Cold Case at Cardwell Ranch

by B. J Daniels

  “Easy for you to say,” her brother said.

  “He’s right,” Stacy said.

  Dana added, “It’s too dangerous. There has to be another way.”

  “I don’t believe we’ve met,” Hud said to Waco as he got to his feet. Waco shook hands with the legendary marshal.

  “Detective Waco Johnson. Nice to meet you, Marshal.”

  “You must be Jeremiah.” Hud turned to the other person he had yet to be introduced to. “I’m Marshal Hud Savage.”

  “Another cop,” Jeremiah said under his breath.

  Hud wondered how long it would take Dana’s love to turn this punk around.

  It was clear to Hud that no one wanted common sense right now. He looked at Waco. “Detective, what do you suggest we do now?”

  The room fell silent.

  * * *

  “I NEED TO speak with Ella alone,” Waco said as calmly as he could.

  “You can use my den down the hall.” Hud rose and reached for his Stetson where he’d hung it by the door. “I need some fresh air.”

  Waco waited for Ella to rise and follow him. She stepped into the marshal’s den and he closed the door behind them.

  His emotions were all over the place. Ella had scared him badly because he’d gotten to know how she thought. He’d known belatedly that she would go to the Hanover place. On top of that, her plan had been sound—it was one he would have implemented himself. In fact, he’d been considering something like it. The worst part was that the plan had a better chance of working with it coming from her—something he couldn’t allow for a lot of reasons.

  “I’d like to turn you over my knee.”

  She grinned at him. “Maybe when this is over.”

  “Ella, I’m serious. You scared me.”

  “I’m sorry.” She met his gaze. “I did what I knew had to be done.”

  “Without telling me.” This, he told himself, was why a lawman didn’t get involved with anyone he was trying to protect. But it was too late for that. If anything, this had shown him just how emotionally involved he was with Ella.

  Still, he couldn’t believe she’d taken such a risk. Jeremiah, too.

  “Do you have any idea what could have happened to the two of you if one of them turns out to be a murderer?” he asked Ella calmly.

  “One of them is a murderer,” Ella said. “This way, we find out which one.”

  Waco let out an oath. “That’s just it. We don’t know who—if any or all of them—is guilty of murder. You have taken a hell of a chance. I can’t let you do this.”

  “You want this case over quickly?” she asked just as calmly. “It’s already done. All I have to do is take them the key and a copy of the will.”

  He shook his head. “I can lock you up if I have to. You’re interfering in an ongoing investigation, which is a criminal offense.”

  She didn’t have to speak. He could see the determination in every curve of her amazing body—not to mention in the depths of those green eyes. “The only way you’ll stop me is to arrest me.” She held out her wrists. “Better pull out those cuffs, Detective. I was hoping we wouldn’t use them until all of this was over, but if you insist.”

  Waco looked at her and shook his head as he closed the distance between them. “You think I won’t?” he whispered as he stopped just a breath away from her. Their gazes locked. “I need to go back out there and assure your family that I’m not going to get you killed.”

  The smile reached her eyes before her lips even curved. “You can do it, Detective. I have faith in you.”

  He scoffed. “I don’t want to lose you.”

  “You won’t. I promise.” She rose on tiptoes to brush a kiss across his lips. When she pulled back, she almost looked contrite. “I really am sorry I scared you. But I knew if I told you what I had planned, you would try to stop me.”

  He nodded. “You’re right about that. You’ve put yourself in danger. You’re a civilian out of your league. You have to know that.”

  “After that kiss by the creek, I figured you’d have my back when the time came. That’s why I was waiting for the kiss.”

  Waco swore under his breath and closed the minimal distance between them. “You knew I was going to kiss you?”

  She shrugged. “Why do you think I took you down by the creek so the others couldn’t see us? I figured with means, motive and opportunity...”

  He felt his blood heat under his skin. “What am I going to do with you?”

  Ella grinned. “I’m sure you’ll think of something.”

  “You aren’t taking this seriously,” he said, his voice hoarse with desire.

  “Oh, I am.” She wrapped her arms around his neck. “This is all new for me, too.”

  “I was talking about catching a murderer,” he said.

  Her grin broadened. “So was I. Waco, you and me...this? It surprises me just as much as it does you. That’s why I’m just as afraid for you as you are for me.”

  He wondered about that, but wasn’t about to argue the point. They had a lot more to argue about. But he wasn’t interested in doing either right now. He lowered his mouth to hers, desperately needing to taste her again.

  They held each other when the kiss was over, both breathing hard. He could feel that she knew what was at stake by the way she hugged him. The next few days might be the most dangerous of their lives. He couldn’t bear the thought of losing her after only just now finding her.

  She pulled her head back to look up at him. “We can do this.”

  He nodded, even though he wasn’t sure if they were talking about the plan to catch the murderer or the two of them and where this appeared to be headed.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  When Waco and Ella returned to the living room, he looked around and cleared his voice. “What we all want is Marvin Hanover’s killer caught so we can put this behind us.” He saw Hud come in and, having heard, raise an eyebrow. But the marshal was smart and one step ahead already. He’d figured out how this had to go down. He already knew what Waco was going to say.

