Some weigh a hundred pounds wet, but their minds—” he tapped his temple “—their raw intellect is worth ten of me. Coop, Buster, and Loverboy were top of their classes. Were recruited ‘cause of the way their minds worked. They were the strategists, and I was the muscle. The one who kept them safe while they executed their mission. I had one job and I failed them.”
Lowering my head to his, I simply said, “Okay.” Nothing I said would change his mind. In his opinion, he’d failed his mission. He would carry that burden and belief the rest of his life. All I could do was support him, show compassion and understanding, while he dealt with the aftermath. “Just know I’m here when you’re ready to talk about them. About any of it.”
Logan buried his face in my neck and held on for a moment, then pulled back and kissed my nose before lifting me from his lap and depositing me back in my seat. He didn’t put the truck back into drive until I’d buckled my seat belt.
Once we were underway, I reached for the radio to lighten the mood. Before turning it on, I asked Logan, “Pop. Rock. Rap. Or country?”
“You turn on pop, and I’ll tan your hide.”
With a grin, I turned the dial to the local pop station and cranked up the volume. I raised one brow in challenge when his eyes shot to mine, watched with satisfaction as a slow grin pulled across his mouth, and the demons he carried melted into the back of his memory.
_______________
The police were waiting when Logan pulled his truck alongside Duke’s rig. He’d called before leaving Ennis, to let them know he’d been assigned as the temporary chief of police and he’d be there in a few hours. Law enforcement, like the military, was a brotherhood. The fact Duke Remington was from a different state meant little to the park police. All they cared about was one of their own was missing in their territory.
Logan noted search and rescue was on scene and in the water, their searchlights illuminating the inky gloom. The snow had brought in the wind, hampering visibility to a few feet. If Duke was in the water waiting to be rescued, they wouldn’t see him until they were right on top of him.
Turning to Skylar before opening his door, Logan ordered her to stay in the truck while he checked with the officer in charge. He assumed she would listen, but found Skylar rounding the front of his truck, headed for Duke’s, when he slammed his door behind him. The steel he’d seen the first time they met was back in force. Her friend was missing, and she wasn’t about to sit in a warm vehicle while he might be dying from exposure.
He let her go and turned his attention to the officer approaching. He was mid-forties with salt-and-pepper hair. And angry if the sneer crossing his mouth was any indicator.
“You Storm?” the man bit out.
He didn’t bother to put out his hand for Logan to shake, so Logan ignored the rules of engagement in the civilized world. “I’m Storm.”
The man didn’t beat around the bush. “Got a hellava storm brewing here and they send me some wet behind the ears, newly appointed pencil pusher to sort it out. You wanna be on scene, I can’t stop you, but stay the hell out of my way. I’ve got a fellow officer missing.”
“Name. Rank?” Logan bit out forcefully when the officer turned his back and started to walk away. Logan had pegged the man as former military the moment he approached. It was the cut of his pants, the rod in his spine when he showed Logan his back, so Logan spoke to him in terms the man would respond to.
The officer stopped and looked over his shoulder. “Captain Spear.”
Logan took a step toward the man. “I think we understand each other when I say I don’t give a fuck what you think of me and my newly appointed title. Duke Remington is my responsibility. If you have a problem sharing information, I’d be happy to take it up with your chief.”
Spear stared at him, chewing on how far to push Logan. Skylar walked up while they had their standoff and looked between them. “Duke’s truck is empty. Did you secure all of his stuff?”
Spear’s attention shot to Skylar. “Cab was empty when we got here.”
Skylar seemed shocked and looked back at the truck. “It was