Earlier Ian had called Alice to see how Sean was doing and if he knew about Jane’s death. He did. “Her killer most likely left it there and set it on fire. Some kind of statement maybe.” Ian scrutinized the dark circles under Sean’s eyes. Where had he gone early this morning? “Were you and Jane dating?”
Sean’s slumping posture stiffened while his brother puffed out his chest. “What are you implying?”
“Last night you were murmuring Jane’s name a few times. If she wasn’t important to you, I doubt you would do that. I’m overseeing her murder investigation, and I need all the information I can get to find her killer. Were y’all dating?”
Sean took his cowboy hat off and hit it against his leg. “No—yes.”
“Which is it?”
“I was dating her.”
“How long were you seeing her?”
Sean shrugged. “A couple of months.”
“When did you start drinking?”
His brother pivoted. “This conversation is over.”
“Why?”
At the fence of the Pierce ranch, Sean looked back and said, “None of your business.”
“If I find you drinking and driving, I’ll arrest you.”
“Of course you would. You were always the good son.”
Ian opened and closed his fists, realizing how desperate his brother had become.
As he watched his older brother ride back toward the barn, Ian couldn’t shake the question: Could Sean kill these women, especially since he was drinking again and he was losing control? Possibly even blacking out? He wanted to say no, but he didn’t know Sean anymore.
Lord, what do I do about Sean? How can I help him when he doesn’t want it?
* * *
Caitlyn closed her notepad. “Paul, this has been a good session. A few months ago, you couldn’t even talk about your childhood. Now you are. You’re making progress.”
“Not fast enough. I still can’t sleep much at night. I keep thinking about what I did wrong during the day. Maybe my mother was right. I was a screwup.”
“Keep a journal of what goes right during the day, then before you go to sleep read it to remind yourself you aren’t making one mistake after another.”
“What if I can’t think of anything to write? Like this morning everything went wrong.” Paul clasped his hands so tightly that his knuckles whitened.
“Were you at work on time?”
“Yes, I’m never late.”
“That’s one thing you can put down.”
“Maybe.” He frowned as he pushed to his feet. “I’ll try what you said, but I don’t think it will work.”
“Be open to it. It may work.”
Paul Nichols mumbled something under his breath that Caitlyn couldn’t hear and shuffled toward the door. She was used to that. His negativity was a challenge for her as a therapist. She followed him to lock the door and tell Officer Collins he could leave. Ian was on the way to pick her up. She hated the idea of a policeman in the hallway. Every patient she’d seen this afternoon had asked about him, and she’d given them a vague reason. She prayed Ian had found a link between Jane and Kelli other than seeing her for counseling.
As her last patient left, Ian passed him in the corridor and nodded to him, and Paul hurried his pace. As Ian closed the space between them, Caitlyn noticed he looked worn-out. He couldn’t have gotten much sleep last night while staying at the ranch to watch over Sean.
“Thanks, Officer Collins, for helping out.” Ian paused next to Caitlyn.
“Come in. I’m taking some files home with me. Are we going to see Jane’s parents?”
“Yes, I told Nana we would be at her house for dinner. Sally has taken a suitcase to my grandmother’s house. You’ll possibly be at Nana’s for several days, maybe longer. Do you need anything else besides what you took this morning?”
The thought of the photo pinned to her front door sent a shudder down her. “I don’t think so. Has the sheriff finished with my place?” She put what she needed into her briefcase.
“Yes. After dinner, you and I need to sit down and figure out any connection between the two women. Senator Shephard can’t think of any other than church, but his wife will be meeting with us too. Maybe she’ll know something.”
Ian went out into the corridor first using her private office entrance and looked up and down the hall before signaling her to leave too. “It was Jane’s car at their ranch, but there’ve been no sightings of Kelli’s yet.”
As they drove toward the Shephard ranch, Caitlyn stared at his family’s main house while they passed the Pierce property. “How’s Sean? Did you see him today, since you were so close?”
“Yes, he was watching them put out the fire.”
She studied his stiff posture and hard profile. A tic in his jaw indicated he was clenching his teeth. “Do you think Sean has something to do with this?”
He released a long breath. “It has crossed my mind. He mumbled Jane’s name last night in his sleep. I asked him about Jane, and he admitted they had been dating, but it had to be in secret because no one else knew.”
“Why would they do that? Because Jack and Sean don’t get along?”
“Probably. I got the impression when I talked with him that his last meeting with Jane didn’t end well. Sean shut down when I questioned him too much.”
“That doesn’t surprise me. He’s isolating himself from others and that might be the reason he was pulling away from Jane, or she was from him.”
Ian stopped at an intersection. “I followed the tire tracks from Jane’s car to the rear of the property. It wasn’t too far from where the public land starts. I lost the trail at the gravel road my family put in to the back of our ranch. We have a gate to the field that borders the Shephards’ land. There is dense vegetation in our pasture where a car could be hidden. What if Jane and Sean had a fight and—”
“Don’t do that until you have evidence to support it. If someone hid the car back there, then possibly you’ll find tracks.”
