by Cat Schield
“Did you really shoot him?”
“Yes.”
“I didn’t realize you owned a gun.”
As Will shifted onto the seat beside her, Megan opened her purse and gave him a peek at the contents. Sure enough, resting between her wallet and a polka-dot makeup pouch was a small pistol with a pink-pearl grip. He couldn’t help himself. Will grinned.
“It’s a 38-caliber Sig Sauer P238.” Seeing his amusement, her eyes glinted combatively. “Wayne at the gun range describes it as a ballistic bauble.”
It was hard to take the deadly weapon seriously when it was tricked out in such a way. No doubt Rich had underestimated the gun—and the woman who’d wielded it—and that had cost him.
“How does it handle?”
“Nice. There’s not much recoil and the pull is about five pounds. I’ve gotten to where I can put nine bullets in a three-inch target at twenty feet.”
“Impressive.”
“Mrs. Sanders,” Special Agent Bird said, coming toward them, his hand extended.
“Special Agent Bird,” Megan murmured, getting to her feet and taking his hand.
The FBI agent was a thin man with a thick mustache who looked more suited to pursuing cases involving money laundering and cyber crime than getting his hands dirty with terrorism or murder. After spending long hours with the agent in connection with the funds stolen from SES and the Texas Cattleman’s Club treasury, Will knew the man was well versed in the intricacies of Rich’s money trail.
“I hear you had an encounter with Richard Lowell tonight.”
“In the parking lot outside my building.”
Will had risen at the same time and stood at Megan’s back, scowling at the special agent. Despite his ever-increasing irritation, Will stayed silent. He’d already spoken his piece earlier in the day and venting wouldn’t help anyone at this point.
“Why don’t you come to the conference room and tell me what happened,” Agent Bird said, gesturing toward the hallway that led deeper into the building.
Megan nodded and began to move in his wake. She hadn’t done more than shift her weight forward, however, before reaching back for Will’s hand.
“Will you come along?” she asked, biting her lip in an uncharacteristic display of uncertainty. “I can’t do this without you.”
Mascara smudges and rubbed-off lipstick were testament to Megan’s upset. Only one other time had Will seen her so out of sorts. Jason’s memorial service. The night they’d made love. Then, like now, glimpsing her vulnerability made him long to pull her into his arms and kiss her worries away, but this was neither the time nor the place for a display of affection.
Too much remained unspoken between them since that fateful night. Will had to be satisfied with the fact that she’d called him, chose him to be with her tonight.
“I’m not going to leave your side.”
With a satisfied nod, she squeezed his fingers and together they made their way toward the conference room Sheriff Battle had set aside as a command post for tracking down Lowell. As they entered the room, Megan glanced around at the whiteboards, taking everything in.
Will, who had been in this room several times in the months since he’d returned home, was frustrated by the lack of progress.
Bird gestured toward a chair as he said, “Mrs. Sanders, you told the receptionist that you shot Richard Lowell?”
“Yes. With this.”
Before she sat, Megan withdrew the small pistol from her purse. Beneath the fluorescent lighting, the gun’s small size and fanciful handle made it look like a toy and Will glanced at the FBI agent to gauge his reaction.
“You’re sure you hit him?”
“I think so. He spun to his left, but I may have only grazed him because he chased me to my car and tried to stop me from driving away.”
From his seat beside her, Will regarded Megan, stunned by her bravery.
The FBI agent nodded, his expression impassive. “How long have you had the gun, Mrs. Sanders?”
“A month, but I only started carrying it recently after I received my conceal and carry permit.”
“Did you mention to anyone that you’d bought the weapon?”
Her lashes fell before she answered. “Dani Moore came with me to the firing range. I didn’t go public about the gun. When no one is supposed to know what’s going on, how could I explain my sudden need for protection?”
Special Agent Bird nodded. “That probably explains why Lowell approached you.”
“Why can’t you figure out where he’s staying?” Will demanded.
The agent’s gaze flicked in Will’s direction before he said to Megan, “Perhaps you could walk me through tonight’s events.”
“I was working late and everyone had left by the time I headed out to the parking lot.”
As Megan spun her story, Will clenched his hands into fists and held them on his knees out of sight. Tonight’s incident had been stressful enough and she didn’t need his anger mucking up the interview.
Still, it was a struggle to keep his frustration in check. Especially as she explained how Lowell had grabbed at her car door as she’d tried to make her escape. He didn’t like what he was hearing. Lowell stalking Megan, watching her, waiting to make his move.
At the same time, Will was astonished by her quick, clear thinking in pulling out her gun and shooting him. He doubted anyone could’ve done better.
“He acted like he expected me to go away with him,” Megan concluded, her energy trailing off as her story wound down.
“Did he say where he was headed?”
“No.” Her eyes went wide and her voice vibrated with dismay. “I should have asked him that. I’m sorry I didn’t. I was just so shocked that he showed up.” She stared at the gun sitting on the polished dark wood of the conference table. “All I could think of was getting away from him.”
“You did the right thing,” Special Agent Bird said, sounding kinder for a second.
