Cowboy intrigue, p.11
Cowboy Intrigue, page 11
“Oh, no. That’s terrible,” she continued. “Tell the sheriff that I’ll swing by as soon as I can arrange a ride.” Another beat passed. “I hit a deer last night.” Silence. “No, I’m okay physically. It just shook me up, so I stayed over at a friend’s house last night near where the incident occurred.”
He shouldn’t take a hit at hearing himself referred to as a friend. Yet, that was exactly what happened, and square in the chest. At least there was a heart beating in there again. No one had made him feel much of anything other than disappointment in far too long. Mika was special. Could he trust his instincts? A voice in the back of his head reminded him those instincts hadn’t let him down so far. More than not, those instincts were spot on.
“I’ll keep you posted,” she said before ending the call. She held the cell in her hand for a long moment, staring. He took it as a sign that she needed a minute or two to regroup. It was obvious the news she’d received wasn’t good.
Hayden fixed a second cup of coffee for her and set it down where she’d been sitting at the island. He turned his attention to Lady, who had positioned herself next to him. The treat bag was within reach, so he gave her a small bacon-flavored nibble.
Mika walked over to them and dropped down in front of Lady. She sat cross-legged and hugged the dog. “Mrs. Lynn, the neighbor who was feeding her was killed yesterday within an hour of me leaving. It happened some time before you took me to my service vehicle.”
“Does law enforcement know the circumstances?” From the charity work his family was involved in, he knew most women were harmed by the person who had sworn to love and protect them. A fight that went too far. An affair. Someone who fell out of love before the other was ready to let go. It sent his blood boiling to think about it. And yet, in this case, he worried the cause was even more sinister.
“No. Her husband was at work, so it couldn’t have been him. His alibi is rock solid because people were around him all day. I saw her after he left for work and she looked fine. Paranoid, but in one piece.”
Did that mean what he thought?
She nodded slightly, as though she could read his thoughts. She’d been cut into pieces?
“Any ideas who might have done such a horrific thing?” he asked.
“She’d been sneaking
the neighbor’s dog, Lady, food. And she didn’t trust the man who lived there one iota. She seemed scared of him,” she said. “As far as her husband knew, she wasn’t in a fight with anyone.” Mika paused. “She seemed like a caring soul. I mean, this girl wouldn’t be alive if not for her.”
Hayden issued a sharp sigh before taking a knee beside Mika and Lady. “I will forever be in her debt for her acts of kindness.”
“There’s more.” Mika hesitated before saying the next part. “The suspect called my boss making all kinds of threats if his dog wasn’t returned by the time he got home tonight.”
“Over my dead body will this sweet girl leave my side.”
There was no hesitation in Hayden’s voice. His compassion for animals was one of the many reasons she was falling in love with him. Love?
Yes. There was no denying the fact she was falling hard for Hayden McGannon. He was everything she could want in an equal partner. Kind. Considerate. Compassionate. Hard working. Fair. Generous beyond measure. Lover of all things animals. Texan through and through. Chivalrous. He lived by a code of honor. And on top of that, the man was so scorching hot she could fry an egg anywhere off his body. So, yeah, she was falling in love with him.
A relationship was something altogether different. They took time. She’d never believed in love at first sight before. Hayden was changing her mind. Because what she felt for him was something far deeper than lust or appreciation for all the things that made him beautiful. And he was beautiful inside and out.
Right now, all she wanted to focus on was the case. Because the kind neighbor had been murdered and now Mika’s accident didn’t feel so random. She gasped suddenly as a thought struck her. “Do you think it’s possible he caused the deer to run out in front of me yesterday? I had the creepy feeling of being watched so much of the time yesterday.” And then something else dawned on her. “And my jacket wasn’t in the spot I normally put it.”
“What jacket?” Hayden really perked up with the last bit of news.
“In my home.” She flashed eyes at him. “Do you think it’s possible he was inside my house?”
“Does anyone know of his whereabouts yesterday?” he asked.
She shook her head. “Not that I know of.”
“So, basically, he could have been in the trailer watching everything go down?”
“That’s right.” A shiver rocked her body at the thought. It was highly possible. “Why wouldn’t he come out and try to stop me then?”
“Witnesses,” he said without missing a beat.
“Would he really be that obvious? I mean, he threatens me and my boss. He kills his neighbor after she intervenes and is seen with me. He makes an attempt on my life.” Could it all be that simple?
“The evidence doesn’t lie. It usually leads straight to the guilty party,” he pointed out. “That being said, I agree this is coming together too easy. This guy is a hothead if he’s making threats, though. And dismembering someone is a very angry way to kill them. He might have snapped off in the heat of the moment. Maybe he was unable to control his rage.”
What Hayden said made perfect sense, and it scared her even more. “His name is out there, then.”
“Meaning?” He cocked a brow.
“He has nothing to lose.” A man who had nothing to lose wasn’t a good person to have targeting her.
“Then, I don’t want you out of my sight either.” He brought his hand up, and then brushed the backs of his fingers against her cheek. “You’ve become too important to me.”
