Tory disconnected and grabbed a spiral notebook she used for notes. She turned to a fresh page and wrote “Things We’ve Learned” at the top of a page. She was busy listing things when her phone rang again and she saw Grant’s name.
His voice sounded frantic. “Tory, are you and your grandmother all right?”
“Of course, why wouldn’t we be? What’s wrong? You sound… agitated.”
“You bet I am. I just had a threatening call. The voice was muffled so I don’t know if the caller was male or female. Whoever it was said I’d better butt out of Lawson’s investigation or someone I cared about would get hurt.”
“Oh, my goodness. Did you call the sheriff?”
“No. I tried dialing *69 but it didn’t work. I’ll call him now that I know you’re all right, but be careful.”
She disconnected and wondered who would threaten them. The killer, of course, but who was that? They’d seen someone at Dr. Lawson’s house and then there was Carl. Who else knew they’d been in Lubbock poking around?
Carl could have mentioned their visit to Abby and Darrell or anyone else. She wished she could have seen the face of the girl in the hoodie. She’d given the car’s license number to Grant. Now he could tell the sheriff they’d seen her.
Someone he cared about. That’s what Grant had said and he’d thought of her. The situation was serious, but she couldn’t prevent a smile or the warmth embracing her. How nice to know his first thought was of her.
An hour later, the doorbell rang. Tory froze for a second, but strode to the front and looked out the window. She sighed with relief when she saw the Navigator in front of Grandma’s house.
“Come in. Did you talk to the sheriff?” She closed the door behind him.
He appeared embarrassed and raked his fingers through his hair. “I did. He was pretty mad at us for butting in. At the same time I could tell he was happy to have something happening. He admitted they hadn’t found anything at Lawson’s house. Lubbock police assisted in the search so they must have been pretty thorough. I gave him the license plate number and he checked it out. It’s registered to Abby, but guess who gave her the car—Lawson. Not sold to her, but given as a gift.”
Tory realized she hadn’t told Grant about Kurt’s call. “Ha, that goes along with what Kurt learned. Heidi thought Abby and Lawson were involved. Her grades suddenly shot up to all A’s even though she did less and less.”
“Makes sense then. I wonder what was at the house and where it was hidden. Guess we’ll never know unless the sheriff can get Abby to talk.”
“Will he arrest her or bring her in for questioning? I don’t know the procedure when two counties are involved.” She gestured to the kitchen. “Grandma made a super Italian cream cake yesterday. Would you like a slice?”
He smiled and his blue eyes sparkled. “With milk? Italian cream is one of my favorites.” He followed her into the kitchen and sat at the table.
Tory lifted the cover off the cake stand and cut two slices. “Grandma’s is special. She adds extra nuts and coconut.” She plated the slices and set one in front of Grant. Then she gathered forks and napkins before she poured two glasses of milk.
Grant picked up his fork and appeared to savor his first bite. “That is the best cake I’ve ever eaten. Where is Grandma?”
Tory glanced toward the stairs. “She’s lying down. After church we went out to eat and then came home and watched a movie, which wasn’t very good. She said it made her sleepy.”
“Might be the cloudy weather. We all slept in today at our house instead of attending church. Rare for us to miss but we were all tired. Grandpa even slept until almost eight.”
“And you?” She raised her eyebrows.
He sipped his milk. “I slept until seven. For me, that’s late. Then I had chores to do. With animals, you can’t skip a day.”
“I realize that. I’d like a dog but wouldn’t inflict one on my grandmother. I’m gone all day so she’d be the one dealing with a pet.” She polished off half her cake. “At least the sheriff knows Jacob is innocent.”
“Yeah, but the public will accuse him until the real killer is arrested and convicted. Glad he’s going to be leaving for college in a few months.”
“He’ll only be in Lubbock, so he can come check on his mom often.”
Grant frowned then raised his eyebrows at her. “If he gets a car. Didn’t you say he doesn’t own one?”
“Right, but he’s been saving to get something used. I don’t know how much he has but couldn’t be much. His mom doesn’t make a lot so he gives her part of what he makes.”
