Cade tried a dozen ways to log into his company computer. His brother had told him the new password, but it wasn’t working. Frustrated, he ran his hand through his hair and let out a curse word under his breath. A woman seated at the computer next to him gave him the stink eye.

Right. Library. Little kids played nearby. Oops. He got up from the computer and shouldered his duffle bag, lowering his World’s Greatest Dad cap. There was nothing he could do if he couldn’t log into the company files. He’d have to call his brother again. Unless...

The image of the man who lay dead at the bottom of the empty swimming pool flashed across his mind. Maybe his brother was behind all of this. That would explain why the password didn’t work. If his brother was trying to kill him, the last thing he should do is contact him.

Frustration rose in Cade as he made his way out of the library. How could he think his brother was sending people to kill him? Nicholas had his problems, but they were brothers. They’d stuck together during their mother’s illness. Nicholas had helped him through the darkest days of his life after the funeral. Sure, he’d turned to drugs to bury his pain, but he was over that now. Cade had watched him work hard to pull his life back together.

He shoved open the library door and stepped into the sunshine. It had taken him an hour just to walk across town. He was hoping to get somewhere looking at the company files, but he was still back to where he started. Without a clue and nowhere to go.

His steps slowed as a new plan formed in his mind. If he couldn’t access the company files remotely, he would have to go to Omaha and get the proof he needed directly. The thought made his stomach clench, but he had no other choice. He had to prove he was framed.

A car screeched to a halt beside him, startling him. He was about to run when he saw it was Meg in her Mustang. “Get in,” she hissed.

Cade leaned down to talk to her. “What are you doing here? You were supposed to—”

“We’re on the news. They’re looking for us. Get in the car!”

Cade didn’t wait to hear more. He ran around the front and hopped into the passenger seat. It strangely echoed what he’d done the night they’d met, but he shoved that memory aside. After Meg peeled out, he turned to her. “What happened?”

She swallowed, her eyes wide. “I saw us on TV. They said we killed a man and we’re armed and dangerous. They flashed our pictures, Cade. How do they know we’re together? How do they have my picture??”

Cade ran his hand over his hair. “I don’t know. Someone obviously called the cops. You must have left something at the house.”

Her face paled. “I left a lot of things at the house.” She stepped on the gas and the car lurched forward. “We have to get out of here.”

“Calm down.” Cade tried to take his own advice as Meg slowed. “Did they say we’re in Buffalo?”

Meg shook her head. “No.”

“Okay then. That’s good. They don’t know where we are.”

“But they flashed my picture. People in the diner were looking at me. What if someone called to report me?”

Cade knew this couldn’t last much longer. They were going to get caught. He had to go back home and prove his innocence. He sighed and rubbed his forehead. “Drop me off at the bus station. I have to go to Omaha.”

“What? Why?”

“I need to find out who killed Angie. I have to look at the company files, and I can’t get to them remotely.”

Meg gripped the steering wheel so hard, he thought it might bend in half. “You’ll get caught for sure if we go there.”

“Then I’ll get caught. At least this nightmare will be over for you.”

Her gaze jerked to his. “What about you?”

He didn’t have a good answer for her. “I’ll figure something out.”

She shook her head. “No, I don’t like that idea.”

“I have to, Meg, so I can have a normal life. I can’t run forever, and I can’t rely on the system to solve the crime. The system failed me.”

He watched her features as she digested this information. She clenched and unclenched her jaw a few times, glancing at him. Finally, she nodded. “All right. But I’m coming with you. It was so not fair of you to ditch me this morning.”

“I was trying to protect you.”

The hard edge to her gaze softened. “I know. But I don’t like the idea of you being all by yourself. You need help.”

“I can manage just fine.” He shifted the weight of the duffle bag on his legs. He had money. He could manage to get himself to Omaha. And if he had to, he would break into his own corporation to find what he needed.

She turned onto the interstate and accelerated. “No, you can’t.”

Cade wasn’t quite sure what to make of Meg. Yesterday she seemed scared of him. Today she was determined to stick with him. He looked out the window. “I don’t want you to get into trouble. If I stay with you, you could go to jail.”

She checked her mirror and merged into traffic. “I believe you’re innocent. I want to help you prove it.”

Cade didn’t like the thought of Meg in danger, but he didn’t want to continue to argue with her either. And a part of him felt relieved he would be able to keep an eye on her. The thought of being there to protect her was reassuring. He tugged on his cap and settled back into his seat. “If you insist,” he said, closing his eyes.