  “The way I see it, we need to flush out the killer and quickly,” Waco continued, knowing that none of them was going to want to hear the rest of this.

  “I’m not condoning Ella’s actions, but the plan was a solid one.” He rushed on before the marshal and everyone else in the room could object.

  “The Hanovers were going to find out about Jeremiah. Maybe it’s better they found out this way. We know that they know. Jeremiah should be safe as long as he stays here on the ranch. Also,” he hurried on, “because of the deal Ella made with the Hanover family, they want her alive, as well.”

  “Deal?” Stacy cried. “You can’t let her—”

  “Let’s hear the detective out,” Hud interrupted. “Detective Johnson is right. The only way to keep everyone safe is to solve this case. Ella, right or wrong, has set the wheels in motion.” The marshal looked to Waco.

  “Thank you, Marshal,” he said. “None of us likes this. We have to figure out what to do now.”

  “We draw out the killer and put an end to it,” Ella said. “And we do our best to keep my brother alive,” she added with a smile for Jeremiah.

  “I feel safer already,” he muttered sarcastically.

  “Let’s discuss this in my den,” Hud said. “Just the three of us.”

  “Hey, you’re not leaving me out of this. It’s my neck on the line,” Jeremiah said. “I’m part of this family now.”

  Waco sighed under his breath.

  “Fine. The four of us in my den,” Hud said. “As for you, Stacy...”

  “Stacy, come into the kitchen with me.” Dana quickly cut off whatever the marshal was about to say. “I think we should get dinner started. Don’t you?”

  Stacy looked as if she might argue, but rose with a glare at the detecti
ve as she followed her sister toward the kitchen.

  Waco and the others went into the marshal’s den.

  “Let me say up front that I don’t like any of this,” Hud said as he closed the door behind them. He waved each to a seat before he looked at Waco.

  “Nor do I,” Waco said. “If anyone takes the key to them, it should be me.”

  Ella shook her head. “There is only one way my plan will work. I take the key. And I go alone. And you all know it. Uncle Hud, I know you’ve used civilians before to bring down crooks. So wire me up and let’s do this.”

  “What about me?” Jeremiah asked, only to have them all glare at him.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  After Hud and Jeremiah left them alone in the den, Waco pointed out to Ella all the things that could go wrong. What if someone in the family simply took the key away from her? What if she went into that house and was never seen or heard from again?

  But, ultimately, Ella convinced him that the key was the one thing that would flush out the killer. “If the key my mother took from her husband really is the real one, then it will open the door to the family’s alleged fortune. If that happens, then the family will more than likely kill each other over it than me. We all know they aren’t going to split it with me. They don’t have to kill me. They can just tell me to get lost. My mother stole the key. What recourse do I have?”

  “Let’s not forget that Jeremiah is the legal heir to that money,” Waco pointed out.

  “Allegedly, but once the money is found and dispersed, they will be the only ones who know how much was there to start with. It will be my word against theirs. Also, you know they can contest the will and drag it all out for years,” she said.

  “Ella, that’s if they don’t take the key away from you and you never see what it opens.”

  She smiled at Waco. “I won’t let that happen. They’ll be suspicious of the key. It’s just that once the key works and they open the hiding place, the fireworks might start. I’ll keep my head down until you get there.”

  He didn’t like it, but he told himself he planned to be there before the fireworks started.

  Ella pulled out her phone and made the call.

  Lionel answered.

  “I’ll come alone but my brother will know where I went—just in case you aren’t planning to let me walk away from this.” She met Waco’s blue eyes. “That’s good to hear. See you tonight.” She disconnected. “It’s all set.”

  Waco shook his head. “I’d feel better if you were home on the ranch watching out for your brother and mother.”

  “They’ve managed just fine for years without my help,” she said.

  Waco held her gaze. He could see that it still hurt her, her mother’s secret. But she’d get over it in time. He’d come to realize that Ella couldn’t hold a grudge for long. “I’m serious. I don’t want anything to happen to you. You’ve met these people. They’re scary, and I’m afraid that at least one of them is a killer. Maybe more. Promise me you’ll do just as we rehearsed.”

  She couldn’t make that promise because she might have to improvise. She stepped up to him so quickly that she caught him off balance. Her plan was simply to kiss him so he wouldn’t notice that she hadn’t promised. But once her mouth was on his, she couldn’t stop herself. It turned into a real kiss, so much so that even if it didn’t take his mind off the nonexistent promise, it certainly did hers.

  Nor did it help when he pulled her closer, prolonging the kiss. She could honestly say that her body tingled all the way to the toes of her Western boots. She felt as if she were flying. It wasn’t until he lowered her to the den floor that she realized it hadn’t all been the kiss that had made her feel airborne.

  The door opened and Hud came into the room. He glanced at the two of them as Waco was just setting her down. Her uncle merely shook his head, mumbled something under his breath and handed Ella a copy of the written will Stacy had provided.

  Ella took it, folded it carefully and shoved it into her pocket.

  “Ready?” Hud said to Waco as he turned and left the den.

