hoped didn’t explode around them.