No Place to Hide by Lynette Eason Read Free Book Online Page A

you sleeping so you can be alert when I need to rest.”
    He shot her a tender look. “You always did try to save my pride.”
    She swallowed hard and hoped the darkness hid the flush she felt crawling up her neck. She shrugged. She wasn’t just blowing smoke and trying to make him feel better. “Come on, I know where the key is and I bet Gus is ready to take care of business.”
    Ian climbed out and motioned for Gus to find a tree. The dog raced off.
    “He’ll come back, won’t he?” she asked.
    “Yes. He’ll do his thing, run off some steam, then be begging to come inside where it’s warm.”
    He followed her to the door. “Some cabin. The only thing resembling a cabin is the logs. This place is big.”
    She smiled. “I know. Cabin makes it sound so humble, doesn’t it?” Jackie punched in the code and the lockbox opened. She snagged the key and opened the door. “Come on in.”
    Ian stepped into the foyer. “Nice.”
    “Yeah, but it’s freezing in here.”
    “I’ll find the thermostat.”
    He disappeared around the corner while she went to the gas logs and turned them on, then walked into the kitchen and went straight to the coffeepot. After measuring the grounds, she turned to find Ian looking around and tried to see the placewith his eyes. A large open area with two couches, a flat screen television mounted above the fireplace, and the dining area just off the kitchen—the open-concept living area was attractive and well laid out. And large.
    “I understand why you like this place so much,” he said. He set the bag from the gas station on the kitchen table.
    “I love it. Not just because it’s a comfortable home, but because of the memories I have here. Good memories.” She ran a hand across the countertop. “Needs dusting.” She wiped her palm on her jeans and frowned.
    Ian eyed her. “What is it?”
    “Just wondering if anyone will put two and two together and come looking for us here.”
    “Who would put it together?”
    She gave a low laugh. “My team at Operation Refuge, for one. The FBI, the counterterrorism unit that’s probably investigating, SLED.” She shrugged. “You name it.”
    “Is the place in your name?”
    “No. My aunt’s.” She tilted her head. “And it’s in her maiden name, so maybe we’ll be all right for at least a night here.” She glanced at the clock on the wall. “Or a few hours anyway. Night has come and is almost gone.”
    He dropped into a chair at the table.
    “I have a question,” Jackie said as she poured the coffee and set a mug in front of him.
    “Just one?”
    She grimaced and slid into a chair. “Touché. How about one for now?”
    “Sure.”
    She took a sip of her coffee, then studied him for a moment. “Why do you have a very highly trained service dog?”
    He blinked. “That wasn’t the question I thought you weregoing to ask.” He glanced toward the door, then back at her. “He was Gina’s.”
    “Oh.” Enough said. His sister Gina had stepped on an IED while serving in Afghanistan and had lost most of her left leg and part of her right. She’d been in a wheelchair for the last three years of her life and had died a little over six months ago of kidney failure. Jackie had seen the announcement in the paper.
    “I wanted to come to her funeral.”
    “Why didn’t you?”
    “I was working an assignment and couldn’t get away at the last minute. I would have if I could have.”
    “I understand.”
    “So you took in Gus.”
    “Yeah. He and I have always gotten along.” He sipped his coffee and cleared his throat. “He listens well and doesn’t tell anyone my secrets.”
    “You have secrets?”
    “Don’t we all?” he murmured.
    She met his gaze and for a brief moment was transported back into the past, to those lazy summer days when she and Ian were the best of friends, escaping the stress of their troubled home lives. Spending time with him and his cousin Holly. She blinked. “Yes, I suppose we do. What are