Reasonable Doubt (3 page)

It hadn’t taken Justin long to figure out that Aunt Toni never took vacations. She worked sixteen hours a day every day except for weekends when she shacked up with her most recent boyfriend and left Justin with cash for pizza and movie rentals. By the time he’d graduated high school and moved on to college, Justin hadn’t even wanted to go back to Briarwood.

That wasn’t true exactly.

He didn’t have the guts to face Keri Mahoney after all the promises they’d made each other. He pictured
her exactly the way he’d left her. Fresh, wholesome, eyes wide with wonder and hope. Pure.

His back wheels slid and Justin brought his attention back to the highway, which was quickly becoming snow-and ice-covered.

The curvy, hilly highway became treacherous with nearly zero visibility by the time he found the country road leading to the cabin. He breathed a sigh of relief when the landscape began to look vaguely familiar. Just a few miles into the woods, and they’d be safely tucked away from it all.

P
lump flakes of fairy-tale snow gave way to a wintry mix, and ice pellets bounced off the hood of the Jeep. Keri held her breath and prayed. With extra caution, she maneuvered the vehicle onto Highway 13, wishing she hadn’t taken the time to go home and change out of her uniform.

Snow-frosted trees lined the winding road with breathtaking beauty. She loved the picturesque view from this road during any season, but the winter scene was her favorite. How could something so beautiful be so potentially fatal?

She tried to keep her thoughts focused on the frozen pavement, but her mind drifted toward Justin as it often did. Rarely did a day go by without memories of her childhood friend invading her consciousness and even her dreams.

Now, she imagined him once again sitting beside her, next to the lake, tossing sticks into the water. The promises, the kiss, the declarations of unending love.

Keri fought her way back from the bittersweet mem
ory that was worlds away from the reality of a treacherous road. With the wipers barely making a difference, she was forced to roll down the window and stick her head out to see the turnoff. Ice pelted her face and stung her eyes. She eased the Jeep onto the gravelly path. Krahoney Road. Despite her precarious situation, a smile tipped her lips. She and Justin had dubbed it that—a combination of their two last names. Keri sobered and focused her attention back to driving a straight course as her back wheels slid to the right. Gasping a prayer, she eased into the slide just in time to avoid the three-foot ditch.

When she was only a couple of miles from the cabin, she noticed faint red lights flashing ahead. She squinted, trying to make out the source of the glow. Recognizing the flashings as hazard lights, she prepared to stop.

Anxiety burst through her veins, sending a warning of caution to her brain. Who in their right mind would be out in this weather and on Krahoney Road in the first place? As far as she knew, no one had been out here since this summer when Dad had commissioned all the remodeling for the cabin.

She eased the Jeep to a stop and started to open the door. Then, just to be safe, she grabbed her gun from the glove box and stuffed it in her belt, behind her back. Cop or not, a woman alone on a deserted road was still at a disadvantage to a man who might be up to no good. Leaving the door open and the Jeep running, she walked carefully toward the car. A man was attempting to meet her halfway, walking slowly, his feet unsteady beneath him.

“Thank God you happened by,” he said. Though he wore a heavy coat and a hat, his teeth were already chattering.

Keri took another step and, as she did, lost her footing. She struggled to stay upright, but felt herself falling despite her best efforts. The stranger grabbed on to her, the momentum slamming them both onto the road. Her mind fought to process the rapidly changing events as she caught a good look at his full face. She gasped.

“Are you okay?” he asked, sitting up.

If she hadn’t already been on the ground, Keri knew her legs wouldn’t have held her up, anyway. Her stomach turned over unpleasantly.

Justin.

Even with a five o’clock shadow, his face was unmistakable. The good-looking teenager she’d loved so long ago had turned into a gorgeous man.

He attempted to stand and crashed back to the ground. “Cowboy boots!” He gave a disgusted grunt.

She wanted to throw herself into his arms, tell him how wonderful it was to see him again, demand an explanation why he had never come back for her. But reason and maturity prevailed. What if he was running from the law? Had he been charged?

Knowing she had to be on her feet first if she was going to gain the upper hand, Keri crawled to her knees and inched to a standing position. She reached behind her and pulled out her pistol. “Hold it,” she commanded in her best I’m-a-cop tone of voice. “Turn around and put your hands behind your head.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“Make one wrong move and you’ll find out how serious I am,” she dared, her heart sliding into her throat. What would she do if he turned violent? If he gained the upper hand out here in the middle of nowhere in blizzard-like conditions.

