Texas Ranger Showdown

by Margaret Daley

  “Senator, we’re doing everything we can. For some reason, he’s still focusing on Caitlyn, even though she has protection. If he comes near her, we’ll be there to nab him.” That was the only choice for Ian. Circumstances interfered years ago with Caitlyn and him being together. He wanted a chance this time. Were they ever going to be together?

  Ruth checked her watch. “Jack, we need to be with our families. The funeral starts soon. And remember, the governor has come from Austin.”

  “And we need to find a seat. I think the whole town has come out,” Caitlyn said.

  With tears in her eyes, Ruth approached Caitlyn and hugged her. “I appreciate you working with Jane. You helped her.”

  Ian had rarely seen Caitlyn speechless. Tears ran down her face, and she swallowed hard. When the Shephards left the conference room, the police chief followed to make sure everything went smoothly at the funeral.

  Ian paused in front of Caitlyn with a box of tissues. “Are you ready?”

  She pulled out several tissues and used one to swipe away the wet tracks on her cheeks. “Honestly—no, especially after Kelli’s funeral yesterday. I can’t stop thinking I’m responsible, and yet I don’t know how I am.”

  “What the killer is doing is on him, not you. You didn’t murder these women. He did.”

  “I know that in here.” She tapped her temple. “But in here, I feel like I’ve done something wrong to cause this.” She laid her hand over her heart.

  “Then he’ll have won. Don’t let him. God is with you.”

  “Let’s go. I’m glad Jack prohibited the press. This is a time we need to mourn without cameras recording every moment.”

  With hands joined, Ian and Caitlyn walked down the corridor to the sanctuary.

  Lord, protect this town. Protect Caitlyn.

  * * *

  Drained emotionally and physically, Caitlyn stood at the end of the funeral service and followed Granny from the pew with Ian right behind her. His presence helped her to deal with the grief and guilt. Had she done something to cause these deaths? Why was Kelli killed first but not found until after Jane? What connected these murders? She needed to delve into the three victims’ files again—and again until she figured it out. Something she was missing nagged her, but she would stay up all night if necessary to figure out what it was.

  At the back of the church’s nave, Caitlyn lined up to offer her condolences to the Shephard family. She turned to Ian and whispered, “I feel like I know why Jane was a victim. It’s been a couple of days since I went through her folder. When we get back to the house, I want to look at it, then have you look too.”

  Ian lowered his head close to her ear. “Right now, don’t think about the case. Deal with your grief. I’ll help you any way you want later tonight. But I’ve had killers go on a spree where there wasn’t anything that tied the victims together. It happens.”

  When she reached Jack and then Ruth, she hugged each one. “If I can help in any way, please let me know.”

  Ruth clasped Caitlyn’s hand to keep her from turning away and stepped away from the crowd. “I know you think you had something to do with this, but I don’t. You don’t control what others do. You can only control your actions and thoughts. I hope you and the others with you will come to the ranch after this. We decided to have a party to celebrate Jane’s life.”

  One part of her wanted to go back and comb through the three files, but the other part knew the party meant a lot to the Shephard family, and she could see Jane totally agreeing to it. She wouldn’t want the sadness.

  “It won’t be an open house, and we certainly won’t let any reporters into the party.”

  “I’d love to come, Ruth.”

  “Good because I already asked your grandmother, Emma and Alice.”

  Caitlyn glanced at them waiting for her and Ian. “How about Sean?”

  “It’s time my husband and Sean forget the past. Jane would want that. I knew she was dating someone she really liked and figured she would tell me who when she was ready. I’m so glad Sean brought her some happiness before she was killed. She may never have told you the main reason she came to see you was she’d been so upset when Marcus Browning committed suicide. They were friends, and she’d been trying to help him.”

  “She’d told me a friend had died but she never mentioned who.”

  “They went to college together.”

  Jack cleared his throat. “We have others waiting, Ruth.”

  “We’ll talk later, Caitlyn. I’ll see you at the ranch.”

  As Caitlyn joined her grandmother, she wondered if Jane knew about the young man’s abuse as a child. Marcus hadn’t freely talked with her when he first came to see her, but slowly he’d been opening up. That was why she’d been surprised that he killed himself.

  Sean came back from looking outside. “The press is still there.”

  “I guess we’ll have to run the gauntlet again,” Emma said.

  “Why don’t you take the ladies first, Sean, then Caitlyn and I will leave the church? They hopefully won’t bother you too much.”

  As most of the people at the funeral filed out, Caitlyn stood at a window near the front double doors with Ian, while Granny and the others pushed their way through the crowd of reporters. A couple of them asked questions, but Sean escorted the ladies safely to the SUV.

  “Ruth wants all of us, including Sean, to come to the ranch for a get-together to celebrate Jane’s life,” Caitlyn said to Ian.

  “I know. Jack asked me while you and Ruth were talking. All the family and close friends of theirs and Jane’s have been invited. I’m surprised about Sean. Jack didn’t say anything about him.”

  “That was Ruth’s idea, and I think it would be good for Sean and Jack to put an end to this feud.”

  “Does Sean know?”