Megan visibly relaxed. Had she been worried at the agent’s reaction to her actions that night? Could she have thought for a moment that she’d done something wrong? Will covered her hand with his and gave a light squeeze in support. The grateful smile she shot his way struck his nerves like a gong and reverberated through him long after she grew serious again. More than anything he wanted Megan to be happy.
“Is there anything else that he said that might help us find him?” Bird asked.
A crease formed between Megan’s brows as she considered the question. At last she shook her head. “I’m sorry. I can’t think of anything more. It all happened so fast.”
A knock sounded on the conference room door. A moment later Deputy Jeff Baker poked his head inside and swept the room with troubled eyes.
“Any luck?” Agent Bird asked.
“Lowell was long gone by the time we reached the parking lot.”
“Any sign of blood?”
Baker shook his head. “If Mrs. Sanders shot him, it must’ve been only a graze.”
“I see,” Bird said. “Were you able to get ahold of Sheriff Battle?”
“He’s on his way in.”
When the FBI agent nodded, Deputy Baker withdrew. Bird returned his attention to Megan. “Do you have somewhere safe you can stay tonight? I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to go home.”
“Do you really think he’ll try again tonight?” Will thought Megan had given Lowell something to think about. She wasn’t going to go without a fight.
“I doubt it, but the guy has a tendency to act impulsively. I don’t want to take a chance of losing him again if he does.”
He could see it in the agent’s eyes. They wanted Lowell to try again. Now that he’d demonstrated he wasn’t going to leave town without Megan, she became their best hope for catching him.
Bait.
&n
bsp; Will ground his teeth together in irritation. Part of him understood the agent’s perspective, but the thought that Megan was in danger triggered a powerful need to protect her at all costs.
Setting his hand on Megan’s upper arm and feeling the tremors vibrating through her, he said, “I’d like to take Megan back to the Ace in the Hole tonight.”
“I’m not sure—” Megan began, only to be interrupted by the FBI agent.
“I think it’s a good idea. We can send someone to watch her house in case he tries to contact her again. And we’ll park a squad car near the entrance to your ranch.”
“I could call Aaron,” Megan offered without much conviction.
“I’m your husband,” Will reminded her, overriding the beginnings of another protest. “I should be the one taking care of you.”
Megan opened her mouth, glanced toward the FBI agent, and made her next protest in a low growl. “I don’t need to be taken care of.”
Both Will and Bird ignored her claim.
“We’ll want to keep the gun for a few days,” Agent Bird said. “As soon as we get a look at the parking lot and run some tests, we’ll get back to you.”
Megan nodded and got to her feet. “I hope you can find him. I’m not sure how much more of this I can take.”
“I know this is a difficult time for you. If there’s anything you need or if Lowell contacts you again, please let us know.”
“Thank you.” Megan’s gaze flicked to Will as she headed toward the door.
“Do you want to run by your house and pick some things up?” he asked her.
She shook her head. “I know he’s probably long gone, but I don’t feel safe going there tonight. I don’t suppose there would be a pair of pajamas I could borrow?”
Her half smile zinged through him like a lightning bolt. The thought of her spending the night in his house tempted Will. A little too much.
“I think I can find something for you to sleep in,” he said, surprised by the effort it took to keep his tone casual. The memory of her wearing nothing at all flashed through his thoughts. He nearly winced as his body stirred. Sharing the ranch house with her was going to be challenging.
“I really appreciate what you’re doing for me.”
“Do not thank me. What you’re going through is my fault.”
She stopped in the doorway and turned to face him. “How do you figure that?”
Will slipped his fingers around her arm and guided her to the front door. “Look, it was my life Rich wanted. If I’d paid attention to the signs, maybe he wouldn’t have gotten the jump on me in Mexico.”
“You can’t take responsibility for his actions. No one saw him coming and you aren’t the only one whose life he messed up.”
Will nodded, thinking of all the women Rich had lied to and manipulated. The lives he’d damaged. And the one he’d ended.
Megan’s brother, Jason, who’d investigated the discrepancies surrounding imposter Will and had lost his life because of it. No one blamed Will for what had happened to his good friend because no one knew that Will had called Jason from Mexico and possibly set him on the path to his death.
“But you have to admit that I was his obsession,” Will said. “He wanted my life and he got it.” Silence fell between them as they left the sheriff’s office. As they reached the sidewalk, Will paused in front of Megan’s Porsche. “Do you want to come with me? I can send a couple of the boys back for your car.” He let his gaze drift over the sporty vehicle. “They’ll probably fight over who gets to drive it to the ranch.”
Megan wrapped her arms around herself and regarded the car. “I’m okay.”
“You’ve had a major shock tonight. I’d be surprised if you weren’t rattled.”
“Really, I’m fine.” Megan scowled at Will, but he wasn’t fooled.
“You’ve been through a lot.” He followed her to her car.
Her shoulders drooped. “I’m not the only one.”
“That doesn’t diminish your experience tonight.” Once again he had to bite back myriad questions dancing in the back of his mind. Ever since coming home and finding out she’d married “Will,” he’d struggled to contain his tumultuous feelings for her.
