Page 31 of Secrets Hidden In The Glass

He slowed and turned onto the dirt road for the short ride to the cottage. “I’ll get your—” He hit the brakes when a flash of metal among the trees caught his attention.

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m not sure yet,” he said, putting the Tahoe in reverse and peering farther into the forest. He muttered a swear when he realized Jack Lancaster’s Chevy blazer was parked back on the old overgrown logging trail. “Stay here.” He put the vehicle in Park. “I’ll be back in just a second.”

“Sure.”

He got out and started through the woods, wondering if he was going to find Jack and his three sidekicks toked up on a couple of joints. He unfastened the clip on his gun, even though he wasn’t overly concerned about Jack and his buddies. They tended to be more foolish than anything else. He slowed his approach, noting that the windows were fogged and swore again when he spotted the condom wrapper on the ground just as the Blazer started rocking in an unmistakable rhythm.

Nate gave a tap on the roof, and a head popped up as a girl screamed.

There was a small commotion and Hannah Fenton screamed again. “Oh, my God, Jack, don’t get up. I’m naked.”

Clearly, Jack wasn’t much for listening and rolled the window down a crack.

Nate averted his gaze, not interested in seeing any more than he already had. “Get your clothes on, pick up your trash, and head on out of here.”

“Sure thing, Sheriff.”

“I’ll be back this way in less than ten minutes. I’m sure you’ll be gone by then.”

“Yeah. We will.”

“And keep an eye on your speed, Jack. One more ticket and your license is mine.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Jack muttered as he closed the window.

Nate headed back the way he’d come and got in the Tahoe.

“Is everything okay?”

“Well, I can’t unsee what I just saw, but otherwise things are fine.”

Callie held his gaze, clearly not following.

“One of my typical island troublemakers was bopping his latest gal pal in his back seat.”

Callie’s eyes went huge. “Oh.”

Nate put the Tahoe in Drive and accelerated.

“That must have been…awkward.”

Nate shrugged. “I guess I’ll take sex on an old logging road over drugs or some other problem. Although I have a feeling Hannah won’t be looking me in the eye for quite a while.”

Callie’s wince turned into a grin. “Poor thing.”

He grinned back as he pulled into the cottage driveway. “The three of us will get over it. Something tells me Jack already has.”

Callie chuckled as she reached for the door handle. “Thanks again for today.”

“Tomorrow’s going to be pretty busy for me, so I probably won’t see you until Sunday.”

She nodded and opened the door. “I’ll see you then.”

He waited for her to go inside, then backed out, heading down the road, hoping like hell that Jack was gone. The last thing he wanted to do was go knocking on parents’ doors, telling them their kids were caught screwing in the woods on private property. He slowed down at the spot he’d caught sight of the Blazer the first time around, didn’t see the vehicle, and carried on toward town. Tonight was bound to be long, and tomorrow too. He was already eager for Sunday.