  “Probably not. I’ll tell him in the car. If he doesn’t want to, that’s fine, but I need to go. I found out from Ruth a piece of information I hadn’t known about Jane. There may be more. Then, when we come back home, I’ll go through her file.”

  “What did she tell you?”

  Caitlyn told him as they made their way to the exit. “I’m surprised we hadn’t talked about Marcus’s suicide. We discussed a lot of things, but Jane never said a word about him. Ready?”

  Ian nodded.

  Together they left the church. As before, Ian sheltered her from the reporters, although that didn’t stop some of them from gathering around the SUV and shouting the same questions as before. Sean honked his horn and eased the car forward. Finally, the press in front moved back, and Sean drove the SUV from the parking lot.

  When Caitlyn told the others about the invitation to the Shephard ranch, everyone agreed except Sean. He remained quiet. “Sean, Ruth especially wanted you to come. Jack might not have known about you and Jane, but she knew her daughter was seeing someone. You were important to Jane. That’s why Ruth wants you there.”

  “Think about what Jane would want, dear,” Emma said from the front seat. “Please. It will help you to talk about her.”

  Sean slanted a look at his grandmother. “I will, but I’m stopping at our ranch and getting my truck. That way, I can leave if things don’t work out but y’all can stay.”

  At the Pierce ranch, Emma declared she would ride with Sean. Caitlyn moved to the front passenger seat, while Ian pointed the SUV toward the highway. When they approached the Shephards’ gates, about ten people were prowling around until they saw Ian’s car. He pulled up to a speaker and rolled down his window to announce himself and gain entry.

  Immediately, an older man shoved a microphone into Ian’s face. “What is the status of the case?”

  “Go home. There won’t be an announcement until tomorrow morning at nine at the Longhorn Police Department. You’ll get all the information we can release, and the senator has agreed to
make a statement then, if the media will let his family mourn Jane’s death in peace today.”

  This was the first Caitlyn had heard about the press conference. She hoped it would keep the reporters away for the rest of the day, at least for the Shephard family.

  The man conversed with the other people hanging around the gate. Slowly, several of them ambled to their vehicles and began leaving. In the meantime, Ian notified the main house he had arrived.

  “Did you and Jack decide to do that?”

  “Chief Franklin came up with it today and told me after the funeral. At least for a few hours, it’ll give the family some breathing room.”

  “But there really isn’t any new information.”

  “No, but later we’re going to work. The BOLO is out on Greg Quinn throughout the country. He might be apprehended between now and then. Jack made a statement at the beginning, and he will again with some additional information about a fund being set up for any tips on the whereabouts of Quinn.”

  “I’m praying there is,” Granny said from the back seat.

  “Me too,” Alice chimed in.

  When the gates opened, Ian drove through, keeping an eye on the area behind his SUV in case a reporter tried to sneak in. The last media car turned around and headed in the direction of Longhorn. Before the gates closed, Sean’s vehicle appeared and followed his onto the property.

  There were at least thirty vehicles parked out front of the Shephards’ home. They seemed to be the last of the guests to arrive, since they had left the church after most of the mourners, including Jack and Ruth. She’d hoped the press would leave once the Shephards did. But the reporters were like cattle trying to munch on the grass on the other side of the pasture fence.

  One of Jane’s cousins let them into the house. “I’m Patricia. The others are in the great room at the back of the house. Let me show you there.”

  Caitlyn didn’t tell her she’d been in the Shephards’ house before and was familiar with its layout. Instead she let Jane’s relative lead the way. The first person she saw in the large room that flowed out onto the deck was Sheriff Mason. He disengaged from a group he was speaking to and approached her. Emma, Granny and Alice headed for several ladies they knew, while Sean stayed with Caitlyn and Ian.

  The sheriff planted himself between Ian and her. “How are you holding up, Caitlyn?”

  “I’ll never complain about it being quiet in Longhorn again.”

  Tom chuckled. “That’s the way I like it too.” He shifted his attention to Ian. “I just got a text that Greg Quinn’s car has been discovered in a lake near Austin.”

  “But no Greg?” Caitlyn asked before Ian had a chance.

  “No. The police are working to bring it up out of the water. We’ll know more later.”

  “Let’s hope this will lead us to the killer.” Ian gestured toward the police chief coming into the room. “Does he know?”

  “Yes. Since Quinn dumped his car, we’re checking stolen cars reported the last few days and visiting dealerships to see if he bought something else to drive.”

  Chief Franklin joined them. “Tom has told you about the lead, I take it? I’m optimistic about this. If he’s fled the area that means the people of Longhorn are safe.”

  If he’s fled. She was missing something—just out of reach for her. She’d also review Missy’s file. She didn’t talk a lot about her husband, but Caitlyn had felt something was off there. “Excuse me. I’ll leave you to talk about the case.” She turned and stepped away.

  When Ian stopped her, he stood close. “Are you all right?”

  “I guess I won’t believe it’s over until he’s actually caught, not just on the run. He could come back here at any time. Or he ditched his car there to focus the search in Austin rather than here.”

  “Do you want to go back to Nana’s?”

