Cold Dawn

by Susan Sleeman

  Griff didn’t know what to do with himself. Sam didn’t want him here, and his bag was packed. Did he leave the compound? Head home in his truck that Gage arranged to have fixed enough to drive? Go back to work? Leave Sam behind as if nothing had happened between them?

  With Nobles singing like the birds in the trees outside, he would soon tell the truth when the DNA came in, and this would all be over. Andy didn’t need Griff anymore and neither did Sam. She was safe. They’d ruled Scanlon out. Timms or Nobles couldn’t hurt her from behind bars.

  Griff was glad of that. He didn’t want her in danger. But he did want her to need him. To want him in her life. Because he wanted her. That was totally clear.

  She just didn’t return the feeling. So he should take his truck home that was still as battered as his heart and go back to his empty life.

  A knock sounded on the door. Sam? His heart leapt. No, she wouldn’t pound that loudly, and he hadn’t heard the helo return from Portland, so she wasn’t even at the compound. He trudged to the door and opened it to find Gage standing there, hands in pockets, and an uncomfortable look on his face. Pepper bolted toward him and jumped up on his legs.

  “Pepper,” Griff warned and reached for her.

  “It’s okay.” Gage picked her up and scratched her behind the ears. “I don’t mind.”

  “You might not mind it, but I don’t want her to get into the bad habit of attacking my visitors. So don’t reward her with such affection.”

  “Gotcha.” He set the puppy down, and she looked up at him with big eyes, begging for attention and love. Griff held fast to his tough love theory, but her cute expression melted him too many times. Another female who got beyond his defenses.

  Griff stepped back to let Gage enter.

  “Hannah ended up taking our dog to obedience training. He’s much calmer now, and I appreciate it, so I totally understand.” Gage brushed his muddy boots on a scraper outside the door. “Feels weird visiting someone at these cabins.”

  “So why are you here?” Griff closed the door behind Gage.

  “I wanted to check in with you. See how you’re doing after our talk the other night.”

  Griff arched an eyebrow at Gage’s transparency—most guys Griff knew would never go there.

  Gage shook his head and plopped down on the couch. “Okay, fine. I’m as subtle as a tank on a battle field. Hannah sent me. I can’t go home until I know what your plans are.”

  “Plans?”

  “Regarding Sam.”

  “Ah, those plans.” Griff perched on the arm of the couch. “I don’t have any.”

  “Because of your issues around losing Stretch?”

  “Seems like I’ve managed to work through that. I still feel guilty, but can deal now. Thanks, man. You helped with that.”

  “Glad I could.” He shifted, looking uncomfortable with the topic. “So what’s the holdup with Sam then? It’s obvious there’s something going on between you two.”

  Griff stared at him.

  Gage shook his head. “Okay. Fine. I can’t believe I asked that. Hannah is rubbing off on me.”

  Griff laughed. “You can tell her even if I did want to pursue a relationship with Sam, she’s not receptive.”

  Gage looked at him in mock horror. “You do know if I tell her that, she’ll talk to Sam. And the morning sickness makes Hannah a bit cranky. So Sam will be bombarded by questions and helpful suggestions.” He suddenly groaned. “Or worse, Hannah will send me again.”

  Griff laughed. “That’s a risk I’m willing to take.”

  “And here I thought you had my back, too.” Gage shook his head and got up. “Where’s the SEAL brotherhood when you need it?”

  “When it involves a woman, all logic goes out the window.” Griff laughed and walked Gage to the door. On the way Griff snapped on Pepper’s leash and grabbed his duffle bag. Outside, he locked the door and handed the key to Gage.

  Gage stared at the key in his palm. “So you’re really going?”

  “No point in sticking around.”

  “You do know Sam is an amazing woman, right?”

  “Yeah, man. I know.” Griff tossed his things into the back of his truck and shook hands with Gage, almost changing his mind. “Thanks for letting me crash here and making sure my truck was drivable again.”

  “Hope we cross paths again someday. But not because of a fire or medical emergency. I’d hate to need you to come to my rescue.” Gage started off, his laughter rolling behind him.