“Okay, just take it easy. My wallet is in my back pocket. You can have the money. Just…don’t get nervous with your trigger finger.”

Keri blinked. He thought
she
was the criminal here? “No. I’m…” What
was
she doing? As far as she knew, he hadn’t yet been charged. Still…why would he be up here in the winter unless he was running from something? “I’m a cop,” she blurted.

He glanced over his shoulder. “You can’t arrest me. Last I heard there’s no law against sliding off the road.”

“I—I know who you are—and about your wife.”

Dropping his hands to his side, he turned with a scowl.

Keri adjusted her position, praying that she wouldn’t lose her footing.

“I don’t know what you saw on the news, lady, but I’m bringing my boys for a vacation.”

“Up here? In the winter? That seems a little suspicious to me.”

“Look, I don’t really care what looks suspicious to you. I’m not running away. I’m free to go wherever I want.”

“Oh, yeah? Well, until I have a little chat with my chief and verify that, I’m going to have to detain you.”

“How do you plan to do that?”

Was that a challenge? She sent him her fiercest frown. “Any way I have to, tough guy.”

He smirked at her bravado. “I meant, how do you plan to get back to town in this ice? You know, for that ‘little chat with the chief’?”

Her cheeks warmed, but she refused to give him the satisfaction of knowing he’d rattled her. Instead, she tossed him a glare icier than the pellets stinging her eyelids. “I’m driving a Jeep, if you hadn’t noticed. As in four-wheel drive.”

He gained his footing and faced her, all traces of amusement gone, his voice steely. “Jeep or no, you’re not taking my boys out on the highway in that ice.”

“Boys?”

“Yes, my sons. They’re in the car.”

Keri followed his gaze and saw two identical faces pressed against the window. “You have sons,” she said staring back at him.

“Yes, I do. I happen to know there’s a cabin down this road where we can go to get my boys out of this weather.”

“Nice to know your memory works fine when you’re in trouble,” she muttered.

“What?”

“Nothing. Get your boys and hop in the Jeep. We’ll go to the cabin for the night. And just for your information, I meant I’ll have to use the radio and call my chief to see if there’s been a warrant issued for your arrest.”

He sat back down on the road.

“What are you doing?” Had Justin somehow lost his mind? Was that why he’d never come back? Was this why he’d killed his wife? He was a raving lunatic? Or was he just organizing a one-man sit-in on an icy road
in the middle of nowhere, protesting the injustice of getting caught?

Without answering her, he pulled off his boots, stood, and shoved them at her. “I’ll have to carry the boys one at a time. I don’t want to take a chance on falling and hurting one of them. Hang on to these for me, will you?”

Keri’s heart pounded against her ribs as she took the boots and backed up toward the Jeep, tucking her gun in her belt behind her back. Once inside the Jeep, she reached over and unlocked the passenger-side doors—front and back.

In moments, Justin opened the back door and deposited a boy onto the seat. “Scoot over so I can get Billy in,” Justin said.

The boy complied. Keri turned in her seat so she could look at him. “What’s your name?”

“I’m not supposed to talk to strangers.”

Her heart lifted with amusement. “Yeah. You’d think a cop would know that, huh?”

“You’re a cop?”

“Yeah.”

He sneered. “I don’t much like cops.”

“All cops or just certain ones?”

A shrug lifted his shoulders through his gray, down-filled jacket. “I don’t know. All of them, I guess.”

“Most people like me once they get to know me.” She sent her best grin to the back of the Jeep. “How about giving me a chance? Looks like we’re going to be holed up together for a day or two.”

“We will?”

“Yeah. The roads are pretty slick. Your dad thinks we better hang out at my cabin until it’s safe to drive.”

“Okay.” His eyes lit with a glimmer of interest, belying his nonchalant response.

Keri grinned. “So, think we know each other well enough to exchange names?”

“I guess so.” He extended his hand. “Josh Kramer.”

A lump formed in her throat as she grasped the chubby mittened hand. “Nice to meet you, Josh.”

“What’s your name?”

“Keri.”

“Keri what?”

From the corner of her eye, Keri saw Justin return to the Jeep. At his sharp intake of breath, she knew he’d heard her identify herself. He gently set the second twin in the seat.

His gaze captured hers, accusing her.

Indignation flamed through her like a ball of fire. He, of all people, had the audacity to pretend
she
had betrayed
him?

“Keri Mahoney?”

“Yes,” she said. What else was there to say? Especially in the presence of his sons, whose eyes were wide with curiosity.

