“Sure.”
In the den, Caitlyn picked up four files of women she was currently helping. As she made her way back to the kitchen, she slowed her steps, weariness weaving through her body. The long day—week—was catching up with her. Glasses of iced tea and one plate of dinner were on the table, while the microwave beeped. She needed to eat something, but even that task seemed monumental.
Ian joined her and set the last of the food down. “Why those files?”
“They are most likely the killer’s possible targets from all my patients. In my opinion. I wasn’t even sure if I should do that kind of conjecture. What if I’m wrong?”
“I look at the pieces of evidence I have and make educated guesses from my experiences all the time. I’ve been wrong but also often right.”
“I just don’t want to see anyone else murdered.” With a long sigh, Caitlyn bowed her head and blessed their food. “Using brain power makes me hungrier than when I work out.”
Ian gestured toward the stack of folders. “So why these four patients?”
“Their problems have similarities to the ones Jane, Kelli and Missy had. Both Jane and Kelli lived alone, which makes coming after them easier. The one time he deviated, it’s possible the husband interrupted and had to be killed, which no doubt caused problems.”
“Or it has nothing to do with being single. Until we find Greg Quinn, he’s the prime suspect in the case, although Clark’s a good one too.” He took a bite of the spaghetti.
“From what Kelli told me about Clark and what I’ve seen, I’m not sure he’s capable of planning these murders. He’s impulsive.”
“I have my doubts too, but we still have to investigate him and rule him out. The killer is bold and cunning. He’s getting in and out of places with no detection. I don’t think this is a rash decision on his part. He possibly has been planning it for a while.”
Caitlyn tapped the top file she’d brought into the kitchen. “These four patients and the victims all have similar build, coloring and personalities. They aren’t inherently assertive. Of course, we don’t know if the killer will only target women I work with, but it’s a place to start. Of the four I chose, two are single and two are married. I want to warn them to be careful.”
“Okay. We should have someone watching them, even though the case is already stretching our manpower. But we need to look at all the evidence again and see if we’ve missed anything.”
She stared at her uneaten food. “I agree, but I don’t think I can make sense of anything right now. We can do that first thing tomorrow morning. Once I sat down to eat, I realized I wouldn’t be able to do much more.” She smiled. “That was my mistake. Sitting down.”
Ian chuckled. “I’ve gone fast and furious and then sat down for just a moment and couldn’t get up. Exhaustion can do that to you. And to tell you the truth, I could use the extra rest myself.”
“I don’t know how you get any, when people’s lives are at stake.” Caitlyn finally took her first bite of dinner.
“I’ve discovered I do my best thinking when I’m sleeping. I’ve gone to bed with a problem nagging me and have awakened with a new perspective. Even God took time to rest after creating the world.”
“True.” Caitlyn ate another forkful.
“Tomorrow we’ll also need to look at people who might have a problem with you. Someone could really be after you.”
“I know. Over the years, I’ve worked with patients who have difficult issues. I’ve been able to help many but, like I said, some I haven’t.”
He reached across the table and cupped her hand. His gaze trapped hers. “And I’ve had criminals get away with what they did. Most of my cases are solved, but a few aren’t. One I know who did the crime, but we can’t get enough evidence to take him to court. That’s hard to live with. I still go back to it from time to time. One day I hope to find that evidence.”
“My most difficult one is the young man who committed suicide while under my care. There was so much he wasn’t telling me about a bad situation. In his note he left, he wrote about being abused as a child, and he couldn’t deal with the memories anymore. He never told me that. He’d mentioned being bullied as a child by kids at school but said he was okay now. No matter what I did, I was hitting a wall with him, although I didn’t think he would kill himself. Some patients take a while to feel comfortable to share why they’re really coming to see me.”
“Does his family live in Longhorn?” Ian squeezed her hand gently, then slid his away.
“No. He lived alone. He didn’t talk about his family. They lived in San Antonio.”
“I’d like to look into them. When did this happen?” He picked up his glass and sipped his iced tea.
“Six months ago. His name was Marcus Browning.”
“Any other person who might have a grudge against you?”
“Well, other than Clark, I’d need to think about it.” While finishing her dinner, Caitlyn ran through her current patients first and then ones she’d seen in the past few years. “There was a boyfriend of a young woman who broke it off, and he thought I was the reason. He came to the office last year in the guise of a new patient. He was quite angry at me, but in the end, he calmed down and became my patient. He still is. The young woman moved away. I can’t see him as the killer.”
“What’s his name?”
“Paul Nichols. I can’t tell you anything else about him. He would freak out if he thought the police were investigating him.”
“I can look into him quietly.” Ian stood and took their plates over to the sink.
Caitlyn brought the glasses to the counter, and as he rinsed the dishes, she put them in the dishwasher. As they walked from the kitchen, she said, “I’ll keep thinking about people I’ve interacted with to see if there’s anyone else.”
“I’m going to look into Byron Woods. I have a connection in Washington. If he died while in the service, I’ll find it out. If not, I want to know where he is.”