  Griff waited for Pepper to do her business, and took one last look down the road at Sam’s cabin, hoping she was home and would come running out and ask him to stay. Not that it mattered. She’d made her viewpoint perfectly clear, and she wouldn’t open the door if she was here.

  Griff climbed into his truck and settled Pepper next to him. “Looks like it’s just you and me, baby girl.”

  She laid her head on his thigh, and he drove slowly toward the exit. After a glance back in his mirror, he left the compound and Sam in his rearview for good.

  Sam was in the helo coming back from Portland and had missed seeing Griff drive off hours ago. Now she desperately wanted to go after him but forced herself to remain sitting on her sofa. Ever since she and Riley got back from flying Timms’ DNA sample to Emory and picking up Jackson, Sam had been sitting at the window, watching the sun drop toward the horizon. The darkness matched her mood, and still, she was unable to move.

  She caught sight of Hannah heading her way, marching with her head down. Sam knew Hannah’s purpose before she knocked on the door. Sam thought not to answer, but Hannah knew she was home and wouldn’t go away.

  “You don’t need to say a word,” Sam said before Hannah could speak. “I know you’re here to talk me into rethinking my position on a relationship with Griff, but I can’t.”

  Hannah strode to the sofa Sam had spent months picking out. Hannah plopped down and crossed her arms. “Then you best be telling me the reason, or I’m not leaving.”

  Sam hated recounting the issue with her dad again, but Hannah was just stubborn enough to follow through on her threat. Sam joined her and quickly told the story to keep from breaking down. “So see, there’s really nothing you can say to make me change my mind. My dad did what he did. He hurt my mom beyond description, and I choose not to go through that kind of pain.”

  Hannah frowned. “So you’re saying you think so little of Griff that you know he will cheat on you?”

  “No.”

  “Yes you are. You’re lumping all men in the same category. I know that Gage would never cheat on me as certain as I know the dawn will come each morning.”

  “It’s great that you can be so confident.”

  Hannah sighed. “Do you love Griff?”

  “Yes. More than anything.”

  “And at the thought of not being with him, you feel like your heart is ripped out?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then what do you have to lose? Your heart is going to be ripped out either way.”

  “Good point.” Sam pondered her comment, but the worry in the pit of her stomach didn’t ease up even a fraction. “But if children are ever involved…” She raked her hand through her hair. “I’ll think about it, okay?”

  “If that’s really the best you can offer, then yes.” Hannah squeezed Sam’s hand.

  “So you’ll let me be now?” Sam asked.

  “One more thing.”

  Sam groaned.

  Hannah doubled the determination in her expression. “You should go see your mom. Talk to her about this and work out your differences.”

  “I already planned to do it this week.”

  Hannah got up and tugged Sam to her feet. “You’ll go now.”

  “Pushy much? What if I have something to do?”

  “Do you?”

  “No.”

  “Then you’re going.” Hannah towed Sam to the door like a child, grabbed her coat, and shoved it at her.

  Sam slipped into it and gr
abbed her keys. “Want a ride home?”

  “I’m surprised you asked.”

  “You mean after how pushy you’ve been?” Sam laughed.

  “Yeah, that.”

  “You’re only doing this because you care. I get it.” Sam wrapped an arm around Hannah’s shoulder, and they stepped outside. “You might be pushy, but you’re a great friend to all of us, and we love you.”

  Hannah smiled. “I only want what’s best for you.”

  Sam met her friend’s gaze. “And you think that’s Griff?”

  “I know it’s Griff. You’re just slower at figuring it out.” She laughed and got into the Jeep.

  Sam slid behind the wheel. “I have half a mind to stay single just so you have something to do.”

  “No need.” Hannah smiled. “Gage is talking about adding more staff. Someone else he hires is bound to need my help.”

  Sam laughed and stopped out front of her friend’s house.

  “Think about Griff,” she said as she climbed out.

  Sam didn’t have to think about him. It just happened. Not thinking about him was more of a challenge.

