Colton 911--Caught in the Crossfire

by Linda O. Johnston

He was once again a punster.

  He soon shepherded them all into his dining room, where they shared a delicious dinner—most likely the only one of theirs Clarence would pay for, despite the discussion Melody and Casey had had previously. Casey and she had shared their tale of life in the pasture chasing the missing cattle. Not all details about it, though, such as how their nights were spent—especially the last one.

  Clarence let them know that he’d sent a couple of ranch hands out to retrieve Addie’s remains and bury them behind the barn. That sounded appropriate to Melody.

  When dinner was over, Clarence again thanked them all and then ushered them from his ranch house and out of his company.

  “Would you like a ride to town?” Everett asked Casey as Melody stood with them on the front porch, which was fortunately well-lit at this late hour.

  “No, thanks. My car’s already here. I left it the other day when we headed off to find the cattle.”

  “Great job with that.” Everett smiled at Casey, then gave him a brotherly hug. “I’ll probably see you in town, at least over the next few days. I’m hanging around till we’re sure the case against your Dodd buddies is getting well-established.”

  “Great about your staying for a while,” Casey said. “And those felons are far from buddies of mine, but I assume Sean and you aren’t friends any longer.”

  “You assume right, of course. Anyway, nice meeting you, Melody.” He gave her a hearty handshake, then looked from her face to Casey’s, as if searching for something.

  Melody sighed inside but didn’t say anything. He obviously wasn’t about to find anything between them. Which in a way was a shame...although it was for the best.

  Still...

  Melody at least derived some happiness from the fact that Casey walked her back to the bunkhouse containing her apartment, though he didn’t go inside.

  Just in case... “Would you like to come in for a drink?” she asked. “A quick one, of course.” She said the latter in case he considered that an invitation for more.

  “Not tonight, thanks.” Casey dashed her hopes of most likely seeing much of him, if at all, even though he’d limited his refusal to that night. But if there was to be anything more to their friendship, wouldn’t he just come in for a minute?

  “That’s fine,” she said cheerfully, anyway.

  “Let’s grab a drink or a dinner in town someplace soon,” Casey said. “No hassle that way, and I’d like to stay in touch. Okay?”

  “Fine,” Melody said, realizing that this was Casey’s nice effort to make sure they went their separate ways.

  It certainly was better that way. She hadn’t changed her mind about not wanting a real relationship...had she?

  Well, if so, it obviously wouldn’t be with Casey, no matter how sexy she found him.

  And so, under the light by the front door to her building, she stood on tiptoe, reached up and pulled Casey’s mouth down to hers for a kiss. A brief one.

  It shouldn’t feel so hot, she thought.

  Well, so what? She moved away and managed to send him a smile. “Good night,” she said. “And thanks for all you did to save those cattle.”

  Then she hurriedly opened the door and dashed inside.

  Chapter 22

  Casey, sitting in his crowded, shared office at the sheriff’s department, should have continued to feel delighted several days after his return with Melody.

  The Dodds were in custody. Plus he’d had some additional success yesterday, after his return. Along with a couple of other deputies, including Bob Andrews, he had located and arrested the suspects in the clothing-store robbery. A very satisfying conclusion to that situation, too—assuming the criminals were found guilty of armed robbery at trial.

  Fortunately, they hadn’t hurt anyone during the robbery. And considering the evidence from the robbery that he and Bob had found at the apartment shared by the suspects, a pair of students who were attending college at a Tucson university, that should be a slam dunk.

  Casey was, in fact, delighted about that achievement. What he hadn’t been delighted about, at first, was his urge to call Melody and tell her about it.

  He hadn’t seen her since their dinner at the ranch owner’s home. That was probably a good thing. And why would he? He had no reason to go to her ranch, and if she’d had any reason to come to town she hadn’t told him about it.

  Which was fine.

  He could have let her know that he had finished providing all the information and evidence that he could against the Dodds right away. From his perspective, the case was closed—and there shouldn’t be even a shred of possibility that those killers and rustlers wouldn’t be found guilty and put away for the rest of their pathetic lives.

  But right now, he was furious.

  “Why?” he demanded angrily of Sheriff Krester, who’d just told him the Dodds were out on bail. “You know what they’re like. They’ll just run.”

  “And then you’ll just have to catch them again,” the sheriff said, eyeing Casey with a half-amused, half-irritated lifting of his gray eyebrows. “I’m sure you’ll do it just fine.”

  “Yeah, right. Like last time. But—”

  “No, you’re right. You shouldn’t be put in that position. We shouldn’t be put in that position. But the Dodds apparently hired some pretty good lawyers—some new criminal attorneys who just opened an office here, I gather. I didn’t know them, though I was there in court. The Dodds had their arraignment earlier today and, yeah, they were allowed out on bail, even though the charges include first-degree murder, and bail in that situation might not be legal. How’d they do it? Bribe the judge? Who knows?”

  Jeremy came farther inside and sat down on a chair facing Casey’s desk. Casey leaned forward on his elbows and clenched his fists. Not that he’d strike his boss, or anyone. It was his fury causing him to react.