“Good kid.” He appeared lost in thought as he finished his cake. Using his fork, he scooped up every crumb.
“Would you care for another slice?”
A wide smile set his blue eyes sparkling. “Would I ever? And more milk, please. You know, I’m not sure I ate lunch.”
She served him more cake. “Well, you’re a big guy and need fuel. Would you like a sandwich now that you’ve had dessert?” She refilled his glass with milk.
“Now you’re making me feel guilty, but yes, I could eat a sandwich.”
Tory made a roast beef sandwich with slices of tomato and a nice leaf of romaine. She set the plate near his disappearing cake.
She sat across from him. “Is the sheriff going to trace the phone number that called you?
“He’ll try. I imagine it was a burner phone, though. Surely the killer wouldn’t be stupid enough to use his or her own phone.”
“Stranger things have happened, but I’m sure you’re right. Was this call to your cell phone or your home phone?”
He shook his head. “Naw, landline. The number’s available to anyone. Gave me goosebumps. At the same time, the call made me so angry I could spit nails.”
Sudden shyness attacked her. “Thank you for checking on Grandma and me.”
He reached across and held her hand. “You know I care for you and it’s no secret we were poking around Lubbock together. And we even deliberately advertised our involvement. I’m sorry, Tory, I didn’t realize something so simple could make you and Grandma a target.”
“And you and Brad and Wayne. We’ll have to be careful. Kurt’s taking Heidi out again tonight. Apparently they hit it off. He was really happy.”
He turned the spiral notebook so he could read her notes. “What’s this, you’re making a list?”
“Lists help me organize my thoughts. You see we’ve learned quite a lot.”
She watched as his eyes scanned the lines she’d written.
He turned the book back toward her. “This is good, Tory. Very thorough.”
The phone rang and Tory reached to answer. “Hello.”
A muffled voice spoke, “If you know what’s good for you and your grandmother, you’ll quit poking around in things that don’t concern you. The kid’s off the hook so leave well enough alone or you and granny will be very sorry.”
“Why are you calling? Are you afraid we’ll figure out who you are?”
The person disconnected.
Tory didn’t realize she was shaking until Grant took the receiver from her hand and replaced it on the cradle.
He gathered her into his embrace. “We have to let the sheriff know you’ve had a call.”
She nodded but didn’t move. “You don’t think Jacob and Ruth will get one do you?”
“No, I think you and I are the only people to have the dubious honor. Sit down and I’ll ring the sheriff.”
She let him guide her to a chair. “Thank you. I don’t know why that scared me so much. I was even expecting to receive the same call you did. Even muffled, the voice was so evil.”
Grant dialed the sheriff’s office and reported the call. He pulled a chair near hers and sat beside her. “They’ll send someone out to talk with you. I’ll stay here for awhile if that’s all right. Um, unless you’d prefer I left so you can to talk to him in private.”
She reached for his hand. “Please stay. When the creepy caller mention
ed hurting Grandma, it hit me hard. I can’t watch over her and teach.”
Her grandmother chose that moment to come into the kitchen. “Hello, Grant, how nice to see you. I guess the phone waked me but five o’clock is past time I got up.” She peered at Tory and gasped, “What’s wrong?”
Grant stood. “Please sit down, Grandma. We need to explain what’s happened.”
Her grandmother sat in the armchair while he went over their trips yesterday. His version varied very little from hers. Then he explained the phone calls he and Tory had received today.
When he got to Tory’s call, Grandma came to sit by Tory and took her hand. “The very nerve of someone scaring you like that. I hope you called the sheriff.”
Tory was still upset and simply nodded. She didn’t trust herself to speak without bursting into tears. Not much made her cry, but when someone threatened her grandmother she paid attention. How was she going to cope with this new crisis?
Grant put his arm around her. “We reported the call and a deputy’s on his way over here. Not that there’s anything he can do.”
Grandma gave Tory’s hand a final pat and stood. “I’d better get some coffee going if we’re having company.” She went into the kitchen.