Even though she was starting to get a sense the feelings between them were mutual, his past would always stop him, and her future would be all absorbing. Shame, she thought. What they had could have been special.
“I feel the same way, but we have to be realistic.” She nodded toward his necklace and his hand came up as if protecting it. The move was instinctual, and it seemed to take him a second to catch himself mid-reach.
Slowly, he nodded.
“At least let me stay with you until they catch this creep,” he said.
“If you’re offering a ride to the sheriff’s office, I’ll take it.” She wouldn’t turn down the company or the sense of protection. “Plus, any additional time I get with this girl is a bonus.”
“I’ll pack dinner for her in case we’re out late.” He moved with athletic grace while she sat on the floor with Lady.
Hayden loaded a backpack with supplies. He retrieved a red collar that had sparkly jewels on it. “A new lease on life.”
“Where did you get all this stuff?”
“Derek set me up. He usually keeps a few supplies on hand for just such occasions.” He started to put the collar on Lady but quickly stopped when her ears shot back, and her shackles raised. Not a good sign and Hayden seemed to know it. “You know what? We’ll try it without.”
“I’m wondering if she thinks the sparkle on that is like the chain she had on,” Mika pointed out.
“Could be. She definitely doesn’t want anything around her neck. It’s a risk to take her with us without a leash, but one I’m willing to take if it helps her relax.”
“She’s been your shadow since we got here. I’m hoping that doesn’t change because we move locations.” Lady had been nothing but dedicated to Hayden after getting over the initial hump of fear.
“This should help.” He grabbed the treat bag and tucked it inside the backpack.
The trio headed out after another quick sip of coffee. Lady took up basically the entire backseat. She immediately sprawled out on the blankets that he’d left there from yesterday.
“We can fix you up with a vehicle for a few days until you figure out what to do with insurance,” Hayden offered.
“The agent said all I have to do is swing by and pick one up at the dealership near my home. They’d have all the paperwork ready to sign,” she said. “Thank you for the offer, though.”
Someone having her back for a change was something she could get used to. Other than her mother, and, honestly, she’d done her best, no one had come close. To be fair, Mika had always been independent natured and was never one to ask for help. Most took it to mean she never needed help or a cushion to soften the blows life handed out. It was so not true. Strong people needed support as much as anyone.
The drive to the sheriff’s office took them past the spot of the crash.
“What are the odds someone could frighten a deer just at the moment I drove on this road?” she asked as they passed by the scene.
“You know, I’ve thought about that a lot since the phone call with your boss,” he started. “At your home, you believed someone could have been inside when you were at work. Right?”
“Yes.”
“But there were no obvious signs of break-in?”
“None that I saw. I double-checked every door and window. I probably don’t have to tell you this, but I don’t live in the sort of town where people routinely lock their doors,” she admitted. “I started recently after receiving a few threats but that’s the only reason.”
“And what did you find when you checked everything?”
“The window to my laundry room was unlocked,” she said.
“Someone could have slipped in and out without being detected.”
“Yes.” An icy chill raced down her spine at the thought someone could have been inside her house.
“Have you ever thought about installing an alarm system?” he asked.
“Not until now.” Fear creeped back in, and all this should terrify her, but having him by her side was making it bearable.
14
“Come in, please.” The sheriff motioned for them to take a seat in the chairs opposite her desk. She thanked her administrative assistant. “Do you mind closing the door when you leave?”
The admin nodded and then exited quietly.
“My name is Laney Justice. You can call me Laney,” she said, moving around the desk and offering a firm handshake to where Mika stood next to Hayden.
“I’m Mika Taylor. Pleased to meet you.”
“Hayden, it’s good to see you.” The familiarity shouldn’t bother Mika in the least. And yet, the sheriff was beautiful. She wasn’t wearing a ring. And why wouldn’t Hayden be attracted to her?
Lady came in on Hayden’s heels. The sheriff didn’t give her a second glance. That was another benefit of small towns. No one was shocked when a dog showed up alongside a person. For the most part, people were free to live how they saw fit as long as it wasn’t hurting another person or living thing. The same mindset attracted people who were territorial over what they viewed as their possessions, making her job tricky at times. Especially animal seizures. Those generally didn’t go over well and the job could be considered dangerous.
Would Mika have to rethink her career now that she was basically going to be her mother’s sole support? Mika’s sister was turning out to be a dud, even for an occasional break.
It was good to know whether or not her sister could be counted on, though. Mika needed to make a few adjustments in her plans to care for her mother and realize that Mel wasn’t going to be able to contribute much.
“Can you tell me in your own words exactly what happened yesterday morning?” Laney asked.
Mika relayed every detail she could think of, providing the events in sequence. Laney turned to Hayden next and asked for his side, which he gave in detail.
“The crime against Mrs. Lynn was violent, appearing to be an act of rage,” he pointed out.
“I wouldn’t disagree with that assessment,” Laney said, providing confirmation they were on the right track.
“Do we know who the tenant is?” Mika asked.
