Excerpt of Included!

DOWN RIVER“He wanted me to come home. He wanted to talk about it in person. I toldhim I wouldn’t come. He got pissed.”“Why did you come, then?”“That’s personal,” I said, and meant it. I wanted my life back, and that includedRobin. But she was not making it easy. She was a cop first, and while Iunderstood that, it still cut.“You need to talk to me, Adam.”“Robin, I appreciate what you’ve said, but I’m not sure where we stand. UntilI know for certain, I’ll proceed as I see fit.”“Adam—”“Grace was assaulted, Danny killed, and every cop in the county is lookingat me and my family. How much of that comes from what happened five yearsago, I don’t know; but I do know this. I’ll do whatever I have to do to protect thepeople I love. I still know this town, still know these people. If the cops aren’tgoing to look deeper than Red Water Farm, then I’ll have to do it myself.”“That would be a mistake.”“I’ve been railroaded once. I’m not going to let it happen again. Not to meor anyone else in my family.”My cell phone rang, so I held up a finger. It was Jamie, and he was stressedout.“It’s the cops,” he said.“What about them?”“They’re searching Dolf ’s house!” I looked at Robin as Jamie yelled in myear. “It’s a freakin’ raid, man!”I closed the phone slowly, watching Robin’s face. “Grantham is searchingDolf ’s house.” Distaste filled my voice. I could see five steps down the road.“Did you know about that?”“I knew,” she said calmly.“Is that the reason that you called me? So that Grantham could do thiswithout me around?”“I thought it would be best if you were not there when he conducted thesearch. So, yes.”145