pull me to my feet. I was only vaguely aware when he began leading me across the street toward the bar.
“You’re not wearing shoes,” I said, feeling like I was watching the scene from afar.
“Neither are you,” he said, wrapping an arm around my upper back and tugging me to his side. “Let’s get you inside and warmed up.”
“We need to call 911.” I pulled away from him. “I have to stay with Seth.”
“Seth’s already gone. No point in you freezin’ with him.” He ushered me through the front door to the tavern, and as soon as he was through, he shut the door and dropped his hold on me. The room was pitch black except for a faint glow of light toward the kitchen. Terror shot through me, but I resisted the urge to reach out and hold on to Max for dear life.
“I’m gonna turn on the lights,” he said, his voice already sounding farther away. Seconds later, the darkness burst into light and I blinked with a start.
I spun around and separated the slats of the blinds, staring at Seth’s body, which still lay at the edge of the parking lot, alone.
Tears stung my eyes. I couldn’t just stand in the warm bar and leave him alone like that. I’d told him I would stay with him. I had to do something.
When I moved to the door and reached for the doorknob, Max said behind me, “Where do you think you’re goin’?”
“He’s all alone out there,” I said, my voice breaking as I turned around to face him. He was wearing a long-sleeved T-shirt. “He needs someone.”
Shaking his head, he walked straight for me. I noticed the look of devastation in his eyes first, the shirt he was trying to hand me second. “Carly, you’ll catch your death of cold, and there’s not a damn thing you can do for him now. Sit down and put this on while I go call the sheriff.”
“You haven’t called him already?” I asked in dismay.
“No, I was more worried about you.” He reached for me and guided me toward a table. Once I sat, he thrust the shirt into my hand. “Come on, now. Put this on and sit before you pass out. You’re as white as a sheet. I’ll call the sheriff and start a pot of coffee to warm you up.”
He waited for a second to make sure I started to put on the shirt, then took off for the back, leaving me alone again.
My hands had begun to shake, and it took me several attempts to put on the shirt. It was a thermal shirt, much like the one I’d left on Seth’s body, only much larger. The sleeves engulfed my hands. But as I pulled up the fabric, I saw the deep red staining my fingers.
My vision turned spotty again, and I lowered myself into the chair, nearly missing it as panic engulfed me.
I’d just witnessed a murder. I’d seen the men who did it. I’d seen their getaway vehicle. And the dying boy had told me not to tell the sheriff what I knew.
What was I going to do?
I needed to get the hell out of Drum.
“Thanks, Marco,” Max said, his voice carrying from the back. “See you when you get here.” He appeared around the corner, studying me with worry in his eyes. “Would you rather have some tea or hot soup instead of coffee?”
I stared at him as though he’d spoken in Mandarin.
“I need to talk to Wyatt.”
Max’s eyes widened in shock and he took a step toward me. “What? Why?”
“I have to get out of here.”
He hurried across the room and squatted in front of me, taking my wrists in his hands. “Carly. It’s gonna be okay.”
I slowly shook my head, my unshed tears making his face blurry.
“You’re in shock is all. I already called Ruth. She’s much better at handlin’ crises.”
I started to cry. “I have to go home.”
It was an empty sentiment, and I knew it—I could never go back to Dallas. My friends in Arkansas might have some advice, but I could only call them from my burner phone and I didn’t get cell service up here. I was good and truly stuck.
Max gave me a warm smile. “You’re safe. I won’t let anything happen to you, okay?”
I appreciated the sentiment, so I nodded, but I didn’t feel safe. I wasn’t sure I’d ever feel safe again.
“Why don’t you tell me what happened?” he said in a soft, quiet