Laney compressed her lips and nodded. “His name is Oliver Gaither and he’s from Austin. Or, at least, that’s the alias he gave in order to rent the trailer.”
Mika must’ve looked confused.
“I did a little digging into Oliver Gaither’s background. He died last year,” Laney supplied.
“Murdered or natural causes?” Mika asked.
“Suspicious circumstances.” Laney gave her a look.
“So, this guy has possibly killed before,” Mika stated.
Hayden reached for her hand and held it in his lap. If Laney was thrown off by the gesture, she didn’t show it. To an outsider, it could look like a show of support, nothing more than a kind act.
For Mika, it caused her heart to race and electricity to pulse through her. She would probably regret not sleeping with Hayden last night for the rest of her life. One night of wild abandon and the best sex of her life would…
Never mind. Because the only way to finish that sentence was…break her heart even more when she had to walk away.
No use beating that dead horse.
“Do you have any idea who this guy might actually be?” Hayden’s question broke through her momentary revelry.
“Not yet. I was able to secure a warrant and I went in first thing this morning with a pair of my deputies. We figured the guy was a flight risk and we were right. He took off before we got there. Nothing in the trailer identified him on the spot. However, we collected hair samples and a couple pieces of dirty clothing that had been left behind in the laundry room. As far as fingerprints went, the place looked clean,” she said.
“Not the actions of an innocent person,” Hayden said.
“Afraid not.” Laney clasped her hands and placed them on top of her desk.
“So, the landlord didn’t run credit on the tenant before accepting him?” Mika figured the road was a dead end but it was worth a try.
“The guy paid it all in cash. Security deposit and all. Said he worked construction and a divorce took a hit to his credit. Asked if cash was acceptable, and I don’t know a landlord in the world who would turn down an offer like that,” Laney supplied.
“Didn’t the offer cause any alarm bells to sound?” Mika couldn’t believe anyone would fall for that.
“Apparently not. When I interviewed the landlord, I got the impression the only color he cared about was green,” she said.
“What about complaints on the dog?” Hayden asked. “There had to be some, right?”
“Several. The landlord received the notices and protected his cash cow tenant.” Laney looked to be biting her tongue as to what her personal opinion of someone who would do that was.
“What about a description? Maybe if I knew what the suspect looked like, I could help with where I’ve seen him before,” Mika asked.
“This is where it gets trickier. Otis James has never actually met him. Said he was moving through town on a job and would drop his rent plus deposit in Otis’s mailbox. Asked the landlord to drop a key under the mat after he received payment.”
“So what you’re telling me is this guy is a ghost,” Mika said.
“I’m afraid that’s all we have on him,” Laney agreed. “Mrs. Lynn’s husband said they never actually saw the guy. Not good enough to give a description. The note left behind at the scene of the murder trying to implicate her husband didn’t make any sense.”
“He must’ve written it on the fly,” Mika said. Domestic violence usually was the culprit in situations like these. She’d been around enough law enforcement to know how much they dreaded answering those types of calls. They were the most unpredictable and the most heated.
“DNA testing will take time,” Laney warned. “I wish I had more answers for you. I’m afraid that I’m going to have to tell you to keep your eyes open.”
Mika didn’t think this was the right time to point out the man could walk right by her on the street and she wouldn’t know the difference.
Hayden had no plans to let Mika out of his sight.
“I’ll keep you posted on anything we find out about him. My office is taking his threats seriously.” Laney motioned in the direction of Lady, who was lying down underneath Hayden’s chair. She was curled in a ball and he realized she’d positioned herself so that part of her was touching his leg. “I’m guessing this is the animal in question.”
“Yes, and she belongs to me now,” Hayden didn’t hesitate to defend his claim on her, nor would he. He was ready to go to battle with anyone and everyone over this sweet dog. She deserved nothing less.
“Good. I can’t think of a better home for her,” Laney said before shifting her gaze to Mika. “Based on the threat, this guy has zeroed in on you.”
“I’ve been threatened before. I can handle it.” The reassurance didn’t sit well with Hayden. Mainly because they didn’t even have a name of who they were dealing with, let alone a description. The man killed someone in an incredibly personal and brutal way. They had no idea what his true identity was. All of which left him with an unsettled feeling the size of Houston.
Not to mention the fact that he could stick around for a day or two. But he would need to get back to his work on the ranch. Mika had a life to live. She only had a few days off to get ready for her mother before she’d be back on the job and her mother would return from Colorado.
Complicated didn’t begin to describe the situation she’d be under if they didn’t find this jerk-off. Not to mention the fact they were basically searching for a ghost.
“Someone in town has to have seen this guy. A delivery driver. A postal worker. Someone,” Hayden said.
“I’ll be interviewing everyone. My deputies are already canvassing the neighbors,” Laney offered.
With the houses spread apart, and people valuing their privacy in these parts, getting a description might be difficult. If the guy traveled at night, even worse. He had to have some way to make money, didn’t he? Stocks? Online gambling? With computers and the internet, working from home had become easy as pie. Hayden figured someone could hide out indefinitely between meal deliveries and the internet.
