He tucked her papers under his arm and set a steady pace toward the center of town. He wasn’t sure her story would do much—there was still a chance it wouldn’t even get printed—but he knew they had to try. Anything to put another roadblock in Hughes’ plan was good enough for him.

  Bear kept a watchful eye out. In a town like this, locals would notice a stranger right away. Was he just passing through or was he new in town? Bear didn’t plan on sticking around long enough to answer those sorts of questions, but he knew he had to be ready either way.

  The streets were quiet until he was nearly to the center of town. Families gathered together, entering or leaving the local diner. Couples shared a coffee on a park bench. Dog owners walked their furry friends from tree to tree, waiting them to do something, anything, so they could go back inside to the warmth of their houses.

  Bear made a beeline for the post office. It was a small, square building without much flair. When he pulled open the door, a bell chimed, and everyone inside looked at him. There was a tense moment where they each tried to place him. When they couldn’t, they either looked away, or turned toward their friend to whisper in hushed tones.

  Everyone except for the sheriff, of course.

  He was second in line, dropping off a rectangular package. He kept staring at Bear, who nodded cordially and then walked over to the rack of envelopes against one of the walls. He could still feel the officer’s eyes on the back of his head, but Bear didn’t let it distract him.

  In and out, that was the plan.

  Bear selected a sturdy padded envelope for Cara’s papers and slid them inside. He grabbed a pen and copied the address she had given him on the front of the package, careful to write legibly. He then sealed it shut and turned to join the line.

  The sheriff had engaged the person behind him in conversation, giving him the perfect opportunity to keep an eye on Bear.

  For his part, Bear didn’t bother making eye contact.

  The line moved slowly. That was the problem with small towns. Everyone knew everyone and wanted to know everyone’s business. The woman who had been at the front of the line when Bear walked in was still chit-chatting with the man behind the counter. They were moving at a snail’s pace, though no one seemed to care except Bear.

  When the two of them finally said their goodbyes, the mailman had to call the sheriff by name three times before he realized he was up next.

  “Sorry about that, Sam,” said Sheriff Daniels. “I was off in a whole other world.”

  “Don’t bother me none, sir. How’s the wife?”

  “Oh, she’s good, she’s good. Got her hands full with the little ones.”

  “How old are they now?”

  “Nine and twelve.”

  “Sara’s almost a teenager now!”

  “Don’t remind me, Sam. Don’t remind me.” Sheriff Daniels chuckled. “Gets away with everything She’s already got me wrapped around her finger. And knows it, too! I’m hopeless.”

  The women behind the sheriff sighed as though they wished their husbands were as doting. Bear wondered if the sheriff was hamming it up or if he really was that much of a family man. If he had to place bets, it was the former. His position was appointed, which meant that public opinion meant everything.

  Bear tuned them out after that. The sheriff spent a good five minutes talking to Sam the mailman after he dropped off his package. When he left, he paused at the door and stared long and hard at Bear. For his part, Bear didn’t return the favor. Better to look oblivious.

  Another fifteen minutes passed before it was Bear’s turn at the counter. He stayed cordial, but kept his answers short. When Sam finally realized he wouldn’t be able to get anything out of Bear, he smiled and sent him on his way.

  When Bear exited the building and saw the sheriff sitting on the hood of his vehicle, Bear knew that any plan he had to get in and out of New Glarus had just gone out the window.

  24

  “Mornin’.” The sheriff didn’t wait for Bear to respond. “Don’t think I’ve seen you ‘round here before.”

  “I’m just passing through,” Bear said. He kept his tone friendly but didn’t linger.

  “Where you comin’ from, if you don’t mind me asking?”

  He did mind, but refusing to give the officer an answer would only make things worse. “Up north.”

  “Madison?”

  “Little further than that.” Bear was almost out of reasonable earshot now. He decided to try his luck at getting away. “Have a good day, sheriff.”

