Cowboy Bounty Hunter

by Lori Wilde

  “Too much?” Gracie pulled her in for a hug. “Too much is taking in a sullen, gawky fifteen-year-old girl who couldn’t stop crying and showing her how to find joy in life every day.”

  “You’re my pride and joy,” Aunt Jolene said, hugging her tightly.

  After a long moment, Gracie stepped back, laughing as she wiped tears from her cheeks. “I just need to warn you, there’s no hugging in the boardroom. But I hope you consider the position anyway. I’d love to have you there.”

  "I don't have to consider it," Aunt Jolene replied, holding out her hand. "I’m in."

  "You mean it?" Gracie exclaimed, then let out a whoop as she grabbed her aunt’s hand and gave it a warm squeeze. “I’ll tell Michael to start drawing up your employment contract today.”

  “It looks like Merle Fry just might be the best thing that ever happened to me,” Jolene mused. “Turns out he was the catalyst to saving this wonderful building and launching a new career. The solution to my problems was right in front of my eyes the whole time! I just couldn’t see it.”

  Jolene breathed a happy sigh as she rounded the front counter and picked up an empty box. “Well, I’d better start packing up the shop. I’ve got a historical landmark to sell.”

  Gracie couldn’t stop smiling, still awed by the sudden turn her aunt’s life had just taken.

  And the solution had been right in front of her eyes.

  Maybe Gracie had been looking at her problem the wrong way, too. She walked back to the stool and pulled the videotape out of her purse. After watching it a hundred times, she still had no clue as to why it was so important to Gilbert. But what if the reason wasn't on the tape. What if it was inside the tape?

  There was only one way to find out.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Gracie stood outside the Hay Springs Bank, staring at the silver key in her hand and wondering if she should continue to follow her instincts.

  She'd been right about the video, finding the key taped on the inside of the cassette case. Now the question was where this key would lead her. Gracie needed to know the answer before she met with Gilbert. The tape was ruined now, since she'd been unable to put it back together after prying it open. And she wasn't about to just hand over the key.

  Especially since she had a good idea where to find the lock that it opened.

  Eleven years ago, she'd been with Gilbert when he'd leased a safe-deposit box at this very bank. He'd just started a computer repair business back then and planned to keep the income separate from his checking account so he wouldn't be tempted to spend all his earnings.

  Gracie had forgotten all about it until she'd found the key. It was smaller than a house key, looking almost identical to the one kept by her aunt for her safe-deposit box at the same bank.

  Even after all these years, she hadn't forgotten the number to Gilbert's box. He'd laughed when the bank clerk had assigned the number to him, saying all he had to do was think of Gracie's June tenth birthday to remember the number.

  Gracie swallowed a sigh, realizing how different Gilbert was then from the man she'd seen in the warehouse. More open and easygoing, less paranoid and tense. The past ten years hadn't been good to him.

  Though, she supposed hiding out from Sam, as well as the people who wanted to shut him up, could do that to a man. Gracie just wished he'd confided in her sooner. Maybe she could have found some way to help him.

  She still might have that chance now.

  Taking a deep breath, she walked inside the bank, wondering how she was going to convince them to let her have access to that safe-deposit box when she didn't even have an account there.

  Then she saw her old classmate, Lila Atley, standing behind one of the teller windows. As a new employee, she probably didn't know all the bank's customers yet. As an avid gossip, she might be willing to bend the rules in exchange for some juicy information.

  "Well, hello there," Lila said as Gracie walked up to her window. "You disappeared from the reunion the other night. What happened?"

  "Gilbert and I wanted to reminisce in private."

  Lila heaved a wistful sigh. "Lucky you. I was hoping for a chance to reminisce with him myself, but I guess you had first dibs."

  Gracie leaned closer. "Actually, it turns out he wasn't Gilbert."

  Her eyes widened. "What?"

  "He was a bounty hunter impersonating Gilbert as part of his investigation."

  "No way!"

  "It's true," Gracie said. "I don't know all the details, but Allison Webb is involved."