  She opened the gate and set off for Rugged Point. She wanted to drive her Jeep straight to Griff’s place instead of her mom’s house. She didn’t know who would be harder to talk to right now. But she did agree with Hannah. It was time Sam put her differences with her mother in the past. And then maybe her dad, too.

  She pulled up to the home she’d spent eighteen years in, shocked to see a For Sale sign in the front yard. She hopped out of the car and ran up the steps to the large wraparound porch. She let herself in with her key. “Mom! Mom, where are you?”

  “In the kitchen,” her mom replied.

  Sam rushed into the large room that hadn’t changed, other than appliances, in Sam’s entire life.

  “You’re selling the house?” It came out like an accusation, and Sam guessed that was exactly what it was.

  “Hello, Sam.” Her mom smiled, looking so much like Cara, that Sam was momentarily distracted. “Long time no see.”

  Sam regained her focus. “The house. You’re selling it?”

  Her mom dropped onto a stool. “It’s time for me to move on.”

  “But we grew up here. It’s the family house.”

  Her mom leaned her elbows on the large island. “Seems as if you haven’t remembered that for years.”

  “I know, but I…”

  “But you want to blame me for this, too.” Her tone rang with hurt and resignation.

  “I’m sorry, Mom.” Sam searched for the right words. “I didn’t come here to yell at you.”

  Her mom took her time, staring at her hands as she rested them on the island. She looked up. “Why did you come?”

  “To finally listen to whatever you want to tell me about you and dad.”

  “Sit.” Her mother gestured at the barstools. “Want some coffee?”

  “Sure. Thanks.”

  She got up and crossed to the pot. Sam took a good look at her mom for the first time in many years. She’d aged, but she looked better than ever. She’d lost weight. Looked like she was working out, too. And her hair was dyed a deep honey blond, hiding the bit of gray that had developed over the years.

  “You been working out?” Sam asked, hating that her question sounded like an accusation, too.

  “I have.” Her mom filled two mugs with steaming coffee.

  “That’s good, Mom.”

  “Glad it shows.” She carried the mugs to the island and sat.

  Sam grabbed one and took a sip.

  She stirred a sugar substitute into her mug. “I figure now that I’m dating I should put my best foot forward.”

  Shocked, Sam spit out her coffee. “Dating?”

  She blushed. “I know. It’s hard to believe, huh? But Cara and Kelly convinced me to start.”

  Sam didn’t know what she thought about that, but she would wait until she heard her mother out. “So tell me everything you wished I would have listened to…when you and Dad split up.”

  Her mom let out a long breath and absently stirred her coffee. “First, I guess I wanted you to know it takes two people to make a marriage work and two people to break one. Sure, your dad cheated, but if I’d been a more devoted wife maybe he wouldn’t have.”

  Sam gaped at her mom.

  “It’s true, honey.” She quit stirring and confidently met Sam’s gaze. “We were growing apart. I knew it. Saw it happening and could’ve done something about it, but I didn’t. He hated his job and wanted to change careers. That would’ve meant a huge drop in the money he would bring in, and our lifestyle would have to drastically change. I basically told him it was a midlife crisis and to stick it out. So he did. For me. But then he grew to resent me for it. By then it was too late to do anything about it. The affair was almost inevitable.”

  “But you threw him out. You told me that. If you were so understanding of your role, why tell me that?”

  “At the time, I didn’t see what I’d done wrong. I could only see what he did. But when the anger faded, my part became obvious.” She shook her head. “You probably don’t know this, but your dad and I have come to peace with what happened. I’ve forgiven him, and he’s forgiven me. We can now even have civil conversations. You’re the only one left in the family who’s holding a grudge.”

  Sam leaned forward. “Mom…I…I’m sorry. I should have listened to you. I was just so hurt. A child doesn’t think parents are supposed to break up. No matter how old the child is. And as the oldest one in our family, I felt like I could’ve done more to make you stay together.”