***

MEG PULLED OFF THE interstate at the Rapid City exit, her gas tank on empty. Nervous energy thrummed through her as she found a gas station. Cade pointed to the convenience shop. “Why don’t we grab some quick food and eat on the road? I’ve got an uneasy feeling.”

“I agree. I don’t want to stay in one place too long. Seeing my photo on the news freaked me out.”

“Go in and find something to eat. I’ll fill the tank.”

Meg nodded and opened her car door. “I’ll meet you inside.”

She clenched her hands into fists as she walked up to the glass door, sure everyone in the store would recognize her. Luckily, the place was almost empty. A buff biker dude stood by the soda machine surveying his options, and a skinny teen stood behind the counter checking out a lady.

Meg ducked into one of the aisles. Junk food was good enough. She didn’t need anything hot. She wasn’t even hungry. The events of the past few days were catching up to her, she supposed. With trembling fingers, she reached out and picked up a package of peanuts.

The door dinged, and Cade walked in, his duffle bag slung over his shoulder. He looked a bit odd, with that large bag, but maybe that was because Meg knew about all the cash in there.

He spied her and stalked through the store to where she stood. “I’m going to get a Coke. Want one?”

She did want something to drink. “I’ll look at what they have.”

As they stood looking at the large, glass doors, the biker turned the corner and approached them. Meg wasn’t sure if Cade did it on purpose or not, but he took a step toward her, shielding her in a protective stance.

The man nodded at Cade. “That your Mustang out there?” His gaze flickered to the parking lot.

“What about it?” Cade asked.

The man eyed him. “Just thought you might want to know the cops are out there checking it out.”

Meg’s throat went dry as she turned to see the biker spoke the truth. A cop car was parked behind them, and two deputies were standing there. One spoke into his shoulder radio.

Panic struck through her and Cade’s face paled. “Thanks, man.” Cade grabbed her arm and tugged her to the back of the store. “We have to leave.”

She tossed her package of peanuts on the counter by the coffee machine. “There.” She pointed to a swinging door that stated, “Employees Only.”

Cade scanned the store then nodded. “You go first. I’ll make sure no one sees.”

The teenager was busy staring at his phone. Meg slipped through the swinging door to the dim back room. Boxes lined one wall, a mop leaning against them. A small table and two chairs took up the center. Cade entered at a quick pace. “Hurry.”

Meg turned the corner and sighed with relief at a door, bright light coming in under it. She turned the knob and they rushed out into an alleyway, a row of dumpsters to their left. A delivery van sat idling, the owner chatting with someone, the back open. “This way,” Cade said as he turned toward the street.

What would they do when they got to the street? There were no trees to hide in. There weren’t any buildings to run behind. There was nothing but pavement. “Wait,” she heard herself say, a horrible idea forming in her mind. She motioned toward the delivery truck.

Cade shook his head, but all Meg could think about was how the police would be coming through that door any second and they’d be caught. “Come on,” she hissed, running toward the truck, glad when she glanced back to see him following her.

She pushed all warning bells out of her head as she climbed into the back of the truck and hid behind a stack of boxes. Cade crouched down next to her, his duffle bag taking up enough room that he had to press against her. “Now what?” he whispered.

She held her breath as the seconds ticked by, waiting for the police to come streaming out of the back of the convenience store. If that happened, surely they’d search the truck and find them. But no cops materialized. Maybe they were waiting for backup.

Then the truck owner came around, pulled the door down and locked it. A second later the truck swayed then took off. The motion made Meg fall back, and Cade put his arm around her to steady her. “I can’t believe that worked.”

He seemed happy, but Meg was still full of apprehension. “What if the driver finds us in here?”

“I don’t know. I’ll think of something.”

And then it hit Meg what they’d just done. They’d abandoned their car. Left all her belongings. She lost the ukulele her father had given her, the only possession she had that meant anything to her. She tried to hold it together, but tears pricked at her eyes and she couldn’t stop them.

“Hey,” Cade said over the noise of the truck. “Don’t worry. We’ll make it out of this.” He pulled her to his chest. She buried her face into the fabric of his T-shirt and tried to not think about losing the one thing that mattered to her.

Cade spoke into her ear. “It’s okay. I’m going to fix everything.”

The warm timbre of his voice and the way his arms felt around her made her heart melt. This man was everything she ever wanted. Everything she longed for. Why did he have to be wanted by the police?