  Bob was there, too, along with their other officemate, Deputy David Young. Both of them also looked at their boss with expressions that were almost accusatory. But Casey knew full well that the sheriff’s department did not have a final say whether or not the judge allowed bail. All they could do was testify at the eventual trial, provide evidence...and hope justice would prevail.

  “The thing is,” the sheriff said, “it came out at the arraignment that Sean and Delilah have a six-month-old daughter. They’d had a neighbor who also did babysitting for them watching little Kennedy, and they’d apparently planned all along to drop Delilah off in town with her while Sean and Georgia dealt with the cattle.”

  “Another indication those Dodds are all lowlifes. Poor kid.” And it was another reason Casey was glad he hadn’t wound up marrying Georgia. But he hadn’t imagined any of them would get involved with murder and rustling, let alone insufficient care of a child.

  “Yeah,” the sheriff agreed.

  Something else occurred to Casey. “Well, even if they were granted bail, how could they afford it?” he demanded. “Or even the payment to a bail bondsman? They stole those cattle because they needed money, or at least that’s what they told me.”

  “Obviously we don’t have all the answers,” Jeremy said. He shrugged and left the office.

  Well, the only good thing about that was that it gave Casey a reason to call Melody. She needed to know about the Dodds’ release. And the baby? Maybe.

  But would they go after Melody, or him, in retribution? If they were smart, the Dodds would simply behave like good citizens and not call attention to themselves, at least not until after their trial. Hopefully then, they’d be in prison for a good long time and not out in the world and able to murder people—or steal cattle. And hopefully they had a relative or two Casey didn’t know about who could take care of the baby.

  But there was no reason to believe they were particularly smart.

  Casey glanced at his computer. It was nearly three o’clock
in the afternoon. Not the best time to call a ranch hand, he was sure. But the sooner, the better. Worst case, he could leave a message.

  He walked out of his office, leaving Bob behind. He doubted that anything he’d say would be private, but just in case...

  First, though, before calling Melody, he found a corner at the end of the hallway. Then he phoned his brother. Everett would be interested in this, too. He and his fellow FBI team members had been the ones who’d first captured the Dodds, after all. He had even hung around for the next couple of days, also helping to put together evidence, though he’d gone back to Phoenix yesterday. While in Cactus Creek, he had also visited Casey, who lived in a small house at the rear of their parents’ sizable property.

  Casey was quite happy living there. He could spend time with their folks, yet have privacy, too. But he and Everett had visited for an evening’s dinner. And he’d soon enjoy Thanksgiving with them, too. Plus there was their upcoming Christmas dinner, an annual event they all enjoyed, and Everett would most likely be around for it, as well, though he wasn’t coming back for Thanksgiving, which was usually a much smaller affair and seldom included guests, let alone all family members.

  He still believed that Melody would join them for Christmas, after his earlier invitation to her. He hoped so, at least.

  “Hey, Everett,” he said when his brother answered the phone. “How are things in Phoenix?”

  “Fine, but why are you really calling now?” Everett asked.

  Casey already knew his brother was smart. He gave a rundown of what the sheriff had told him.

  “Damn,” Everett growled. “And there’s a baby involved, too? What a mess.”

  Casey promised to stay in touch and keep Everett informed about anything new he heard.

  When they hung up, it was time to call Melody. He was eager to hear her voice, even though that was so unwise. But he missed her companionship more than he’d ever thought possible.

  He thought about inviting her to town to join him for coffee and he would reveal what had been going on, but he was on duty and it was better to tell her fast.

  “Good to hear from you, Casey,” she said after answering the phone. “I can’t talk long, though. I’m out in the pasture with part of our herd—and that includes the wonderful cows we rescued. They’re doing fine.”

  “Glad to hear that. And the reason I’m calling is to make sure you stay alert.” He revealed the information about the Dodds now being out on bail. And because he knew this woman who cared so much about cattle would undoubtedly also care about one of the reasons they probably got out so fast, pending their preliminary hearing, he also revealed the fact that they had a child. But he additionally told her about how they’d abandoned that baby.

  “What horrible people!” Melody exclaimed.

  Casey could do nothing but agree.

  And when they hung up only a minute later, he had another urge to see Melody again.

  Bad idea, he reminded himself, and headed back to his office.

  * * *

  Melody was shocked, even as she stared around the part of the pasture where she now rode on Cal’s back and wrangled the cattle with some of her fellow ranch hands.

  She’d known the Dodds were terrible, but how could they have left their daughter that way? Bad enough they were cattle rustlers, not to mention murderers.

  She appreciated Casey’s call for the warning it contained. She’d certainly try to stay even more alert, but she recognized that, after all that had happened, she had become watchful and concerned and extremely vigilant, even while doubting anyone would dare to try to rustle any more cattle around here.

  And...well, she hated to admit it to herself, but she did miss Casey, his strong and sexy presence while they’d been in the fields together, and, even more, his kindness. And even his sense of humor when he’d kidded her at times about what a ranch hand did.

  In fact, after they hung up, she impulsively called him back. “You know, Thanksgiving’s next week,” she said. “I’m helping to cook a great dinner for the other ranch hands who live in my bunkhouse and would love to have you join us.”