“I know, but I don’t want Sean to see me check it out. After we leave the Shephards’ house, I’m going to drive around to the gravel road and see. I didn’t have time earlier.” He parked in front of a large three-story antebellum home.
But before he could open his door, Caitlyn grabbed his arm, stopping him from getting out. “Sean is troubled and angry, but that doesn’t mean he would kill someone. I still think of the time the three of us used to play together. Remember when I fell into the pool, and I couldn’t swim very well?”
“I couldn’t either.”
“He jumped in and, in spite of me fighting him in my panic, he brought me to the side of the pool when he wasn’t much better than you or me. I believe that person is inside him.” She rubbed her hand up and down his arm. What would have happened if they had continued dating that summer? Her throat closed at the lost opportunity. “You know you can talk to me about anything. There’s nothing you can tell me I haven’t heard before.”
“How do you do it? Listen to your patients’ problems?”
“I have to detach a part of myself in order to help them. It’s one thing on paper, another to put into practice.”
He faced her. “I know what you’re talking about. I’ve had to learn to separate my professional life from my personal one. Coming back to Longhorn has made that difficult when I know many of the people involved.”
She couldn’t resist cupping the side of his face, wanting to wipe the perturbed look from his face, smooth away the worried creases on his forehead.
He pulled back and turned to exit the SUV. “The senator is standing in the entrance.”
The heat of a blush singed her cheeks. The physical connection had felt good between them—at least for her. She scrambled from the car and hurried toward the porch. If only things had been different when s
he was eighteen.
“Come in. Ruth is in the living room.” Jack stepped to the side while she and Ian entered the mansion.
Ian and Caitlyn settled into chairs across from the Shephards, who sat side by side on the couch, grief etching lines of fatigue into their faces.
“I’m so sorry about Jane. If I can do anything to help y’all, please let me know.” Caitlyn crossed her legs and sat back somewhat, intending to let Ian lead the conversation.
But the senator leaned forward, clasping his hands. “I understand from the sheriff you found a photo in your car yesterday, and then this morning there was a picture of Kelli Williams, similar to—” he cleared his throat “—similar to Jane’s, stuck to your front door with a knife. Apparently the blood on it indicates it’s the weapon used to kill my daughter. In fact, the killer has been in touch with you through your radio program. Do you have any idea why he’s targeting you?”
“His message is for me to stop him, but I have no idea who he is.”
Jack scowled. “Could he want to make national headlines by contacting you on the radio?”
“I suppose he could, but he didn’t call me today.”
“I don’t want my daughter’s death turned into a circus and paraded before everyone. I just want this man found and for us to be allowed to mourn our loss privately.” Ruth laid her hand over her husband’s. “Our phone hasn’t stopped ringing.”
“I understand. We all want this settled quickly. That’s why I’m here today. To see if you’ll give me permission to discuss what Jane and I talked about in our sessions if I feel it’s relevant to the case.”
“No, absolutely not.” The senator shoved to his feet and glared down at Caitlyn. “I didn’t want her seeing you in the first place.”
“Why?”
“Because we—her family—are here for her. She didn’t need anyone else.”
Ruth rose next to her husband and again took his hand. “Jack, if it can help find the killer, then we need to. Dr. Rhodes, I’m sure, especially with another murder, that Texas Ranger Pierce could just get a subpoena through a judge.”
The senator backed away from his wife. “But we have no idea what Jane told her. If it’s our private life, I don’t want everyone knowing it. The vultures in the press will dissect our lives. It’s already bad enough being a public figure.”
“Caitlyn, I know how much you helped Jane. I trust you in this. You have my permission to share what you think would help find the killer.” Ruth sank onto the couch. “Can we help in any other way?”
“Yes,” Ian said. “I already asked the senator if there was a connection between Jane and Kelli other than attendance at the same church. Do you know of another one?”
“The Shephard Foundation Jane oversaw. I remember seeing them together last Christmas. Kelli helped Jane with some of the fund-raisers, especially where the church was involved. But I think that was all.”
“Thanks. If you think of any other connection, please let me know.” Ian stood and looked at the senator. “Sir, I’ll keep you informed about the investigation, and if y’all think of anything that might help the case, call me anytime.”
Ruth walked them to the front door while her husband sat on the couch, his head dropped forward. “Please forgive Jack’s outburst. This has hit him very hard.”
Caitlyn gave Ruth a hug. “I understand. Remember, I’m here for you if you need to talk.”
“Thank you.” Unshed tears glistened in the older woman’s eyes. “Good day.”
Once Caitlyn settled into the passenger seat, the day finally caught up with her. She wasn’t sure she could think rationally enough to discuss the investigation with Ian tonight and, as he slipped behind the wheel, he looked like he’d hit a wall too.
While he drove around to the gravel road between the ranches and the lake, silence ruled. When they got out, Caitlyn joined Ian, and they headed for the dense vegetation along the property line of the Pierce ranch. Halfway there, Ian grasped her hand. Her heart skipped a beat at his touch.
“When I was a kid, Sean and I used to build forts in the bushes.”