  "Well, that's no surprise," Lila replied. "That woman never was up to any good." Then she reached for the cordless phone in front of her. "I've got to call my mother. She'll just flip out when she hears this."

  Gracie held up the key in her hand. "I need to check a safe-deposit box."

  "Oh, sure," Lila replied, handing over the prep key that fit in all the boxes.

  Gracie knew a safe-deposit box in this bank couldn't be opened by one key alone. That was part of the bank's security feature. The prep key had to be inserted first, then the key she'd found in the videotape could open the box. If her instincts were right about it.

  "Just bring back the prep key when you're through," Lila said, already punching in the numbers on her phone.

  It had been easier than Gracie had imagined.

  A moment later she stood inside the vault, her gaze scanning the rows upon rows of safe-deposit boxes until she saw the number she wanted: 610.

  She walked over to the box, a knot in her stomach, then inserted the prep key into the lock, followed by the key she'd found in the cassette. A soft click sounded, then the box popped open.

  She pulled it out and set it on the table, her heart thudding in her chest. Was there cash in there? Precious jewels? Drugs or other contraband? Ready for anything, she opened the lid. But Gracie wasn't prepared for what she saw inside.

  It was a computer flash drive.

  A small black flash drive. She picked it up, turning it over in her hand. Another mystery. But this time she knew it wouldn't take her as long to figure it out. All she had to do was go home and fire up her computer.

  And figure out what she was going to tell Sam.

  But her time ran out when Sam met her at the door of her house.

  "Where have you been?" he asked, pulling her into his arms. "I was starting to worry."

  She savored his embrace, despite knowing this might be their last evening together. Sam seemed perfect for her in so many ways. But the greatest test was yet to come.

  "I stopped by the bank in Hay Springs on my way home." She stepped out of his arms. "I figured out the secret of the videotape, Sam."

  He smiled. "I know how hard you've worked on this, Gracie, but there is no secret. Dorie Phillips confessed that it was all a ruse."

  She pulled the flash drive out of her purse. "Then why did I find a key inside the tape cassette? A key that opened a security deposit box at the Kendall State Bank with this flash drive in it?"

  His brow creased as he took the flash drive from her. "What the hell is this?"

  "It's proof that I was right about Gilbert. Allison and Dorie are the ones pulling the ruse, trying to set him up to take the blame for everything."

  Sam shook his head. "We don't know that for sure."

  "Then let's put this in my computer and find out. 1 have a feeling that everything we need to know is right here."

  Thirty minutes later, Gracie was proven right.

  "Holloway's got it all," Sam said, scrolling through the pages of information on the computer screen. "Everything we need to file charges. Names. Dates. Every transaction that's connected to the credit card thefts. Gilbert must have saved it all to this flash drive before erasing it from his computer’s hard drive. We've spent months looking for this stuff."

  Gracie couldn't believe it was almost over. "It's pretty clear that Allison and Dorie were the ones stealing the numbers. Either to use for themselves or to sell to the highest bidder. Gilbert was
the gullible middleman."

  Sam turned in his chair, taking her hands in his own. "All this proves is that Gilbert wanted some insurance. Dorie told us that he's the mastermind behind this entire scheme."

  Gracie wanted to scream. After everything that had happened between them, he still wouldn't budge from his misconception about Gilbert. He still wouldn't believe in her.

  "You're wrong," she told him. "But the only way I can prove it to you is by going to that warehouse tonight and confronting Gilbert."

  Sam's face hardened. " Gilbert's not even going to be there. It's all a setup. Allison is supposed to arrive at the same time you do. It's not safe, Gracie. That woman hates you."

  "Gilbert wouldn't do that to me." Gracie cupped Sam's face with her hands, entreating him to believe in her. "If you care about me at all, you'll let me do this. Maybe Gilbert isn't completely innocent in all of this, but I want to help him. As his friend, that's the least I can do."