  Bear knew he couldn’t head directly back to the truck without leading the other man to Cara and thus increasing their chances of being recognized. Instead, he made a beeline for the local diner and took up a spot at the counter.

  A portly waitress with a tired smile on her face welcomed Bear as he sat down in front of her at the counter. “What can I get for you, sugar?”

  “Coffee, please.”

  “Lookin’ for any breakfast? We got a combo platter that’ll fill you up nice and easy.”

  “No, ma’am.” Bear wasn’t planning on staying long. “Just need some caffeine before I get back on the road.”

  The waitress grabbed a mug and a pot of coffee and poured Bear a cup. “Where’re you headed?”

  Why were people in small towns so nosy? “South.”

  “Lots of things to the south,” she said.

  Bear shrugged. “I stop when something catches my eye.”

  The waitress batted her eyelashes, but Bear took a sip of coffee and looked away.

  Just in time to see the sheriff walk through the door.

  He sat down next to Bear with a stool in between them. “Don’t think I caught your name earlier.”

  Bear’s reply was quick and easy. “John.”

  “You got a last name, John?”

  The hair on the back of Bear’s neck was starting to stand on end. “Yes, sir, I do.”

  “You’re not much of a talker, are you, John?”

  “No, sir, I’m not. Especially when it comes to strangers. Even if they’re wearing a badge.”

  Tension hung in the air for a few seconds before Sheriff Daniels barked out a laugh. “Can’t say I blame you, John. Sorry for the interrogation there. We don’t get a lot of new people around here.”

  Bear took a sip of his coffee. “I’m not here to cause any trouble. I’ll be out of your hair soon enough.”

  “That’s good. We’re not a fan of trouble around here.” Sheriff Daniels held up a single finger. “The usual, Doris. Thank you, sweetheart.”

  “Coffee’s good,” Bear said, hoping to keep the topic to more neutral ground.

  “That it is.” Sheriff Daniels waited until Doris poured him a cup before he turned back to Bear. “You know, for the life of me, I could’ve sworn I’d seen your face somewhere. But it’s just not coming to me.”

  “Really? Maybe I’ve got a long-lost brother around here somewhere.”

  Sheriff Daniels chuckled and took a sip of his coffee. “Maybe. They say everyone has a twin, you know. Somewhere in the world.”

  Bear raised his cup to the idea but didn’t speak.

  “Where did you say you were heading?” The sheriff clicked his tongue. “There I go again, interrogating you. Sorry about that. Habit of the profession.”

  “He said he’s heading south,” Doris said. “But didn’t have a destination in mind.”

  Bear shrugged. “I like driving. Figured the right destination will find me, you know.”

  “The only people I’ve ever heard say that have been runnin’ from something.”

  “Life hasn’t been too kind to me,” Bear said, finishing his coffee. “But I’d say I’m running toward something more than I’m running away from it.”

  “And what’s that?” Doris asked. He had her undivided attention.

  Bear wasn’t sure what to say. He was just answering questions to keep them off his back, but there was some truth in his words. He might’ve been running away from the cops, the government, and Hughes in particular, but he was also searching for…something.

  “Not sure,” he finally answered. “But maybe I’ll send a letter back when I figure it out.”

  Doris beamed just as the cook rang the bell and put the sheriff’s food out. She grabbed the plate and set it down in front of Daniels. “The usual, just how you like it, sheriff.”

  “Thanks, darlin’.”

  That was Bear’s cue. He threw a ten-dollar bill on the counter. “It was nice talking to you both, but I’ve got to hit the road. Have a good day.”

  “You, too, Jim,” Sheriff Daniels said.

  “John,” Bear corrected.

  “Right. Sorry, I’m so bad at names.”

  “Stay safe out there,” Bear said.

  Sheriff Daniels nodded, and while his answers were smooth, Bear could tell the man didn’t like the predicament he was in. He couldn’t abandon his food and follow Bear, but it was obvious he didn’t quite trust Bear was who he said he was, either.

