fact. But it isn’t necessarily the truth.”
“My sister isn’t a killer.”
“I know.” He had absolutely no call to make that statement; she hadn’t once accused Misty. Still, she supposed he was under stress and she ought to cut him some slack. “Don’t worry. We’ll find the truth. Even if we have to do our own investigation, we’ll find the killer.”
“That’s not going to happen, Tab. We aren’t going to run around playing detective.”
She wasn’t sure if he was rejecting the idea of investigating or rejecting her personally. “You don’t seem too pleased with the way Sheriff Fielding is handling things.”
“I’m not.”
“And I’m not suggesting that we get in the sheriff’s way. But I don’t see any reason why we shouldn’t do some poking around on our own.”
“I like you.” He turned his head to look directly at her. “I’d like to get to know you better…but not like this. Protecting my family isn’t your problem.”
He was beginning to tick her off. “Because you don’t think I can handle it?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You know, Aiden, you’re the one who called me and asked me to come to the ranch.”
“Because Misty needed you.”
“And you don’t.”
“Correct.”
Waves of arrogance radiated from him. “I just want to help. Don’t be so quick to turn your back.”
Contradictory feelings braided into a knot that tightened in her belly. She ought to be elated because he wanted to spend time with her, but he was pushing her away at the same time.
“You’re angry,” he said.
“Confused.”
“I don’t want to put you in danger. There’s a serial killer out there.”
“Right,” she said. “And I want to help catch him. You don’t always have to do everything by yourself.”
Though he nodded, she didn’t really think he got her point. Why couldn’t he understand? Nobody was meant to go it alone, not even a man like Aiden who had taken on big responsibilities when his father died. There was no shame in accepting help.
“I’m going to make you smile again,” he said. “Get ready.”
“You’re trying to change the subject.”
“Maybe.”
He slowed the forward speed until they were standing still, poised on a current of air. Aiden adjusted the gears, and the chopper made a rapid ascent as though they were riding an invisible elevator. The land below them faded away. Higher and higher, they lifted into the night sky, and then they stopped.
With the flick of a couple of switches, he turned off the running lights and the lights in the cockpit. Suspended in the velvet darkness, she experienced a strange, almost magical sensation. The stars closed around her and she became part of the sky. She could feel the altitude. The only reminder of reality was the synchronized rumble of the rotors. Looking down, she saw dots of light from ranch houses and a warmer glow from the streets of Henley, miles from where they were.
“Do you like it?” he asked.
Though she hadn’t been aware of holding her breath, she exhaled in a whoosh. “I feel like the wind, a feather on the wind.”
“You’re not a helicopter virgin anymore.”
“I understand why you love flying. It’s so free.”
“Up here, I can leave the worries behind. But only for a couple of minutes.” He turned on the lights and set a course for home. “Usually when I’m up in the chopper, I’m on my way to a disaster. A rescue. A search. A medical emergency.”
She closed her eyes, not wanting to come down to earth. Her memory bank made a permanent record of these magical moments with Aiden. “Thank you.”
“Am I forgiven?”
“Not entirely,” she said, “but mostly. And do you forgive me for coming with you without permission?”
“You bet,” he said. “I’m wondering if you told anybody else your plan before you took off running after me.”
“I told Grandma, and she was pleased.” Come to think of it, her reaction was kind of odd. “She said something
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