Tory heard her filling the coffee maker. “I don’t know how to handle this threat.”
“Maybe the deputy will have suggestions. I can think of one way and that’s to have you come to the ranch. Grandpa’s sharp and a good shot, and he doesn’t work on the ranch now except on rare occasions. Even if Brad and I were working, he’d be at the house.”
She glanced toward the kitchen. “You’re asking a lot of him and of Grandma. She won’t take kindly to having a babysitter, as I guarantee you she’ll call it. Your grandfather may have other plans and ideas too.”
The bell rang. Grant hugged her to him. “Let’s get to that after the deputy leaves.”
Grant rose to answer it. “Hey, Earl, thanks for coming.”
Grandma came back into the living room to see who’d arrived.
Grant gestured to Grandma. “Mrs. Emily Stafford, perhaps you remember Earl Dennis. And this is Dr. Tory Fraser, Mrs. Stafford’s granddaughter who teaches at the high school.”
Her grandmother smiled at the deputy. “Of course I remember you, Earl. I heard you’d gone into law enforcement like your father. He must be very proud of you.”
Earl actually blushed. “Yes, ma’am, Mrs. Stafford, he is. I hope he stays that way.” He nodded at Tory. “Tell me about the phone call.”
Tory gestured to a chair. “Won’t you sit down? Grandma has coffee brewing.”
He settled onto an armchair and held his clipboard in his lap and a pen in his hand. “That’d be nice. Dr. Fraser, why don’t you tell me every detail you can remember about the phone call?”
“Please, call me Tory. The landline rang just before five. I couldn’t tell whether the person was male or female because the voice sounded muffled.” She glanced at her grandmother then repeated what the caller had said.
Earl wrote as she spoke. Grandma left long enough to bring in a tray and set it down on the coffee table. Earl took a cup and thanked her.
When Tory had finished her story, Earl looked at Grant. “That match your call?”
Grant nodded. “Except he or she said ‘someone you care about could get hurt’. Grandpa and Brad were in the house, so I called Tory right away to see if she and Grandma were all right. After I told my family what had happened and called the sheriff, I hurried here.”
He looked at her before he continued. “I’d been here about half an hour before Tory received the same type call.”
Earl leaned back and took another sip of coffee. “Sheriff said you two were poking into the case yesterday in Lubbock. Obviously, you alerted someone. You thought any more about who that could be?”
Tory exchanged glances with Grant. “We have several suspects in mind. I guess Grant told you who we talked to, but we don’t know who those people told we’d been there.”
“Let’s go over who you spoke to again. You went to see Dr. Carl Bedford.”
She shook her head. “We didn’t actually intend to see Carl. We were walking through the department to see who and what we could and he was in Dr. Lawson’s office. The door was open and we saw him going through stacks of unfiled papers so we stopped and spoke to him.”
Grant set down his cup. “Then we drove by Dr. Lawson’s house and there was a woman coming out. When she saw us she jumped into her car and drove away. We couldn’t tell who she was because of her hoodie, but Tory copied down the plate numbers. The sheriff said the car is registered to Abby Oswald. Further checking showed the vehicle was a gift from Dr. Lawson.”
Earl read over his report. “Sheriff’s checking to see if he can see who called here but it’s probably the same burner phone that called you, Grant.” He looked from Tory to Grant. “We’re pursuing the investigation from several areas. The best thing you two can do is stay out of our way and let us do our job.”
He handed Tory the report to read and sign.
While she scanned the page, he said, “You folks need to be careful. This person has killed once and you can’t be executed twice for murder. Next time will be easier for him or her.”
Tory signed and handed Earl the clipboard. “How can I protect my grandmother while I’m at school?”
Earl’s expression was somber. “You can’t. Is there someone she can stay with while you’re at work?”
Grandma stood and put her hands on her hips. “Now listen here, Earl Dennis. I don’t need a babysitter. I may look old to you three, but I’m not feeble.”