  “Sorry,” he responded immediately, and the word made her heart sink. “But I’ll be joining my parents, as usual.”

  He didn’t mention his prior invitation for her to join his family at Christmas and she didn’t ask.

  It probably wasn’t going to happen.

  She’d probably see Casey again sometime, in town or wherever.

  But she was just going to have to get over him.

  * * *

  Thanksgiving. Damn, how Casey had appreciated Melody’s invitation, he thought, returning to his office.

  But it would have been a bad idea in many ways for him to accept. For one thing, his parents expected him.

  For another...well, something that could seem even more than an ordinary date, which he didn’t intend to follow up on with Melody, anyway, was out of the question. Or was it?

  Sitting back down at his desk, he looked at his computer to learn what his next assignment was. He needed to go check on some alleged vandalism outside a local bank.

  Good. That would keep him busy for a while.

  As did other assignments over the next few days. That made it easier—somewhat—not to think about the Dodds a lot. Except to stay watchful.

  And Melody? Well, thoughts of her seemed to creep into his mind, so he cast them aside and found other things to concentrate on. Or at least he tried.

  And then, a few days later, Casey received a call demanding his presence at the Sur County courthouse, which wasn’t far from the sheriff’s department in Cactus Creek. Jeremy Krester was told to come, too.

  “What’s this about?” Casey asked as they strode down the street on the way to the courthouse.

  “Don’t know, but I gather it has something to do with the Dodds,” Sheriff Krester responded, shaking his head in the cool November breeze so his gray hair wisped around his face.

  Casey felt his own hair moving on his forehead, too. “Did they do something else? Did they disappear while out on bail so we’re needed to find them again?”

  “We’ll find out,” the sheriff said.

  But the reason was quite different from that. The district attorney, Warren Marano, stood up before Judge Morley Ackerman, who was seated on the bench in the courtroom. The judge was fortysomething, stern and wore a standard black robe, with only a fringe of brown hair on his head.

  And Marano? There was no mistaking the shock on Marano’s face, as his jaw dropped.

  What was going on?

  It was soon time for Casey to feel shocked, too. Especially when Georgia walked into the courtroom and down the aisle carrying a baby.

  Sean and Delilah’s? If so, why? And where were they?

  District Attorney Marano asked for their attention. There weren’t many onlookers in the seats, and he seemed to talk directly to the sheriff, who sat beside Casey.

  “We have a major development in the prosecution of Sean and Delilah Dodd,” Marano began.

  That didn’t surprise Casey, considering the fact this session was being held and the sheriff had been asked to come.

  “It seems that two of our suspects, Sean Dodd and his wife, Delilah Dodd, committed suicide.”

  Oh, no. Casey might have hated what they’d done, but he’d certainly never anticipated this. Shock pulsed through his veins.

  “No!” That shriek came from Georgia, who was sitting in the front row. It caused the baby in her arms to start crying. “They’d never commit suicide,” Georgia shouted. “Someone must have murdered them.”

  How had Georgia wound up with the baby? Had Sean and Delilah left the little girl in her care rather than the neighbor’s, knowing they were about to kill themselves? Casey wished he knew the answers to that and more. Ackerman had a clerk come over and escort
Georgia, with the baby, from the courtroom, at least for now.

  Then Marano continued, describing what had apparently happened. “Last night, they were driving on Sheldon Street, where the town’s shopping mall is located. They apparently began speeding and rammed right into the parking lot wall. They both were killed—and there was a suicide note in the car, taped to the dashboard.”

  Well, there went at least part of the prosecution of those murderers and rustlers. Georgia was still around, though, and she was as much to blame in the whole thing as her brother and sister-in-law.

  And what a horrible ending for those two. But according to the note the DA went on to describe, they would rather die than face prison.

  Georgia was brought back into the courtroom, the baby still in her arms. She pleaded with the judge to absolve her of all charges so she could take care of her niece.

  “You’re still out on bail,” Judge Ackerman reminded her. “Be sure to return for your preliminary hearing, and bring your attorney. We’ll see how that argument goes.”

  Casey felt sorry for the baby but didn’t think a sudden desire to take care of an orphaned family member would clear Georgia. And was that how Sean and Delilah would have wanted things? If they’d committed suicide, they’d probably left instructions for what they wanted for their daughter.

  What Georgia had screamed stuck with him, though. When the sheriff and he left the courtroom a while later, Casey excused himself and called Everett to let him know what had happened. “Georgia yelled that Sean and Delilah would never commit suicide. She claimed they’d likely been murdered.” He paused. “I’m sure I’m not going to be assigned to look into it, but what do you think?”

  “I think I’m going to head in your direction again soon—maybe using a Thanksgiving vacation as an excuse—and look into it, just in case.”

  “That’s my great big brother,” Casey said before ending the call. “Look forward to seeing you again soon.”

  He walked back to the department with the sheriff, who, as Casey also assumed, just chalked up Georgia’s cry about possible murder to her grief. “There was a suicide note,” he reminded Casey.