  Anguish shone in Sam's dark eyes. She knew she was putting him in a difficult position—making him prove his love for her by letting her do something he thought might be risky. But Gracie didn't have any other choice. She couldn't plan a future with him if he couldn't agree to meet her halfway.

  "Dang it, Gracie, don't ask me to do this. I can't let you go in there alone. Not after what happened to Ray."

  "I'll be fine," she promised him. "I'm not Ray. And Gilbert's not the one who shot him. You've got to trust me on this, Sam."

  He didn't say anything for so long that she almost gave up hope. Then he met her gaze and the expression in his eyes told her that she'd won.

  "You have to wear a wire," he bit out, "so I can hear what's going on inside. The second I think it's too dangerous, I'm coming in. Understand?"

  She leaned forward and gently kissed his lips, aware of how difficult this was for him. "Perfectly. Do you understand how much this means to me?"

  He pulled her to him, his embrace so tight she could barely breathe. "I must be crazy to let you do this."

  For the first time, Gracie wavered in her conviction of Gilbert's innocence. If he was guilty as Sam believed, then she was putting her loyalty to him above the man she loved. But at this point, she didn't have a choice.

  "I hate to say it." Sam pulled away from her. "But we'd better go."

  She nodded, then took a deep breath. Soon she'd know which one of them was right about Gilbert. She just hoped their relationship could survive the outcome.

  #

  A light rain fell as Gracie stood a few blocks from the warehouse, letting Sam adjust her jacket around the wire she wore to record her conversation with whomever showed up—either Gilbert or Allison.

  Four other Pine City police officers stood nearby, talking quietly to each other around their unmarked cars. They were parked between two buildings and behind a row of pine trees, well hidden from view.

  "Keep it short," Sam instructed her, gently untucking her hair from the collar of her jacket. "Let Allison do most of the talking. Just enough to incriminate herself on tape. Then get out of there."

  He still wasn't ready to admit that Gilbert would keep his word to her. But she had no doubt about who was meeting her tonight. "I'll be all right."

  Sam met her gaze. "I'm counting on it."

  She wanted to tell him that she was falling in love him. That he was the man who mattered most to her, not Gilbert. But this wasn't the time or the place, not with those other cops close enough to hear her.

  Thunder rumbled in the sky, threatening a downpour at any moment. Gracie suppressed a shiver, though the night air was still hot and humid.

  Luke Rafferty walked up to them. "Are you ready?"

  Gracie nodded, her throat too tight to speak.

  "It's not too late to change your mind," Sam said. "You don't need to do this."

  "Yes," she replied softly. "I do."

  He stared at her for a moment, then gave a jerky nod, turning away as she climbed into her car.

  Gracie switched on the engine, then pulled onto the street, feeling more vulnerable than ever now that she was on her own. Sam and the other officers would move closer to the warehouse once she was inside. She just hoped she didn't blow it.

  Lightning flashed when she reached the warehouse, as if warning her away. She shook herself, realizing she was letting Sam's fears for her safety infect her. This was Gilbert, after all. Her best friend. The man she'd always been able to trust.

  The raindrops spattering on her windshield multiplied and she knew if she didn't get out of the car soon, she'd get soaked. Taking a deep breath, she tipped her chin toward the wire and said, "I'm going in."

  She could feel the wire move when she reached for her purse and hoped she hadn't dislodged it. Then she opened the car door and made a run for the warehouse. Rain dampened her hair and eyelashes, blurring her vision.

  The door opened before she got there, Gilbert standing on the other side. She breathed a sigh of relief that he'd been the one to meet her.

  "Hey, you made it," he said. "I was starting to worry."

  "Sorry, I'm late." Gracie wiped the moisture out of her eyes.

  "No problem." Gilbert smiled. "I knew you'd come."

  He trusted her, not knowing she was wired and that the police were only a short distance away. But she wasn't doing this to trap him, only to help him. If Sam was right and Gilbert was more involved than she believed, he'd need all the help he could get.

  "Did you bring the tape?" he asked.

  She pushed her damp bangs off her forehead. "No."

  He frowned. "But Gracie, I need—"

  "I found the key," she interjected.