Earl grinned. “Mrs. Stafford, on your worst day you’re smarter than most people. I know you’re not feeble. Amazing as you are, you’re only one person”
He sobered and tapped nervously on the clipboard. “This is not someone you can send to the principal’s office. We’re talking about a killer who won’t hesitate to kill again. I suggest you pack up your suitcase and go stay with someone until this person is caught.”
“And what if the person is never caught? You above most people know that not all crimes are solved. You think I’m going to abandon my comfortable home and go impose on relatives? Well, I’m not.”
The deputy stood and faced Grandma. “You’re not worried about your granddaughter and you being here together at night? I don’t want to frighten you, but that attitude is not safe.”
Grandma pointed at Earl. “Of course you meant to frighten me, Earl, and you have. But, by golly, I’m not going to turn tail and let some evil person drive me out of my town. Tory and I will think of something.”
Earl placed a business card on the table. “Thanks for the coffee. If you think of anything else, give me a call.”
Chapter Nine
Tory gazed from Grant to Grandma. “We have to talk about our options. What are your suggestions?”
Grandma appeared deep in thought. “What we need is a dog, one that barks at strangers and would attack on command. I think you can rent them from security companies. Have to go to Lubbock, I imagine.”
Tory paced the floor in front of the fireplace. “That doesn’t help tonight or tomorrow while I’m in classes.”
Grant picked up Earl’s business card from the coffee table then returned the small piece of cardstock where he’d found it. “I have a simple solution. You should both move to the ranch for a few days until this person is caught.”
With an indignant look, Grandma said, “Absolutely not. I told Earl I will not let some cowardly killer make me run away.”
Exhaling in what sounded like frustration, Grant looked at Tory. “May I borrow your laptop?”
“Of course, I’ll run to my room and bring it to you.” She hurried up the stairs to the alcove she used as her study and back to the living room.
“I’ll check guard dogs.” Grant tapped keys. “Grandma, when you were teaching did you ever think the word ‘google’ would become a verb?”
/> Grandma shook her head. “When I was teaching, no one used the word at all. But, life moves on and changes daily.”
Her grandmother smiled. “Wait, I remember my mother singing a song about ‘Barney Google with the goo-goo-googley eyes.’ My goodness, I’d forgotten that but it happened so long ago.”
Grant looked up and closed the laptop. “Out of luck. To this area, they have to be ordered and shipped.”
Tory asked, “Could we borrow Elvis?”
“He’s a great dog, but friendly. All he could do is lick someone to death. That does it. You two need to come to the ranch. We have three men from our family plus our ranch hands. We can keep you two safe.”
Tory went to her grandmother and took her hand. “As much as I hate to admit it, Grandma, he’s right. We’ll both be safer at the ranch.”
“Well, that makes me so mad I could eat a bug.” She heaved a huge sigh. “If you’re positive it’s necessary, I guess I’ll give in and go there for a few days.” She glared at Grant. “But, I’m doing so under protest.”
Tory scowled at her grandmother. “Grandma! That’s not like you. Grant has invited us to his spacious and lovely home, not to a jail cell. We’re fortunate he’s so gracious.”
Her grandmother blushed. “You’re right. Grant, I apologize for being contrary. We’re lucky you’re willing to have us at the ranch. I’ll go pack a few things.”
Grant stood. “Thank you, Grandma. I couldn’t stand having anything happening to either of you. You let me know when you’re packed and I’ll come up and carry your bag for you.”
Tory watched her grandmother climb the stairs. She turned back to Grant, her stomach churning with anxiety. “I hope Wayne and Brad don’t mind us coming. You’d better call and prepare them.”
He smiled and slid his hands gently down her upper arms. “Actually, Wayne suggested this very thing and Brad agreed. They’ll be expecting me to bring the two of you back with me.”
His admission halved the acid roiling in her abdomen. “That relieves my mind. I’d hate to think we’re unwelcome or a cause of friction in your family.”
“No chance of that, Tory, and you must know I’ll enjoy having you nearby each evening.” He kissed her gently then turned her toward the stairs. “Now go get your things packed so we can leave before Grandma changes her mind.”
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