“Bobby Joe,” she said. “He’s the only one who hates me enough to do this.”
Maybe. But this might not be about Rayna. “Or you’re the perfect scapegoat because of the bad blood between you and the McCalls.”
Of course, at the moment that bad blood didn’t look so bad. After all, Rayna was in his arms, and when she lifted her head and looked up at him, it put their mouths much too close together. The memories came. The good ones. Of other times when he’d kissed her and she’d responded.
Much like she was responding now.
Her breath kicked up a notch, and he could see her pulse fluttering in her throat. And he caught her scent. Something warm and silky. Definitely nothing that had come from a bottle, and it stirred him in a very bad way. That was why Court stepped back before he made a mistake both Rayna and he would regret.
Well, they’d regret it afterward anyway.
He was certain there wouldn’t be much of anything but pleasure during the actual kissing.
“We keep doing that,” she said.
He didn’t ask her to clarify. Because he knew. They kept moving much too close to giving in to this heat. That reminder caused him to take yet another step away from her, and before he could go back and play with fire, he made that call to Rachel. But it wasn’t his sister who answered.
It was his mother.
“Rachel left her phone by my bed when she went to make me some tea,” his mother said. “She won’t be long though. Is everything okay? Egan and she are whispering.”
Court wanted to assure her that everything was okay. But it wasn’t. Far from it. “Dad is still asleep,” he said.
“I guess that’s good. He probably needs to rest and heal. If Warren really did do this to me, then I can’t forgive him.”
“Just give it some time,” he said, because Court didn’t know what else to say.
“Time won’t fix this. I’m sorry,” she added. “They gave me some pills, and they’ve made me a little woozy. Did you want me to get Rachel for you?”
“No, I need to talk to you.” And because he had no choice, Court had to pause and take a deep breath. “We brought Alma Lawton into the sheriff’s office for questioning.”
“I see.” His mother paused, too. “Did she know about me?”
Court went with the truth on this. “Yes. She also admitted to the affair.”
Another sob. “Oh, God. It’s true.”
“According to Alma. But you still need to talk to Dad about it.” In fact, Court definitely wanted to hear a confession from his father’s own mouth, and part of him wouldn’t fully believe it until he heard it.
“No, I can’t talk to him. If Warren did have an affair with that Alma, then he had a child with her. A son.”
Court was a little surprised that his mother could put all of that together—especially considering she’d been given those sedatives. It also made him wonder who’d told Helen about Raleigh. Maybe she’d overheard it in one of those whispered conversations she’d mentioned.
“Yes, they possibly had a son,” Court admitted, but he didn’t give her a chance to ask him any more about that. He jumped right into his question. “Alma said you had coffee with a woman named Janet in Durango Ridge. Did you?”
“No. I don’t know a Janet.” She didn’t pause that time.
Court felt the relief. He could see that relief in Rayna’s eyes, too, since she was still close enough to hear the phone conversation. But the relief didn’t last because Court knew that Janet might not even be the PI’s real name.
“Did you meet with a woman in Durango Ridge?” Court pressed.
“Yes.”
There went the rest of his relief. At least his mother hadn’t denied it, and that meant he might be able to get the truth from her. He only hoped the truth didn’t lead to her arrest.
“I met with a reporter named Milly Anderson,” Helen added a moment later. “She said she was working on the old Hannah Neal murder case. You know, the one that’s troubled your father for the past three years.”
There was no need for his mother to add that last sentence. Because Court definitely knew about Hannah’s case. Her murder was still unsolved. “Why did Milly want to talk to you about Hannah?” Court asked.
“Because she’s an investigative reporter. You know, one of those journalists who digs through cold cases. She didn’t really have anything new. I guess she thought maybe I would remember something that would help her.”
Court doubted that. No, Janet or whatever her name was had probably had a different agenda in mind. Court just didn’t know what that was.
“Did you tell Dad about this chat with Milly?” Court continued.
“I mentioned it to him. He said I shouldn’t talk to any other reporters, that Hannah’s murder was a police matter. He seemed really angry or something. God,” she quickly added, “you don’t think Milly had anything to do with Alma, do you?”
Court intended to find out. That meant digging more into Alma’s background and talking to Raleigh. He might have run into Milly, as well.
“Oh, here’s Egan,” his mother said. “He’s motioning to talk to you.”
“I just got off the phone with Thea,” Egan explained the moment he came on the line. “She told me what Alma said. You asked Mom if it was true?”
“Yes, she met with Janet in Durango Ridge.”
Egan cursed, causing their mother to scold him, and Court heard footsteps, letting him know that Egan was taking this conversation out of Helen’s earshot.
“Janet told Mom she was a reporter,” Court added when he could no longer hear his brother moving around. “How is Mom, by the way?”
“Upset. Dr. Winters wants her to have a psych eval, and he’s set her up an appointment.”
That caused his chest to tighten. “You think she needs that?”
“Yeah.”
Court wished he’d heard some doubt in Egan’s voice. He didn’t.
“I’ll keep you posted on that,” Egan went on. “In the meantime, the CSIs tested the guns at Rayna’s house, and none had been fired recently. That’s good news. For her, anyway.”