“That happened seventeen years ago. Why would he come after me now?”
“Because you know what he did. What if he was afraid of you coming forward to accuse him, even though it’s too late to prosecute him? People in the limelight have their life broadcasted all over the place.”
“He isn’t in the limelight.”
“But he could be down the road. We have to consider it.” Ian paused in the hallway. “I won’t say anything unless I find him, if that’ll make you feel better.”
I need to forgive Byron whether he’s alive or dead—somehow. He’s affected my life long enough.
“Keep me informed of anything you find about him.”
At the door of her bedroom, she swung around to say good-night. His proximity stole away the words, while his gaze drew her toward him. She wanted him to kiss her again. Suddenly she needed reassurances from him that he still cared about her, even knowing what happened that summer after graduation.
He started to turn away, stopped and wrapped his arms around her, bringing her up flat against him. “I’m glad we finally talked about seventeen years ago. I’m glad I’m here finally. I shouldn’t have stayed away so long.”
“I’m glad too.” She laced her fingers together behind his neck and tugged him toward her.
His mouth came down on hers as though suppressed emotions were finally released and he was demanding a second chance for them. She met his fervent kiss with her own, pouring out all the feelings she’d kept locked away for years.
When he backed away, she didn’t want to let him go, but they both needed to rest and be ready to go through the case tomorrow—before another woman was murdered.
“Good night, Caitlyn.”
She went on tiptoe, gave him a quick kiss, then hurried into the bedroom she was sharing with Granny, leaning against the closed door with the widest smile on her face.
Good thing Granny was asleep or she would keep her awake, interrogating her about why she looked as if she was floating on a cloud.
A shaft of light streamed through the partially open curtains that her grandmother left that way, so she could see her path to the bed without turning on the overhead light. She felt her way to the window and peeked out before drawing them.
Facing Granny’s house, Caitlyn glimpsed a dark shadow near the patio in the backyard. She closed the drapes, then fumbled her way to the door. Out in the hallway, she crossed to Ian’s room and knocked.
When he answered the door, she said, “There’s someone at Granny’s.”
ELEVEN
“How do you know?” Ian stepped back into his room and grabbed his weapon and flashlight.
“I was closing the curtains when I saw a dark shadow by the patio. It’s not an animal. It’s upright like a man.”
Ian headed down the hallway. “You stay here.”
“Don’t go alone. Take the officer outside with you. Remember what happened at Granny’s house.”
“He needs to stay here guarding you.”
She paused at the the living room. “Sean is here. He’ll protect us.”
Sean rose. “What’s going on?”
Had the killer come back? He hoped he had, so this nightmare would be over. “There may be an intruder at Sally’s house. Call the police to send backup.” Ian opened the front door.
Sean came into the foyer. “I’ll take care of the ladies but have the officer go with you, or I will—and you can’t stop me.” He moved to the exit as though he would follow Ian if he had to.
Ian was very familiar with Sean’s stubborn expression, and he didn’t have time to argue with him. “Officer, there may be an intruder on the property next door.” Ian pointed in the direction of Granny’s house. “We need to check it out.”
As Ian left, Caitlyn’s tensed shoulders sagged with relief as she stood next to Sean. Ian didn’t want her to worry about him.
“Caitlyn said there was someone in the backyard by the patio,” he said quietly. Ian rounded the side of Sally’s house ahead of the officer, using the security light at his grandmother’s place to guide his steps.
He opened the four-foot gate and pressed himself close to the house as he crept to the corner. When he peeked at the patio, he spied the dark shadow near the post that had to be what Caitlyn had seen. He couldn’t tell if it was a person, but he had to treat it that way until he knew for sure.
Signaling the officer to follow him, Ian stepped into the backyard in plain view of the dark shadow. With feet braced a part, Ian held his gun pointed at the apparent intruder while his flashlight illuminated the area.
Revealing a plastic female doll about six feet tall.
The hairs on the nape of his neck rose. The dark shadow might not be an intruder, but someone had put it here. The killer? “When was the last time you checked Sally’s backyard?”
“An hour ago. As per Chief Franklin’s orders, I also shine my light over this area each time too, and a plastic doll wasn’t there at that time.”
Ian edged closer to the dark shadow. While inspecting the rest of the yard, he motioned for the policeman to investigate the back part. Ian swung his flashlight toward the French doors—closed. But were they locked? He approached, gripped the knobs and turned them. They were secure.
Quickly he trailed his light over each window and tested them. All locked. Finally, he returned his attention to the plastic doll, while the officer completed his search. Taped on its chest was a note with the words Stop me! on it. But no photo. He moved closer and looked under the note. Still no picture.
What kind of game was the killer playing? Was he watching him right now?
* * *
Fifteen minutes after Ian left to check her grandmother’s patio, Caitlyn paused at the living room picture window and glanced at the three patrol cars in front of Granny’s house. Where was Ian? Was he all right? What happened?
She couldn’t take not knowing. “Sean, I’m going over there. You stay here with Emma, Alice and Granny.” She started for the front door.