  “I have to go,” Waco said, his voice sounding rougher than usual. “Your uncle and I have to get ready. Don’t...” He must have realized that he might as well save his breath. “Just be careful. Please.” He gave her a quick kiss and hurried out of the house to climb into the marshal’s SUV.

  Ella watched him go, wondering if she would ever see him again.

  * * *

  “YOU HAVE THE KEY?” Lionel demanded as he opened the door to her and looked out at the dark street anxiously. He was dressed in tan slacks, leather loafers and what appeared to be a burgundy velvet smoking jacket over a button-up shirt. It was almost as if he’d dressed for the occasion.

  With a nod, Ella said, “Of course I have the key. And the will.”

  He studied the street a moment before he said, “You came alone?”

  “Wasn’t that the deal?” she asked as she patted her right-hand leather jacket pocket and stepped past him into the house.

  “Good evening,” she said to the others gathered by the fire. A blaze burned in the huge stone fireplace, and still the large room held a chill. Mercy had been lying on the couch, but now sat up. She wore jeans and a sweatshirt. She must not have gotten the memo from her brother about proper attire for the event. Angeline sat close to the fire in her wheelchair, a shawl around her shoulders and a lap quilt over her legs. She drained the last of her wine and put down the glass, her hand shaking. The only one missing was Mercy’s boyfriend. Trevor. Her uncle Hud had told her earlier that he’d been picked up on a local drug raid and was behind bars.

  “It’s nice of you to make it, Mercy,” Ella said. “Of course, I knew you would be here, Angeline.”

  Behind Ella, Lionel said with growing impatience, “Let’s see the key.”

  “Let’s see what it opens first,” she said, both hands in her jacket pockets. The key was palmed in one, her cell phone in the other, with Waco listening to the conversation nearby, waiting to make his move.

  Ella could feel Lionel’s gaze on her. He was suspicious. But if he tried to take the key, Waco would be here in an instant. She couldn’t let that happen. She needed Lionel to show her what this key opened. She needed him to show himself for the killer she suspected he was.

  “You better not be lying about bringing the key. The right key,” he said threateningly.

  She wondered what would happen if she was lying, but she wasn’t sure she wanted to know. “It’s the key.” As she moved deeper into the living room, she wasn’t surprised to see Mercy looking just as anxious as Lionel now appeared.

  Behind her, she heard him slam the large front door and lock it soundly. He stepped around her and, turning to face her, said, “The key, please.”

  Ella took the key from her pocket and held it up—out of his reach. The dim light caught on it for an instant before she repocketed it. “First, I want to see what it opens. Then I’ll be happy to hand it over,” Ella said. “It’s only fair, don’t you think? You don’t trust me. I don’t trust you. So why don’t we do this together?”

  He seemed to consider that, looking from her to his sisters. “You’re assuming that I know what it opens.”

  Ella laughed. “What is the point of the key if you don’t?”

  Silence filled the room. They were all looking at Lionel, especially Mercy and Angeline. It appeared that he’d been holding out on them.

  Even more interesting, no one had asked to see the will. Because it didn’t matter. They were planning to take the money and run—after they killed her?

  * * *

  WACO COULDN’T REMEMBER the last time he’d been this nervous. Ella was doing great—just as he’d known she would. He admired the hell out of her. At the same time, he was terrified that something would go wrong. He’d used civilians before—just as most law enforc
ement had. Sometimes sending them in with a wire was the only way to get a conviction. While he could hear what was going on through his earbud, he had wanted to wire Ella for sound.

  Surprisingly, it had been Hud who’d talked him out of it.

  “They might be expecting that,” the marshal had said. “If they check her and find a wire...” He didn’t have to spell it out. “Supposedly she is acting on her own. Even if they find the phone, she’s safer. They’ll still think she’s alone in this. We have to play it that way. But we’ll be right outside.”

  “Yes,” Waco had said with a groan. She’d done this on her own. It was so Ella. So much like the woman he was falling deeper and deeper in love with by the day.

  Now he waited to hear Lionel’s answer. He could almost feel the tension in that room as they all waited. What if Ella was wrong? What if the key wasn’t that important to them because they had no idea what it opened? What if—?

  * * *

  ELLA FEARED FOR a moment that none of them knew what the key opened—which would blow her theory completely out of the water.

  But then Lionel sighed heavily. “I think I might know what the key will open,” he finally said, and she breathed again. “Come this way.” He began to lead them deeper into the monstrous house. Ella realized that it might be a trap. That he’d get them all back here and—

  “This is one long hallway,” she said. “How large is this place, anyway?” She hated that her voice broke on the last word. The house was so large that even with the house plans from the county, how would anyone be able to find her?

  She tried to concentrate. Now was not the time to have second thoughts about what she was doing. She was pretty sure they were headed to the north wing of the mansion. The other two followed, Angeline bringing up the last of the conga line in her wheelchair, wheels squeaking.

  “It would be easy to get turned around in this place, huh,” Ella said. “Are we headed east? No, north, right?” But no one answered her question. “North,” she said more to herself. She hoped she sounded excited and not scared. But only a fool wouldn’t be scared, and she was no fool.