Yes, it was, and while Court figured that pleased her, it also wasn’t a surprise. Rayna had been adamant from the start that she hadn’t fired a weapon. Especially one aimed at Warren.
“Thea said other than Mom’s meeting with Janet, she didn’t get much else from Alma,” Egan continued. “Alma did agree to have her hands tested for gunshot residue. There wasn’t any. And she also said the CSIs could test the weapons she owned.”
Court was betting those wouldn’t be a match, either. If Alma had been behind the attacks, she wouldn’t have used her own gun. And she would have taken precautions to make sure there was no residue.
“What’s going on between Rayna and you?” Egan came out and asked.
The question threw Court. It threw Rayna, too, because her eyes widened in surprise. “What do you mean?” Court grumbled.
“You know what I mean. Are you two involved again? And no, it’s not just me being nosy. I don’t care who you take to your bed. I just want to make sure you’re not sleeping with a woman who’s neck deep in a murder investigation.”
“I’m not sleeping with her.” Though Court had thought about it. Those thoughts had come shortly after their near kiss. Heck, they were still coming now.
“Good. I just wanted to make sure you hadn’t lost your mind.” Egan paused. “I’m guessing Rayna thinks Bobby Joe is responsible for the attacks.”
“Yes,” she answered.
Egan didn’t seem surprised that Rayna had been close enough to Court to hear what they were saying. “I figured as much. Of course, I don’t believe it, but I’ll take a harder look at Mitch. Once this situation with Mom is settled.” And with that, Egan ended the call.
“I’m sorry,”
Rayna said. “I probably shouldn’t have let Egan know I was listening.”
“He already knew.” Court wished that weren’t true, but Egan was definitely aware of the attraction between Rayna and him. Aware, too, of the problems that it could cause.
“Let me check on my dad, and we can go back to the station,” Court told her. “I want to question Bo.”
He opened the door to his father’s room and came face-to-face with David. “I was just coming to get you.” The guard stepped back. “Your father’s awake.”
Chapter Nine
Rayna stopped in her tracks after hearing what the guard said to Court. Your father’s awake. That meant Court was finally going to get to question Warren about the affair and the attack, and he almost certainly wouldn’t want her there to hear it.
Or so she thought.
Court motioned for her to follow him. “It’ll be safer in here. Bo might not have been working alone.”
That caused her throat to snap shut, and she wondered why that hadn’t already occurred to her. It was because there was a tornado of emotions going on in her head right now. In her heart, too. But Rayna tried to push all of that aside for the possible firestorm they were about to face.
“I’ll let the nurses know he’s conscious,” David said, heading out into the hall.
“Dad,” Court greeted. “You know why you’re here in the hospital?”
Warren nodded. “Someone shot me.”
Rayna stayed back against the wall as Court walked to his father’s bed. She’d hoped that Warren wouldn’t even noticed her.
He did.
Warren looked past Court and directly at her. Court followed his father’s gaze and shook his head. “Rayna’s not the one who tried to kill you.”
“No. But it looks as if someone tried to kill her.” He’d no doubt seen the injury on her head before Warren’s attention shifted to Court. “I know you’ll ask, but I didn’t see the person who shot me.”
Too bad. Rayna was hoping they could have cleared all of this up right now.
“I felt the bullet go into my chest.” Warren touched that part of his body. “I fell, and the only thing I remember after that is bits and pieces of conversations I’ve heard from the nurses and guards.”
“What did you hear?” Court pressed.
Warren groaned softly and closed his eyes for a moment. “That there was another attack. Are you two okay?”
“Fine.” Court sounded disappointed. And probably was. If that was all his father could recall, then there was going to be a lot more information they’d need to gather. “What about you? Are you in much pain?”
Warren shook his head, but that was probably a lie, since the head shake caused him to wince a little. That was the only reaction he managed to have, because the door flew open and one of the nurses came in. Rayna knew the woman, Ellen Carter, and she made a beeline to Warren, immediately checking one of the monitors.
“I’ll let the doctor know you’re awake.” Ellen glanced at both Rayna and Court. “I know you’ll want to question him about the shooting, but don’t overdo it.”
Court nodded but didn’t say anything. Neither did Warren until the nurse was out of the room. “How’s your mother? Is she here?”
“Not at the moment.” Court didn’t pause too long before he said that. “She’s at the ranch with Rachel and Egan.”
“Egan,” Warren repeated. “Yes, he should be with her. Rachel, too.” He looked up at Court again. “Do you have the person who shot me in custody?”
“No.” Court took a deep breath. “But we have two dead bodies. Both women. One was an actress that we believe was posing as Rayna to set her up to take the blame for your shooting. The second one was perhaps a PI who was linked to you. She was using the name Janet Bolin.”
For a man who’d just again regained consciousness after surgery, Warren suddenly seemed very alert. And frustrated. Because he groaned. “That’s not her real name. It’s Jennifer Reeves.”
She couldn’t see Court’s face, but he did pull back his shoulders. If Warren knew the woman’s real name, then he was indeed linked to her.
