“And your plan for you?” he asked softly.

“Keep my distance. Keep my eyes on my own life.”

“Her suicide attempt nearly destroyed you.”

Ava said nothing. Zander had witnessed part of her emotional collapse from the strain of Jayne’s death wish. “Can we not talk about it right now?” she whispered.

“I’m sorry. It’s none of my business. I just worry—” He stopped. She glanced at him, but his focus was directed out his window.

“I appreciate your concern. I really do,” Ava said. “It’s still very fresh.” She felt horrible for shutting down the conversation, but her twin was difficult territory, and she knew Zander understood. He had his own demons he didn’t like to talk about. She knew he’d been married and his wife had passed, but he’d never opened up about it.

Unlike her, who’d spilled her life history when he’d asked.

Maybe she needed to ask him questions about his wife. Her nature was to not pry into what someone didn’t easily share, but it’d always felt right when Zander asked about Jayne. He never gave lip service.

“I’m glad you came back to work. I’d wondered if you would,” Zander said.

Her heart warmed. “I wondered, too. It feels good to be back. It was the right decision for me.”

“Turn left at that next road,” he directed. Ava turned off the winding coastal highway. They’d been following the road for several miles, getting occasional gray glimpses of the ocean. The Oregon Coast was stunning on a sunny day, and even on the gray days it had a wild beauty, but Ava found it depressing after the warmth and energy of the Southern California coasts. The water was icy no matter the time of year.

“I hoped to see the bay,” said Zander. “It’s farther down the highway.”

“We can drive down there when we’re done.”

She followed his directions for another ten minutes, heading east and away from the water. They went around a curve and Zander swore under his breath. News channel satellite trucks lined the road on both sides. Ava scowled at the intruders, wondering how Mason was handling the publicity. He hated press. Especially when it hit close to home.

A sheriff’s deputy stepped into the road and held up his hand. Ava slowed to a stop.

“Our turn,” said Zander.

5

Mason’s heart jumped as Ava stepped out of her vehicle.

Every damn time. All he had to do was see her and his day brightened. She immediately spotted him in the crowd and smiled. Her familiar dark ponytail and warm smile made everything better. He suddenly needed to hear her speak, hear her low voice that always set his stomach aflutter.

Fluttering in a masculine way.

He was pleased to see Zander Wells climb out of the passenger’s side. The agent’s sharp brain never stopped processing, and he brought invaluable deductive skills that Mason wanted for this case.

Denny’s body had just been taken away. Because of his position and the odd circumstances surrounding his death, he was being transported directly to the primary medical examiner’s office in Portland instead of one of the closer morgues. Mason knew Ava and Zander would have preferred to see Denny still in the crime scene for their investigation, but they’d have to settle for photos. He was relieved the FBI had been brought in to assist on the case because it had resources that OSP and the county sheriff could only wish for.

He wanted the best for Denny.

And the worst for his killer.

“That must be the FBI,” Nora said.

“It is. We’re—I mean you are—lucky to have them,” Mason pointed out.

“I agree,” she stated.

“I’m surprised they sent Ava,” added Ray. “You’d think—”

“Detective Lusco,” Nora said sharply. “Don’t tell me you have a problem with them sending a female agent.”

Mason bit the inside of his cheek as Ray stuttered to explain. Before his partner could form a coherent answer, Ava and Zander reached them. Ava didn’t stop but walked straight into Mason’s arms, ignoring their standing rule of avoiding public displays of affection while on the job.

“Oh,” Nora said in a surprised voice. “Sorry, Ray. Now I understand your reaction.”

Mason wrapped his arms around Ava’s shoulders and buried his face in her hair, feeling the stress of the last eight hours abruptly exhaust him. He wanted to find a quiet corner and simply hold her. Maybe that would make Denny’s death exit his brain instead of constantly circling like a bird of prey, never slowing down. It was always present, always demanding his attention, never letting him relax.

“I’m so sorry, Mason,” Ava whispered. “Are you okay?”

“I am now,” he said gruffly, aware of several sets of eyes watching them. They could all go to hell. He needed a minute with her and he was going to take it. He heard Zander introduce himself to Nora Hawes.

Ava pulled back and looked him in the eyes, studying him closely. He must have appeared in control because she turned to Nora, holding out a hand.

“You’re the OSP detective for this case? I’m Special Agent Ava McLane. I’m engaged to Mason, but my boss doesn’t have a problem with me on this case. Do you?”

Detective Hawes automatically took Ava’s hand, sizing her up. “It doesn’t seem right to have an investigator intimately involved with a witness.”

Mason held his tongue. The ball was in Ava’s court, and she didn’t need any help from him.