  “No, I still need to speak to Ruth again, and I want to be here for support.” She scanned the guests and found Jane’s mom talking with Sean. She hoped Ruth could mend the rift between the two ranch families for the Shephards’ sake but for Sean’s also. “We should stay for a while at least. I’m going to freshen up. I won’t be long.”

  In the hall, Caitlyn approached a maid and asked, “Where’s the powder room?”

  “There are two.” The young woman gave her directions to them.

  When Caitlyn tried the door of the nearest one off the foyer, it was locked. Jane’s cousin greeted a group of six with the mayor at the door. As Caitlyn headed for the other powder room, she realized what she really needed was some quiet and solitude after days of being in a house with five others. She was used to being alone. She ducked into the nearest vacant room, a library. Faint voices drifted to her, but at least it was much quieter in here.

  She sat in a wingback, facing a wall of books. She needed to decide what other questions she would ask Ruth about Jane. As she put her purse on the floor against the leg of the chair, she flashed back to the guests in the foyer.

  Rob Owens had been in the rear of the mayor’s group. She hadn’t realized he was friends with the mayor. Had he known Jane well? She remembered several times she’d seen them talking at the medical clinic when Jane came for her appointments. Rob was an excellent nurse and always friendly to the patients and staff, but his appearance at the Shephards’ house seemed—

  She suddenly realized what had been nagging her, but how did that help the case?

  She began to rise when a hand clamped on her shoulder and shoved her back down. She kicked the air, one shoe flying off. A white cloth covered her nose and mouth, and a sickly sweet smell assailed her senses.

  Darkness swamped her.

  THIRTEEN

  While Ian waited for Caitlyn to return to the great room, he observed the various guests at the Shephards’ house. The most promising sight was Sean and Ruth talking together. There was no hostility on his brother’s face, and Ruth even smiled at Sean when red colored his cheeks. He’d rarely seen his brother blush.

  Ian glanced at his watch. Caitlyn should have returned to the party—no, gathering in honor of Jane—by now. When she’d felt overwhelmed in the past, she would seek out a place to be alone, and he could certainly understand her feeling that way with what had happened in the past five days. The time had crawled by.

  Tom read something on his phone, looked up at Ian and hurried his way. “I got a text about Greg’s car. They found his body in the trunk, like Kelli.”

  The words and their implication slowly sank into Ian’s brain. “He isn’t the killer.” The news paralyzed him for a few seconds before he swung around and strode toward the exit.

  Where was Caitlyn? Who was the killer, then, if not Quinn or Williams?

  “I need to find Caitlyn. She went to the restroom,” Ian said to the sheriff, who followed him.

  A maid hovered in the doorway. A guest talking to the young woman left as Ian and Tom approached.

  “Where is the guest bathroom?” Ian looked up and down the corridor.

  The maid gave them directions.

  “You take the one near the foyer. I’ll check the other by the kitchen.” While Ian walked down the hallway, he glanced into all the rooms with open doors. His stomach churned like a boiling pit of acid.

  When Ian found the other restroom, he knocked on the door. A deep male voice said, “I’m almost through.”

  A long minute later, the mayor emerged from the small room.

  “Have you seen Caitlyn recently? I’m looking for her.”

  The balding man shook his head, then started down the hall but stopped after a few feet and glanced back. “I did see her a while back, when I first arrived at the house.”

  “How long ago?”

  “Ten minutes or so.”

  “Was she alone?”

  “Yes. If I see her, I’ll let her know you’re looking for her.” />
  Ian returned to the great room and scanned it for Caitlyn. He still didn’t see her, but he spied Chief Franklin and motioned for him to join him in the hallway. Moving away from the doorway, Ian texted Tom to join them. They needed to coordinate a plan to find Caitlyn. He didn’t have a good feeling about this, and he never ignored his instincts.

  “What’s wrong?” the police chief asked.

  “Caitlyn’s missing.” Ian explained what she was going to do and where he’d checked.

  Tom approached. “I couldn’t find her.”

  “We now know Greg isn’t the killer. It’s possible Caitlyn was taken by the real one. We need to search the whole house.” Ian’s heartbeat increased at a dizzying pace at the thought of Caitlyn being the next victim—the question mark on the note left Saturday night. “Don, can you let Jack know what we’re doing and keep all the guests in the great room, while Tom and I go through the ground floor first? No one should leave.”

  “Will do.” The police chief hurried down the corridor.

  “Call for backup. I don’t have a good feeling about this, Tom.”

  The sheriff nodded. “I’ll cover this side of the house while you go through the left part. A couple of deputies will be here soon if we have to expand our search to the second and third floors.”

  As Ian passed the great room, Chief Franklin was talking to Jack. The senator’s face paled. Ian accelerated his pace, praying he was overreacting to the situation. He first went through the den, opening and closing any door he encountered. Nothing. He moved to the next room, an office. He checked behind furniture and anyplace where Caitlyn could be.

  What if he found her dead like the other victims?

  Lord, help me find her—alive!

  For years he’d turned away from God, but in the past few he’d realized that, instead of distancing himself from the Lord, he’d needed more than anything to grow closer. Strengthening his relationship with Him had made his job less stressful—knowing He was always there.