“I remember you showing me one, but Sean wasn’t happy you brought a girl to see it.”
“He spent more time back here than I did, especially after our mom died. When he found her dead out in the field, he shut down. I don’t think he’s ever really opened up after that.”
Caitlyn slid a glance toward Ian. She prayed Sean wasn’t involved with what was going on. He had issues. If he didn’t deal with them, they would send him down a path of self-destruction. Knowing Ian, he would blame himself for not being here for his brother.
Ian went first through the thick brush, the tree canopy overhead darkening their path. He stopped and withdrew a small flashlight, then proceeded.
This place would be a good dump site if the killer didn’t want the body to be found right away. Immediately she thought about Kelli still missing and shivered.
He must have felt the tremor because Ian slowed and looked back at her. “Okay?”
“I don’t remember this place being so dark and dense.”
“It wasn’t when we were growing up. It keeps people at the lake from wandering onto our ranch, so Sean has let it go. The fence for our southern property border is set in by five yards.” Ian kept walking.
“Sean moved the fence?”
“No, my father did. It helps keep the cattle rustlers out.”
As she peered all around at the vegetation, she began noticing broken branches. With her gaze fixed on the ground, she ran into Ian, who stopped suddenly. She leaned around him and stared where his flashlight illuminated the soft earth.
Tire tracks.
SIX
A faint, putrid scent invaded Ian’s nostrils. The smell of death, something he would never forget or get used to. He lifted his flashlight, searching for the source. A few yards away was the rear of a black vehicle with Kelli Williams’s license plate number.
Caitlyn gasped. “Is that Kelli’s car?”
“Yes.”
Putting her hand over her nose, she started forward. “She must be in it.”
He turned around. “I want you to stay here. I need to check the car.”
She nodded.
As Ian approached the four-door sedan, the rancid odor grew stronger, prompting his gag reflex. Pinching his nose and holding his breath helped, but nothing could completely get rid of the scent. He circled the car, noting that all the windows were rolled up. He shone the flashlight into the interior. No body. That left the trunk. He went back to the driver’s side door and opened it. The keys were still in the ignition.
When he punched a button on the key fob, the trunk lid popped up. Inside was a small woman in her fifties, with short brown hair, dressed in pajamas. Kelli lay curled on her side, stab wounds in her back visible, the blood around the wounds dried. He shone his light in the trunk and couldn’t find any other trace of blood. This wasn’t the scene of her murder.
After taking a few photos with his cell phone, Ian returned to Caitlyn and moved farther away from the black car. “It’s Kelli. I’m notifying the sheriff, and when he comes, I’ll take you back to Nana’s house and make sure an officer stays with you.”
Ian called Tom and told the sheriff what he’d found and where. “Kelli wasn’t killed in the car. We need to try to figure out from the photos where he’s killing the women and posing them for the pictures before moving the bodies.”
“From the photos you sent, it looks like a cabin,” Tom said. “I’ll have the pictures blown up as much as possible, and I’m sending a deputy to your grandmother’s house. I think Caitlyn may be the key to this.”
Ian’s gaze latched onto Caitlyn, who stared at the car through the bush. “I agree. I’ll stay until you can secure this scene.” Ian disconnected the call and slipped his cell phone into his p
ocket.
“I have to see Allison. She needs to know her mother was found.”
“We’ll stop by her house on the way to Nana’s.” Even in the dim light, he could tell the color had drained from her face. Taking her hand, he moved them even farther away, positioning himself to keep an eye on the car but shielding her from the sight. Then he wrapped his arms around Caitlyn. “I’m sorry you’re here. I didn’t think that Kelli’s car would be here.”
She pressed herself closer to him. “I knew she was dead. At least Allison will have an answer, which will help her in the long run.” Trembling, she looked up at him. “I don’t understand what’s going on. Why is this killer leaving me notes to stop him?”
“I don’t think he wants you to stop him. I think he’s taunting you. You’re at the center of this for some reason that might not make sense to us yet.”
“But Kelli and Jane aren’t friends and don’t even come to see me on the same day. They don’t interact at my office. They have occasionally at church but that doesn’t have anything to do with me. That might be the real connection.” Tears glistened in her eyes.
“I’m going to talk to the pastor. I have to consider every possibility.” He tightened his embrace. “Tonight we’ll talk about both. Maybe there’s a link you haven’t considered.”
“I feel helpless. Not a feeling I like.” She glanced back at the car and shuddered. “What if I’m the real target and the killer is...” Her voice thickened, and she closed her eyes, burying her face into the nook of his arm. “What have I done wrong?”
Her muffled speculation left a deep ache in his gut. He’d seen his share of victims who blamed themselves for what happened. The fearless girl he used to know wouldn’t have done that. What changed? He wasn’t going to let Caitlyn do that to herself. “Nothing. You didn’t murder these women. He did. Remember that when you think you’re in the wrong.”
“I know you’re right on one level, but my life has been dedicated to helping people and, at the moment, I don’t feel like I am. And I certainly don’t know how to help this killer.”
Texas Ranger Showdown Page 7