  Her mom pressed a hand over Sam’s. “I wish I could go back and do things differently. Maybe then we would all still be together. But I can’t. So we have to accept things as they are. Make the best of them and go on.”

  Sam laughed.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “Griff said the same thing to me this week.”

  “Griff as in Matt Griffin?” She gaped at Sam. “Are you seeing him again?”

  “No, but we worked together to find Andy’s killer.”

  “Killer?” Her voice rose even higher. “Andy was murdered? I heard he died in a fire, but he was murdered?”

  Sam explained everything and fought hard when tears wanted to flow.

  Her mom tightened her hand. “That’s horrible. I’m glad you caught them, though. Do you know when the funeral is?”

  Sam shook her head. “His body has just been released by the medical examiner.”

  Her mom sat back, looking like she wanted to say more, but didn’t know how to do it.

  “Go ahead. Just say what you’re dying to say.”

  “How was it seeing Griff again after the way he ended things?”

  “Here’s the thing, Mom. I broke up with him.”

  “But you—”

  “Let everyone think it was his doing? Yeah. It was easier than telling you I lost all trust in men after what Dad did.”

  “Oh, honey, no. No. I wish…” She shook her head. “No. Wishing doesn’t change things. And now? Are you dating again?”

  “Now I’m…I’m working on it.” She got up and went around the island to stand in front of her mother. “Can you forgive me for taking this all out on you? For not being here for you when you probably needed me? For hurting you so badly?”

  “Of course I can. You’re my girl and will always be. No matter what. I want you to know that.” Her mom got up and tucked a strand of hair behind Sam’s ear before pulling her into a hug. “I love you, honey. Welcome home.”

  Tears flowed down Sam’s cheeks, and she pushed back before she turned into a blubbering baby. “So you really want to sell the house?”

  “I need to let go of the past and move on.”

  “Yeah, I get that.” Sam gave her mom another hug and stood back, her heart lighter than it had been in years. “I need to do some of my own moving on. If you don’t mind, I’m gonna go and see what I can do about that. May
be we could have a family dinner soon.”

  “We still do it every Sunday night. I’d love for you to come. And bring whoever you’re going to go see right now.” Her mom winked.

  Sam laughed. Her mother knew her so well, but Sam wouldn’t talk to her about Griff. Not yet. Not until after she’d spoken to him because she still wasn’t sure what to say. She still had to process everything her mother told her and let go of her resentment and anger.

  Her mood much improved, she kissed her mom on the cheek and exited the house to get into her Jeep. Her phone rang. Seeing the caller was Emory, Sam quickly answered.

  “The DNA doesn’t match.”

  “What?”

  “Timm’s DNA doesn’t match the DNA recovered from Andy’s face.”

  “But that’s impossible,” Sam said, her mind searching for any plausible reason.

  “I didn’t make a mistake.” Emory’s defensive tone broke through Sam’s thoughts.

  “No, it’s not that. I did. I made the mistake. I was in such a hurry to have closure that I jumped to a conclusion. They both said Andy was already dead when they torched the building.”

  “So the real killer is still out there.”

  Sam’s heart dropped to the pit of her stomach. “I need to tell Griff.”

  “Be careful, Sam. These are the same guys who tried to kill you twice now.”

  Sam hung up and pointed her vehicle toward Griff’s place. She raced through town, not caring about the speed limit. She turned onto his street and looked ahead to his house. Flames danced out the windows and licked at the roof.

  Fire! His house was on fire. His truck sat in the drive.

  Was he inside?

  No. No. No. Please no. Don’t let him be in there. Please, God. Please.

  23

  Sam dialed 911 and gave her location. “It’s Matt Griffin’s house. His truck’s in the driveway. I think he’s inside. I’m going in to see.”

  “Do not go in the building, ma’am. You must stay outside! The firefighters will be there any minute.”

  “I have to go.” She disconnected.

  Shoving the phone in her pocket, she ran for the house. The heat hit her hard. She tried to advance but had to back away. She skirted the side of the building that hadn’t gone up in flames. She pried open the gate and bolted for the backyard.