Colter turned.
A man emerged between the trees.
He appeared to be in his early forties, thin and breathless, wearing work boots, faded jeans, and a gray shirt darkened with sweat.
He stopped when he saw the bikers.
His hands immediately lifted.
“I’m not looking for trouble.”
Anna stiffened.
“Noah.”
The man looked at her bandaged ankle.
“You fell.”
“You knew that floor was rotten.”
“Yes.”
“And you followed us out here anyway.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Noah looked at Lily.
“Because I knew she was with you.”
Anna’s anger faltered slightly.
He took a slow step closer.
“When I saw your car turn onto Cedar Hollow Road, I knew where you were going.”
“You could have explained.”
“I tried.”
“You told me to go home.”
“Because I thought that was better than telling you the truth beside a gas station.”
Colter moved between them without making the gesture threatening.
“What truth?”
Noah studied him.
“Who are you?”
“Somebody Lily found on the highway.”
To Colter’s surprise, Noah smiled faintly.
“That sounds like Lily.”
“You know her?”
“I’ve fixed Anna’s furnace twice.”
Anna crossed her arms.
“And apparently kept secrets the rest of the time.”
Noah’s smile vanished.
“Yes.”
Sirens could now be heard faintly in the distance.
Anna looked at the cellar again.
“What is under there?”
Noah did not answer.
She raised her father’s tag.
“And why was this lying beside your truck tracks?”
Noah’s gaze dropped to the disk.
“Because it was in my glove compartment.”
Anna stared.
“You had this?”
“For nine days.”
“Where did you get it?”
“My father.”
Anna seemed confused.
“Caleb Reed?”
Noah nodded.
“He died last month.”
“I heard.”
“Before he died, he gave me a metal box.”
Noah swallowed.
“Inside were a map, that tag, and a letter.”
“From whom?”
“My father.”
Anna’s eyes sharpened.
“What did it say?”
Noah looked toward the broken cabin.
“That he had lied for twenty-seven years.”
No one spoke.