You wanted to talk?
Miles nodded and gestured for him to follow him to the kitchen nook, well aware Brown anticipated some kind of confession. One hed never hear from him.
Brown stomped snow from his boots and accepted a cup of coffee with a mumbled thanks.
I have that list of my enemies. Miles handed him the final version of his research from the day before.
Brown skimmed the paper, then glanced up, eyes narrowed. Did you make me drive out here for this? You could have faxed it over.
He shrugged, hesitant to tell him about Caitlin. Have you found out anything more?
Brown frowned. As a matter of fact, I did some checking on your wife. Word on the streets is that she had a reputation in the bars in Nashville before she showed up in Ravens Peak.
He sipped his coffee, biting back a reply. Hed stumbled on that info himself after shed disappeared.
You dont seem surprised, Brown said.
Miles shifted onto the balls of his feet. If he said he knew, hed be hammering the nail in his coffin. On the other hand, denial made him look like a fool.
Letting Brown in on Caitlins arrival could exonerate him, yet he wasnt sure the woman was Caitlin. And her story about being locked in a mental ward would raise more suspicion. But if Brown found out on his own, then it would read as if he were hiding information from the feds and only make him look more guilty.
Ive also been studying up on your past, Brown continued. Witnessing your parents murder at age ten had to have affected you, especially since you lived with your grandmother after that. She suffered from dementia, right?
Yeah, then she died six months later, and I stayed in a group home. So what?
So, the perp who killed your parents was your mothers lover.
Miles silently cursed. He knew where Brown was heading with his theory.
Your father was gunned down in front of you because of your mothers adulterous behavior. Maybe you have some deep-seated hatred of women, Brown continued. Maybe your wife cheated on you like your mother did your old man, and you decided to make her pay.
You must be a fan of that new reverend in town. Sarcasm laced Miless voice. Hes been preaching on marriage and fidelity. The bitterness that had nearly driven him over the edge for years threatened his control.
Brown lifted one eyebrow. Havent heard him. But I do know thisyour wifes affair gives you motive for murder. So that puts you at the top of my suspect list.
CAITLIN STOOD AT THE EDGE of the door listening to the mens conversation, her nerves strung tight. The sheriffs parents had been murdered when he was ten? This guy Brown was FBI? Did Miles plan to turn her over to them? Were they going to send her back to the mental hospital?
She gripped the door edge, trying to think, but panic zinged through her. Apparently, Miles had been telling the truth about their marriage. But why had she married this man? And how could she have forgotten him?
Even more disturbing, if she had cheated on him, then he had reason to hate her. Reason to have locked her away. Reason to have killed heror Nora. What if he had drugged her and admitted her to that mental hospital, then Nora had come searching for her, and hed killed Nora to keep her from exposing what hed done?
Chill bumps cascaded up her arms. That puts you at the top of my suspect list, the FBI agent had said.
If Miles had killed her sister, she needed to get away from him. She could run again. But she had no one else to turn to.
And she couldnt leave without learning what had happened to her twin.
This other manthe FBI agentmight help her. Shed have to take her chances that he wouldnt send her back to that psychiatric ward.
Inhaling a deep breath, she yanked on the sweats she found in the closet, then pushed open the door and inched inside the den.
Both men stared at each other as if theyd engaged in a Mexican standoff, but at the sound of her footsteps, they turned. Miless gaze skated over her damp hair and body, sending a ripple of sexual awareness down her spine.
A voice whispered in her head, If he wanted to kill you, why hadnt he done so the night before? Why did he hold you and comfort you?
The other man stood close to Miless height but had shorter brown hair and a cleft in his chin. He froze, the shock on his face evident. Good God, whats going on?
Shes the reason I called you, Brown.
Agent Browns head whipped toward Miles, then back to her. I dont understand, Monahue.
She claims shes Caitlin, Miles stated flatly. Caitlin, this is Special Agent Reilly Brown. He thinks I murdered you.
Caitlin gasped at his bold truthfulness, then clasped
her hands together, the intense look Miles shot her a reminder of the mens discussionthat Caitlin had been cheating on Miles. Anger, betrayal and hurt simmered in Miless deadly calm voice.
Agent Brown cleared his throat. If shes your wife, then whos the dead woman in the morgue?
Miles arched his eyebrows toward her to suggest she explain. Caitlin shivered, the aching loss still so raw she had to clear her throat to speak. My twin sister, Nora.