“You said she’s dead?” Warren questioned.
“Murdered,” Court clarified.
Warren grimaced and then cursed. “How? Did the person who shot me also kill her?”
“We’re still trying to sort that out.” Court dragged up a chair and sat next to his father’s bed. “After surgery, you kept saying someone’s name. Alma.”
And the silence began. However, Warren did have a response. The shock, followed by a mumbled “Ah, hell.”
That probably wasn’t what Court wanted to hear. Maybe he had still held out hope that the affair was some kind of misunderstanding.
Warren looked Court straight in the eyes. “Your mother knows?”
Court nodded. “We all know. Griff filled in a few blanks for us.”
Warren’s mouth tightened. “He had no right. If I’d wanted all of you to know, it should have come from me.”
“But it didn’t,” Court quickly pointed out. There was anger in his voice. Understandably so. That “if” probably didn’t set well with him, and it meant that Warren hadn’t planned on confessing to the affair anytime soon.
“That’s why your mother’s not here,” Warren added. He also added some more profanity. “Call her now. Tell her I want to see her.”
“That’s not a good idea.” Court didn’t break eye contact with Warren when he said that, either. “The doctor sedated her, and she needs some rest.”
Warren threw back the covers as if to get up, but Court quickly stopped him. “You need your rest, too. And I need answers. You really had an affair with Alma Lawton for thirty-five years?”
Warren stared at him almost defiantly. Obviously, he wasn’t a man accustomed to being challenged, but Rayna saw the exact moment he mentally backed down. Warren stared at his hands. “What else do you know about her?”
Rayna wanted to groan. Even now after he’d been caught, Warren wasn’t ready to spill everything.
“I know Alma gave birth to your son Raleigh,” Court readily answered. “And that you and Alma only ended things a couple of months ago. I believe you were concerned Alma might go to Mom, and that’s why you hired the PI.” He paused. “How am I doing so far?”
Warren’s mouth tightened even more. “Alma and I didn’t end things. I did. I stopped seeing her, and she was upset about that. So, yes, I thought she might go to your mother.”
“Why would Jennifer aka Janet meet with Mom in Durango Ridge?” Court pressed.
Warren lifted his head. “She wouldn’t have.”
“She did. Or rather according to Alma, they did. She said she saw them at a coffee shop there.”
“You’ve already talked to Alma?” Warren snapped.
“Thea interviewed her. You have to know that she’s a suspect. You really think she could have been the one to shoot you though?”
“No.” But Warren immediately shook his head. “Alma’s never done anything violent before.”
That didn’t mean she hadn’t done this. It depended just how riled Alma was. Warren’s scorned lover could have shot him, set up Rayna to take the fall, and when that didn’t work, she could have hired someone to shoot at Court and her.
But that still didn’t explain why the PI that Warren had hired would meet with Helen.
The door opened, and the doctor came into the room. He no doubt noticed the agitation on his patient’s face because he huffed and turned to Court. “I need to examine Warren now. You two can wait out in the hall.”
That definitely had a “get out of here” tone to it, and Rayna couldn’t blame him. Yes, Warren had messed up big-time, but he was still in serious condition. Just a day earlier, he’d been at death’s door, and the doctor probably wanted to give Warren some time t
o mend.
Court and she went out of the room, and he immediately took out his phone. He pulled up Egan’s number, but he didn’t press it. Court just mumbled some profanity and looked at her.
“I’ll get you out of here soon,” he said.
She got the feeling that he’d wanted to say something else. Maybe an apology or something. She didn’t want one. Because none of this was his fault, and it was obvious that what his father had done was tearing him apart.
Court stared at her a moment longer before he finally pressed Egan’s number, and this time he put the call on speaker. Court opened his mouth, probably to tell Egan that Warren was awake, but Egan spoke before he could speak.
“Mom swallowed a bunch of pills,” Egan blurted out. “I’ve already called an ambulance, but she’s unconscious.”
Oh, mercy. Not this. Court and his family already had enough on their plates.
“When did this happen?” Court snapped.
“I’m not sure. Rachel’s the one who found her. Are you still at the hospital?”
“Yeah. Dad is finally awake. I’ll talk to you about it when you get here. You are coming in the ambulance with Mom, aren’t you?”
“I am, but I’m not sure they’ll keep her there. Once they’ve pumped her stomach or whatever the hell it is they’ll do, she’ll probably have to go to a place that has a psych ward.”
Court groaned, scrubbed his hand over his face. “I’ll meet you at the ER. How soon before you get here?”
“Soon. The ambulance is already on the way out here.”
Still, that could be a good thirty minutes by the time the medics picked up Helen at the ranch and brought her in.
Court got them moving when he ended his call with Egan. Maybe because he needed to put some breathing room between his father and him. Also, he might not want to have to tell Warren about this.
He stopped just short of the ER waiting room, and they peered around the corner. The Rangers were still there, so hopefully that meant a gunman wouldn’t be stupid enough to show up there.
“I’m sorry,” Court said.
Since she was about to tell him the same thing, Rayna lifted her eyebrow. “For what?”
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