“So you’re a cop now?”

“That’s right. You want to get inside before we freeze?” Her voice remained surprisingly calm, despite the nervous energy pricking her gut like a million needles. “This ice isn’t letting up.”

“Hang on. I have some groceries in the car.” He returned with two bags, deposited them into the back with the boys, then climbed into the front seat. His
nearness caused Keri’s pulse to race. She passed him his boots. “Better put these back on. You’ll be lucky if you don’t have frostbite.”

“Frostbite is the least of my worries right now.” His teeth chattered, and he shivered as he slipped the boots back on.

“Hang on a sec.” She switched off the ignition and opened the door.

“What are you doing?”

“You’ll see. I’ll be right back.” Grabbing the keys—just to be on the safe side—Keri hurried to the back of the Jeep, lifted the hatch and pulled out a thick wool blanket…part of the “emergency pack” Dad insisted she keep with her at all times. Now she was glad for his tendency to meddle.

Sliding back under the wheel, she tossed Justin the blanket. “Here. This should help until we get you inside.”

“That was thoughtful,” he said softly. “Thank you.” He unfolded the blanket and brought it up to his neck. And still he shivered. “A warm fire is going to feel great.”

“Dad’s already at the cabin. I imagine he’s got a fire going and a big pot of chili on the stove for tonight’s supper. Sound good to you boys?”

“Yeah!” Billy enthused.

“I hate chili.” Josh groused.

“Don’t be impolite, Josh,” Justin admonished.

Billy cast his brother a look of disgust. “Besides, you do so like chili.”

The Jeep crawled forward. Tension blanketed the air between Keri and Justin. Unanswered questions, unre
solved feelings. Neither spoke until at last Keri parked the vehicle in front of the cabin.

“It looks exactly the same.”

She rolled her eyes. “Don’t tell Dad. He spent all summer and way more of his retirement fund than necessary getting it fixed up. This is our first vacation up here since…In a long time.”

“Really?” He turned to look at her. “I’ve always pictured you here every summer. Like when we were kids.”

“You’ve thought of me?” As soon as the words flew out of her mouth, Keri wished she could snatch them back. She cringed. It wouldn’t do to show him she still cared. Not only was it pathetic, given the fact that he’d obviously moved on without her, but they might very well be on opposite sides of the law right now, and no matter how “cowboyish” that sounded, it was the simple truth.

“Are we going in?” The irritation in Josh’s voice jarred her to action.

“Of course.”

She reached for the door but stopped at the pressure of Justin’s hand on her arm.

“Wait a sec,” he whispered. He raised his voice to address his sons. “Boys, go on up to the porch. But be careful.”

When they were out of the Jeep and on their way to the porch, Justin turned to her. “Keri, I want you to know that I’m innocent.”

Keri snorted, trying hard not to be taken in by his beautiful, soulful eyes. “Prisons are full of innocent men.”

His brows narrowed. “Listen, I didn’t kill my wife. But whether you believe me or not doesn’t make any difference. I just wanted you to know that you don’t have to be nervous about me staying at the cabin.”

Keri sobered and focused her attention on the boys, who were stomping and waving for them to hurry up. She swallowed hard. “I’m not scared.” Confused, hurt, angry. Why hadn’t he come back as he’d promised? Why had he left and never once written to her?

She gripped the wheel and kept her eyes forward, but she could feel Justin studying her. She couldn’t speak. If she tried, she’d make a complete fool of herself by demanding answers.

Finally, he drew a breath. “All right. There’s nothing we can do tonight. No one’s going anywhere in this weather. As far as I know they haven’t issued a warrant yet, but if you find out that they have, I’ll let you take me in.”

She nodded. “Fair enough.”

He gave her a sad smile and covered her hand with his. “It’s good to see you again.”

He opened the car door and went to join the twins.

Switching on the radio, Keri tried to raise the chief. She could put an end to all this right now.

“This is Deputy Mahoney. You there, Chief? Over.”

Dead silence.

She gave it a few more tries then sighed in frustration. That dumb Abe. She’d have to try again later, after the chief figured out the radio had been switched off.

She glanced at the porch where Justin and the boys waited. In all of her years of dreaming of Justin, Keri had never imagined emotions as intense as the ones invading her heart at that moment. She closed her eyes and gathered a deep breath. She had to keep her head on straight. This Justin wasn’t the same one she’d known. But try as she might to convince herself of that, her heart had a mind of its own.

Fifteen years notwithstanding, she still loved Justin Kramer.