“We have a lot to talk about,” she said unexpectedly, keying the remote and popping her door locks.
“Such as?” He wholeheartedly agreed but wondered if they were on the same page.
“For the last few months we’ve been dancing around each other. Being polite and skirting the reality of our situation.”
Will flashed back to the night of Jason’s memorial. Nothing about that encounter had been polite. It had been raw and emotional. Naked. Panting. Clinging to each other in an effort to feel alive amidst the day’s crushing sadness. Taking support and pleasure in each other’s arms. They’d needed connection and oblivion.
The trouble for Will was that he still needed her. In his bed. At his side. Making love with Megan had blown a hole in what Will believed he wanted in his life. Now he recognized that he wanted more. He just wasn’t sure she felt the same. Or that she ever would.
Will held on to her open door, preventing her from getting away. “You’re right. We haven’t talked much about the emotional ramifications of Rich taking over my life.”
He had dozens of questions bubbling in his brain, but with curiosity came caution. How many of her answers would tell a tale he didn’t want to hear?
“How about we drink a few shots and you can ask me anything with no repercussions?” she offered.
“I think that sounds like a great idea. We really should get to know each other better.”
“The feeling is mutual,” she said, her smile creating more confusion than clarity as she pulled her door out of his grasp.
* * *
On a dark patch of Main Street between two streetlights, Richard Lowell sat behind the wheel of a nondescript pickup truck and watched Will Sanders disappear into the sheriff’s office. Inside were dozens of people who had been actively seeking him for months and sitting here in the open like this was a grave risk to his freedom.
He shifted on the seat and pain blazed in his side where Megan had shot him. Before following her to the police station, he’d checked the damage and determined that the bullet had merely nicked him. It didn’t stop the graze from hurting like a son of a bitch, but he used the discomfort to fuel his determination.
Who would’ve guessed that his wife would’ve grown claws in the months since they parted ways? He’d never imagined she’d buy a gun to defend herself against him, much less use it. This turn of events meant he’d have to plan more carefully if he intended to take her with him across the border into Mexico. Or he could say screw it and take Vanessa with him instead.
The stripper was younger, prettier and more to his taste in bed. Not to mention she did whatever he asked. As long as he indulged her craving for designer fashions and fed her opiate habit, she’d be decent enough company. At least until he wearied of her.
So why wasn’t he putting the truck into gear and heading for Vanessa’s dumpy apartment? He was already weeks past when he should’ve collected the gold and gotten the hell out of town. To linger invited capture. In fact, he would’ve been long gone if Sanders hadn’t showed up at his funeral.
Rich hadn’t foreseen that development and would’ve given anything to see the expression on people’s faces that day. Of course, at the time Rich had been too pissed off to find any humor in the situation. And he still couldn’t believe Will hadn’t died in the explosion. Nor could he figure out where Will had been in the year since. He struck the steering wheel with the heel of his hand. It was just like that bastard to survive and make a triumphant return to Royal.
At least a dozen times in the last few months Rich had thought about going to the Ace in the Hole and finishing the job he’d started off the coast of Mexic
o. But the ranch security was more than a match for him. Instead, he had settled down to wait, knowing Will would eventually make a mistake. Only, he hadn’t. He remained frustratingly vigilant. Which was why Rich had decided to grab Megan, go after the gold and get the hell out of town.
But Megan refused to go and now Rich thought he knew why. Given the speed with which Will had showed up at the police station, no doubt she’d called him. Had Megan transferred her love to the real Will Sanders? The thought twisted in Rich’s gut like a knife. Should he be surprised? She’d confessed to having an unrequited crush on Will in high school. It was what had made it easy for Rich to seduce her.
As for why he’d decided to marry her when so many other women appealed to him more? Rich had noticed Will’s attraction to her, yet he’d never acted on it. He hadn’t been convinced by Will’s denials that there was anything to it and gotten a rush out of moving in on someone Will coveted but had never had. Even better, he liked the idea of destroying every good thing in Sanders’s life from his solid family relationships to his reputation as a businessman and community leader.
But the best part? After he’d finished dismantling Will’s life, he could collect his plundered millions and head somewhere tropical to live like a king for the rest of his days. Or that had been the plan before his dear old friend had turned up alive.
Now, with Will back in Royal, working behind the scenes to fix all the damage Rich had done, it wasn’t good enough that he had stolen millions from Spark Energy Solutions and the Texas Cattleman’s Club. Nope. His hatred ran so much deeper than that. It was about revenge. Payback. Taking what should have been his in the first place. Bottom line? Rich refused to allow Will to be happy. So he had been hanging around, looking for a way to cause the maximum amount of mayhem. Now, seeing his old buddy come to Megan’s rescue, he had an idea how to make Will pay.
Three
Megan smoothed her damp palms along her skirt and eased her foot off the gas as the brake lights on Will’s Land Rover flared ahead. They were nearing the road that led to the Ace in the Hole entry gates. Moments later, her Porsche followed Will’s luxury SUV onto the driveway.