  But Bear didn’t care. He left the diner and took a sharp left, heading in the opposite direction of the truck. He’d been gone for a good forty-five minutes now. Cara was bound to be worried, but he had to be careful. The last thing he wanted to do was lead the cops back to her.

  Instead, Bear took the long way back to the other end of town. He cut down a couple side streets and walked past a few houses, pretending to admire their Fall decorations while keeping his head on a swivel.

  It didn’t take long to catch sight of the deputy trailing him in his car.

  Every time Bear turned onto a new street, he saw the officer turn down the road he’d just stepped off of. The deputy would’ve been better off leaving the car behind and following him on foot, but considering Bear’s size and the fact that he was a complete unknown, it seemed the sheriff’s department was not taking any risks.

  Bear wondered if they had any inkling of who he was, or if they really just didn’t get that many new people around these parts. Maybe this was their way of entertaining themselves on a random Tuesday morning.

  Either way, it was a pain in Bear’s ass. He had to lose his tail—and fast.

  Bear made his way back to the main road, crossed it, and ended up on the east side of town. It didn’t look much different from the west side, but it did put more distance between him and the deputy following him. He’d almost made it to the edge of town when the deputy car cut him off at the corner, right outside a bar. It wasn’t even noon yet, but it was already open. A couple old-timers sat inside.

  The deputy hadn’t turned on his lights or his siren, so nobody took notice of the vehicle. Bear took a couple steps back, positioning himself at the corner of the alley. He waited until the officer got out of his car and made his way over to him.

  He was a tall, thin man with a hooked nose and a large forehead. Bear immediately disliked him.

  “Morning, sir,” Bear said. “What can I do for you?”

  “I need you to turn and face the wall. Lock your hands behind your head and spread your legs.”

  Bear let confusion color his face. “Can I ask what this is about, officer?”

  The deputy put his hand on his weapon and unbuttoned the holster, but didn’t remove the gun. “Turn and face the wall. Now.”

  Bear complied, locking his hands and spreading his legs.

  The deputy walked up to him and proceeded to pat him down. “We got a couple calls of a man casing the neighborhood.”

  “I wasn’t casing the neighborhood. I was going for a walk.”

  “Sheriff said you hurried out of the diner to get back on the road.”

  “I got turned around,” Bear said. “I’ve never been here before. Forgot which direction I’d parked in. Figured looking at the houses while I was at it wouldn’t be a crime against humanity.”

  “Don’t get smart,” the deputy said.

  “I could act dumb if you want me to,” Bear said.

  He couldn’t help it. Sometimes the sarcasm just couldn’t be controlled.

  The deputy grabbed one of Bear’s arms and yanked it behind his back. “Resisting arrest? I’ll have to cuff you for that.”

  Bear didn’t bother arguing with him. He knew the second the deputy got out of his car that this wasn’t going to end well. Instead of waiting for the other man to get the handcuffs around one of his wrists, Bear threw an elbow and connected with the man’s nose. When he twisted around to see the damage he’d done, Bear was happy to find blood gushing from the middle of the deputy’s face.

  “Now I’m resisting arrest,” Bear said.

  As the deputy reached for his gun, Bear grabbed his wrist and twisted. The other man was no match for Bear’s strength and immediately cried out in pain. One quick punch to the temple got him to shut up. His eyes fluttered shut. The handcuffs fell to the ground.

  Bear didn’t waste any time. He grabbed the cuffs and dragged the deputy to the alley, where he cuffed him to the dumpster and yanked the radio from his shirt, tossing it into the garbage. As the deputy came to, Bear knelt down in front of him.

  “You just had to go and be a dick,” Bear said. “You could’ve let me walk out of this town without causing any trouble, but you had something to prove, didn’t you?”

  The deputy sputtered but couldn’t find his words.

  “Guess you proved it now. Good luck explaining this one to your sheriff.”

  Bear knew he’d only had a few minutes head start. As soon as the deputy didn’t answer his radio, someone would go looking for him. Probably the sheriff.