Sean moved fast and blocked her exit. “No. That would force me to go with you and leave our grandmothers alone. Do you want me to do that?”
She shook her head. “But what if—”
“Don’t go there. We haven’t heard any gunshots. The police arrived quickly.”
“But yesterday the guy hit him over his head.”
“This time he has an officer with him and is alert to the possibility of being attacked.”
She started pacing while Sean leaned against the wall near the living room entrance. “How can you be so calm after this past week?”
“No one wants this guy more than me. He killed Jane and came after my brother.” He held out his shaky hand. “And I’m not calm,” he gave her a sheepish smile, “but don’t tell Ian. I’m the big brother. I’m supposed to protect the family.”
“I hope when this is over you’ll come see me. I think I can help you. If not me, I can recommend someone for you to see.”
“I’ll think about it.”
“That’s—”
The sound of a key being inserted into the front door cut off Caitlyn’s reply. She hurried into the foyer, but Sean shielded her with his body. She tensed.
“I’m coming inside,” Ian said on the other side of the closed door.
Relief surged through her, replacing the fear she’d dealt with since Ian went over to Granny’s house. When he entered, she skirted around Sean and threw her arms around Ian. “I’ve been worried. Did you catch the guy?”
“No, but I captured a female plastic doll.”
She pulled back. “Really?”
“Yes. Once forensics is finished with it, do you want me to bring it here?”
She laughed and punched Ian playfully in the upper arm. But quickly the realization someone had placed it in the backyard sobered her. “The killer left it?”
“Yes, with a Stop me! note but no photo. The back of the note had a big question mark on it.”
She blew out a long breath. The implication sent a shiver down her length.
“The police are checking every square foot of the yard and house, as well as Nana’s yard.”
“I’m glad Emma, Alice and Granny are asleep. I don’t want them to know about the plastic doll.”
“To be on the safe side, Sean and I need to go through this house too.” Ian glanced at his older brother, who had retreated to the living room.
The idea the murderer could be in Emma’s house or even the yard caused Caitlyn’s heartbeat to speed up. “Wouldn’t we have heard something?”
“I’m not assuming anything with this killer. We’ll leave Nana’s and your bedrooms to last.”
“What do I do?” Caitlyn crossed her arms, suddenly chilly.
“Stay here. This is just a precaution.” Ian guided her into the living room. “Relax. The sheriff is loaning a deputy to Chief Franklin to stay outside in the backyard. He’ll also keep an eye on Sally’s house.”
“Good.”
As Sean and Ian went in different directions, Caitlyn paced again, exhausted but also wired. Would she get any sleep tonight? If she didn’t, she wasn’t sure she’d be able to put two coherent words together tomorrow. She counted her steps to keep her mind away from the fact she was yet again drawn into this case by the killer.
When they returned to the living room, Caitlyn stopped and swept around to face them. “Everything okay?”
Sean nodded.
“You and I will check out the bedroom where you and your grandmother are staying. Sean will go through Alice and Emma’s room.”
“What are we going to tell them?” Sean asked.
“The truth,” Ian said to his brother.
“We could always
move to our ranch.”
“The house is too big. It would be harder to defend.”
Caitlyn sucked in a deep breath at Ian’s words, as though they were caught in the middle of a war—because of her. “You think the killer is going to attack us here?”
“I don’t know, but we have to be prepared for the possibility.”
Caitlyn looked at Sean. “Don’t tell Alice and Emma that. They’ll worry enough with the fact the killer was in Granny’s backyard.”
The trio walked down the hallway, first inspecting Sean and Ian’s bedroom before moving on to the other two. Caitlyn wished they could check out hers in the dark and hoped that Granny didn’t wake up. But when they entered, Ian flipped on the overhead light while Caitlyn headed for the bed.
As she expected, Granny shot up in bed, blinking. “What’s going on?” She leaned around Caitlyn. “Why’s Ian in here? What happened?”
Caitlyn told Granny what she saw and what Ian had found on her patio. “The police have gone through your house and yard again. The killer didn’t get inside.”
“I don’t think I’ll ever feel safe in that place again.”
Ian paused at the end of the bed. “Everything is fine in here. We went through Nana’s just as a precaution. I hope you can go back to sleep.”
“Sure, young man. I’m used to being scared half to death, then calmly lying down and going back to the dream I was having. What did you think? That the killer was going to climb through the window without me knowing? I’m a light sleeper.”
Caitlyn put her hand on Granny’s shoulder. “Try to go back to sleep. I’ll be back in a few minutes to go to bed myself.” And she didn’t want to deal with her grandmother’s questions she no doubt would have about tonight. Caitlyn waited until Granny had lain down and pulled the covers up to her shoulders before she rose and followed Ian into the corridor.
Down the hall, Sean closed the door on his grandmother’s bedroom. “Everything’s okay. That’s my cue to go to bed.”
Noting the lines on Ian’s tired face, Caitlyn said, “You should go too.”
Texas Ranger Showdown Page 14