  Gilbert froze. "What?"

  As soon as she saw his reaction, something inside of her withered. Sam was right. Gilbert wasn't an innocent dupe in this case. "Inside the video cassette. The key to your old safe-deposit box at the bank."

  He rubbed one hand over the back of his neck, obviously buying some time to think. "So... do you have the key with you now?"

  "No." She didn't elaborate, wanting him to explain exactly what was going on, to make her understand how the boy she'd known so well could have changed so much in the past ten years.

  Gilbert met her gaze. "Don't look at me like that, Gracie. You don't know what it's been like."

  "Then tell me."

  He got up and started to pace across the dusty concrete floor. "We both had such big plans back in high school. I was going to get a full scholarship to MIT and get a job at NASA. Rub elbows with the astronauts..." Gilbert turned to face her, bitterness turning down the corners of his mouth. "Well, we both know that neither of those dreams came true for me. I ended up doing IT work like a million other guys, barely making ends meet."

  "But you went to Boston College and got a degree," she said, amazed at the self-pity she heard in his voice. "That's a great school."

  "Yeah, but I bombed out with the women there just like I did in high school. None of my dreams ever came true. Nobody ever really cared about me except you, Gracie."

  She rose to her feet, wishing he'd confided all of this to her sooner, before he'd gotten in so deep. "I still care about you, Gilbert. That's why I want to help you now. It's time to turn yourself in to the police. You know I'll stand by you all the way."

  One of the cardboard boxes stacked around them tumbled to the floor, startling them both. Gracie looked over to see Allison appear from behind the stack, a gun in her hand and an implacable expression on her thin face.

  "That isn't going to happen, is it, Gilbert?" Allison said, moving beside him.

  He looked between the two of them, clearly torn. "Allison, this isn't necessary. Gracie's not the enemy."

  "The way I see it, she is." Allison's cheeks grew mottled with anger.

  Gilbert shook his head. "Gracie's just a friend. You're the only woman I love."

  "Then why did you send her the tape with the darn key?" Allison exclaimed. "You've delayed leaving this hick town until you could explain everyt
hing to her. Now she's the only one who can stop us." She trained the gun on Gracie. "Unless I stop her first."

  "Look, I—" Gracie began, wanting to defuse the situation.

  But Allison wasn't going to give her the chance. "Say good night, Gracie."

  Then she pulled the trigger.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Sam’s heart lurched in his chest when he heard the gunshot echo over the headset.

  Gracie.

  Fear tightened his throat and cramped the muscles in his gut. He tore off the headset, then raced toward the warehouse, his legs as heavy as lead.

  Why had he ever let her go in there alone? He'd known it was dangerous. Known she didn't understand how desperation could drive people to do something crazy. Now Gracie had paid the price for his bad judgment.

  Voices and footsteps sounded behind him, but he didn't take the time to turn around. He knew Nick and the other officers had no idea why he'd taken off on a dead run for the warehouse.

  When he reached the building, he made himself stop, knowing he had a duty to protect the officers even as he ached to be with Gracie.

  "Shots fired," he said hoarsely.

  They pulled their guns from their holsters, then took their positions around the building. Sam led the way to the door, moving faster than procedure allowed but too desperate to find Gracie to care.

  If he lost her...

  He swallowed hard, knowing he wouldn't be able to function if he even considered that possibility.

  He kicked open the door, shouting, "Gracie!"

  The first thing he saw was the blood running on the uneven concrete floor. His gut clenched and a small moan escaped from the back of his throat. His gaze followed the stream of blood until he saw the body lying on the floor.

  It wasn't Gracie.

  Relief made his knees buckle, but he managed to remain upright as he hurried to her side. She sat on the floor with Gilbert's head cradled in her lap. The guy was alive, but woozy. From his vantage point, Sam couldn't tell where or how badly he'd been shot.

  Tears glistened on Gracie's cheeks as she looked up at him. "I love you, Sam. I almost didn't get the chance to tell you that. I love you."