  Bear planned on being far away from New Glarus by the time that happened.

  25

  Cara was sitting in the front seat of the truck with both hands on the wheel when Bear rounded the corner and made his way over to her. He could see her visibly relax before sliding over and unlocking the doors.

  “What took so long?”

  “Ran into a little trouble.”

  She looked him up and down. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine,” Bear said. “The sheriff’s deputy, on the other hand, probably has a broken nose. Definitely a bruised ego.”

  “What did you do?”

  Bear threw his hands up. “I didn’t start it. The sheriff was on my ass as soon as I got to the post office. Ditched him at the diner and almost made it back before one of his lackeys decided to try something.”

  “Oh, so you had time to stop for more food?” Cara went from angry to hopeful within the span of a single second. “Did you bring anything for me?”

  “All I got was a mediocre cup of coffee. I wasn’t sticking around for the specials.”

  Cara harrumphed and repositioned her seat without another word.

  “Did anyone pass by here?”

  “You told me to keep my head down.”

  Bear leveled a stare at her. “Did you hear anyone?”

  “A couple cars,” she relented.

  “Were they heading into town or out of it?”

  “Into it. Why?”

  Bear put the car in drive and eased his way onto the road. “If they were heading out, it could’ve been one of the sheriff’s deputies who could’ve circled back around. It means we’ve got a little longer before we have to give up the truck. Either way, we should switch cars sooner rather than later.”

  The cab of the Silverado was filled with silence for the next few miles. Cara stared out the window while Bear kept an eye on the rearview mirror. There were no cars following them, least of all a patrol vehicle. By this time, the sheriff probably found his deputy. They might send someone out to look for Bear, but he’d be long gone by then.

  Cara broke the silence first. “Thank you, by the way.”

  “For what?”

  “For doing that.” She fluttered her hands around. “For all of it. For everything.”

  “You don’t have to thank me.”

  She laughed. “I kind of do. You saved my life, more than once. I know you’d be a lot better off without me. So, just accept my thanks, okay? Please?”

  Bear’s tongue was heavy. “You’re welcome.”

  “I think—” Cara’s voice cut out and she cleared her throat before she started again. “I think I should tell you who my contact is now.”

  “Oh?” Every nerve in Bear’s body was tuned into the words coming out of Cara’s mouth. “Why now?”

  “Didn’t you hear the part where I finally recognized that I owe you my life? We’re in this together. You need to know. Maybe you can help me.”

  “Help with what?”

  “Getting into contact with him.”

  “I thought that’s what the editorial was for.”

  “It is.” Cara twisted her hands in her lap. “That’s the signal, but I still need to make contact. We have a backup plan for when he knows I’m ready to talk. I just need to get to a computer. The rest will work itself out.”

  “For the record,” Bear said, “no plan that ends with the rest will work itself out is ever a good plan.”

  “Like you’ve never winged it before.”

  Bear had to give her that one. “I avoid winging it whenever possible.”

  Then, out of nowhere: “It’s the Vice President.”

  Bear felt that zing throughout his nerves again. “The Vice President of the United States?”

  Cara’s voice was slow and muted, and Bear couldn’t tell if it was because she was having trouble getting it out or if he was having trouble processing it.

  “The Vice President of the United States.”

  It took all of Bear’s self-control not to immediately slam on the breaks. Instead, he triple-checked the mirror and then fixed his eyes on the road ahead before he answered.

  “You mean to tell me,” he managed to get out, “your contact, your informant, is the Vice President. Of the United States. Of America.”

  “Yes.”

  Bear looked at Cara out of the corner of his eye. “You’re gonna have to help me with this one.”

  Cara sighed and tipped her head back. “When I first started gathering information for the story, I didn’t know how big it was. Had no fucking clue what I was getting into. I was poking my nose where it didn’t belong, and some people started to take notice. When you start throwing around words like conspiracy and corruption, government officials get a little antsy.”