“I’m gonna turn on the lights,” he said, his voice already sounding farther away. Seconds later, the darkness burst into light and I blinked with a start.

I spun around and separated the slats of the blinds, staring at Seth’s body, which still lay at the edge of the parking lot, alone.

Tears stung my eyes. I couldn’t just stand in the warm bar and leave him alone like that. I’d told him I would stay with him. I had to do something.

When I moved to the door and reached for the doorknob, Max said behind me, “Where do you think you’re goin’?”

“He’s all alone out there,” I said, my voice breaking as I turned around to face him. He was wearing a long-sleeved T-shirt. “He needs someone.”

Shaking his head, he walked straight for me. I noticed the look of devastation in his eyes first, the shirt he was trying to hand me second. “Carly, you’ll catch your death of cold, and there’s not a damn thing you can do for him now. Sit down and put this on while I go call the sheriff.”

“You haven’t called him already?” I asked in dismay.

“No, I was more worried about you.” He reached for me and guided me toward a table. Once I sat, he thrust the shirt into my hand. “Come on, now. Put this on and sit before you pass out. You’re as white as a sheet. I’ll call the sheriff and start a pot of coffee to warm you up.”

He waited for a second to make sure I started to put on the shirt, then took off for the back, leaving me alone again.

My hands had begun to shake, and it took me several attempts to put on the shirt. It was a thermal shirt, much like the one I’d left on Seth’s body, only much larger. The sleeves engulfed my hands. But as I pulled up the fabric, I saw the deep red staining my fingers.

My vision turned spotty again, and I lowered myself into the chair, nearly missing it as panic engulfed me.

I’d just witnessed a murder. I’d seen the men who did it. I’d seen their getaway vehicle. And the dying boy had told me not to tell the sheriff what I knew.

What was I going to do?

I needed to get the hell out of Drum.

“Thanks, Marco,” Max said, his voice carrying from the back. “See you when you get here.” He appeared around the corner, studying me with worry in his eyes. “Would you rather have some tea or hot soup instead of coffee?”

I stared at him as though he’d spoken in Mandarin.

“I need to talk to Wyatt.”

Max’s eyes widened in shock and he took a step toward me. “What? Why?”

“I have to get out of here.”

He hurried across the room and squatted in front of me, taking my wrists in his hands. “Carly. It’s gonna be okay.”

I slowly shook my head, my unshed tears making his face blurry.

“You’re in shock is all. I already called Ruth. She’s much better at handlin’ crises.”

I started to cry. “I have to go home.”

It was an empty sentiment, and I knew it—I could never go back to Dallas. My friends in Arkansas might have some advice, but I could only call them from my burner phone and I didn’t get cell service up here. I was good and truly stuck.

Max gave me a warm smile. “You’re safe. I won’t let anything happen to you, okay?”

I appreciated the sentiment, so I nodded, but I didn’t feel safe. I wasn’t sure I’d ever feel safe again.

“Why don’t you tell me what happened?” he said in a soft, quiet voice.

I opened my mouth to tell him—then stopped. If I told Max the entire truth, there was a good chance he’d tell the sheriff. Even if he agreed to keep it quiet, what if the murderers found out either of us knew something? I was certain at least one of those guys had been in the bar earlier. Would they kill Max? I had no doubt they would kill me.

His brow furrowed. “Carly. I promise you’re safe.”

“I heard a noise outside and found Seth lying on the ground. Bleeding.”

He frowned. “How’d you know his name? I didn’t see him in the bar last night.”

I took a shaky breath and let it out. “He told me.”

His eyes went wide. “He was alive when you found him? Did he tell you who did it?”

I shook my head, a little too fast and insistent, and hoped Max didn’t realize I was lying. “No.” Then a new thought hit me. Drum was a very small town. “Did you know him?”

He sank back on his heels, still holding my hand, and for the first time, his face fell. “He was a good kid.” His voice broke and he cleared his throat. “I coached him in football and baseball a few years back before his momma died last year.” He paused. “His granddad’s gonna take it hard.”

I needed to see his grandfather, but now didn’t seem like a good time to bring that up. “I’m so sorry.”

Surprise filled his eyes. “Why are you sorry? You held his hand as he died, and you tried to save him. There was nothin’ else you could have done.”

“Someone beat him up,” I said, my panic rising again. “They beat him up and shot him. Why?”

He shook his head, his lips pressed into a thin line. “I don’t know, but if the sheriff doesn’t take this seriously, I know a few guys who will be more than happy to look into it. Everyone loved Seth.”

Well, apparently not everyone.

“Do you remember anything else he said?” Max asked.

Could I trust Max? I sure hoped so, but Seth had made it clear he only wanted me to talk to one person. His grandfather could decide whether he wanted to share what little Seth had told me. I’d be long gone by the time Max found out I’d lied—if he found out—but it still hurt my heart to be dishonest to someone who’d been so kind.

I shook my head. “I asked him what his name was and told him I’d get him help.” Tears were flowing down my cheeks again. “I lied to him, because I didn’t get him help at all. I lied to a dying boy.”

He gave me a soft smile and squeezed the back of my hand. “You didn’t lie. You tried to get him help, but the closest medical facility is half an hour away, and it’s not even a trauma center. He was shot in the chest. Twice. There was no savin’ him, Carly.” His voice cracked and he looked down, his cheeks flushing. He swiped his face and got to his feet. “I’m gonna check on that pot of coffee.”

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak, not that he stuck around to hear anything I might have said. Max’s shoulders shook a little as he rounded the corner. The realization that Seth was dead had to be hitting him full force.

I glanced down at my hands, feeling the urge to wash them. I wasn’t sure if the sheriff’s department would want to see them as part of their investigation. Which was when I realized there was something else that would interest them.

My gun.

I jumped out of the seat and ran for the front door, but just as I got it open, I saw flashing lights in the distance.

The sheriff was just down the street.

Oh crap. Oh crap. Oh crap.

My gun was on the ground next to Seth, but there was no way I’d be able to run over there and retrieve it and run back. The sheriff’s deputy would see me.

I was screwed.

“Carly!” Max called out behind me.