by Lynn Shannon
Tara fiddled with the cross around her neck. “When did you get back into town?”
“Tonight. The case was a rough one. Sorry about running out of the adoption proceeding straight after. I didn’t have a lot of time to spare.”
“I wasn’t expecting you to come at all. It meant a lot you did.”
Grady was part of her support system, which also included his parents and sisters. The West family had been a part of her life for as long as she could remember. Yet another reason why she refused to indulge in this fleeting attraction. To have the relationship go down in flames wouldn’t just threaten her friendship with Grady, it would put the only family she had left at risk.
“It looked like everything went off without a hitch.”
“It did. Vikki naming me as Maddy’s guardian made the process straightforward. I wish her murder investigation was going as quickly.”
Maddy’s mother had been shot in cold blood on a deserted stretch of country road five months ago. Tara hated to think of Vikki’s last moments, and now that she’d faced down a gunman herself, her imagination filled in the blanks far too well. Goose bumps broke out along her arms, and she hugged herself.
“I’ve been staying in touch with the detectives,” Grady said. “They’re running down every lead.”
“I know.” She sighed. “Do you think I should increase the reward? I can’t believe no one saw her in the hours before her death.”
She couldn’t afford the money. Opening her own medical practice had taken most of her savings and the adoption had been an unexpected expense. But what could she do? Vikki didn’t deserve to die that way, and Maddy, when she got older, would need answers.
“Hold on. Let me talk with the detectives more. Maybe I’ll see some thread they haven’t considered pulling yet.” He glanced in the rearview mirror at Maddy in the car seat. “I’m just afraid the answers may not give her—or you—any comfort.”
She wanted to disagree, but couldn’t. Vikki, by her own admission, had a troubled past. Becoming pregnant with Maddy had been a catalyst for the single mother to turn her life around, but Tara was wise enough to know Vikki’s past could have something to do with her murder. It was a heartbreaking proposition.
She bit her lip. “I never understood those parents who call in the middle of the night because their child has the hiccups. I mean, I got it, but I never really got it. Now, I do. Parenthood changes you. It’s a messy ball of amazingness wrapped up in fear and paranoia. I want to smother her in cotton balls and keep her safe all the time, but logically, I know I can’t. It’s…I don’t know. It’s hard to describe.”
“From what I can tell, it’s normal. Happened to my sister. Lauren was the calmest of us all until the twins were born. Then she turned into a walking encyclopedia of warnings and dangers.” He glanced at her. “It just means you care.”
She did care. So much it was terrifying.
“I don’t know when it happened, Grady. Sometime between Vikki’s death and the adoption, I fell in love with her.”
And she would do anything to keep Maddy safe. Anything.
Grady snuck a glance at Tara out of the corner of his eye. Her head rested against the back of the seat and her eyes were shut. Silky strands of hair played with the delicate curve of her cheek marred with a faint bruise. Ten to one, she was hurting and too stubborn to admit it. His jaw tightened. Whoever had attacked her was going to get his due.
Grady would make sure of it.
He pulled into her neighborhood. Tara’s house was a small two-bedroom clapboard with blue shutters and a porch swing. Parking in the driveway, he scanned the area.
Quiet.
Tara opened her eyes, winced, and lifted a hand to her hair.
Grady frowned. “I’m calling Janet to come and stay the night.”
“Please don’t.”
She placed a hand on his arm, stopping him. He swore the heat of her touch went straight through the sleeve of his sports jacket.
“I need some pain medication and rest. That’s all.”
He hesitated, but it was the second time she’d said no. He wouldn’t dismiss her wishes. Grady turned off the engine. “Let’s get you guys inside.”
He rounded the truck to open her door. She removed Maddy’s car seat. The baby was still sleeping.
“I’ll take her.” His fingers brushed against Tara’s as he grabbed the handle of the carrier. His heart skipped a beat. “You have your house keys?”
“Yes. The deputy found them in the parking lot.” She frowned. “My car is still there. I need it to get to work tomorrow morning. And my groceries. I didn’t even think about them.”
“I have your groceries. They’re in my truck, although not everything survived. Is Mom watching Maddy for you tomorrow?”
“Yes. She’s been amazing. I couldn’t open the clinic on Saturdays without her help, and it’s made a huge difference for my patients with nine-to-five jobs.”
“I’ll pick you up in the morning and take you to your car. Then I’ll drive Maddy out to the ranch.” His boots thumped against the entry tile. “That way, you can sleep in a little longer. Problem solved.”
He set the baby carrier on the dining room table. Tara’s gaze bounced around, and she hurried to flip on several lights before unstrapping Maddy. The baby didn’t stir.
“I’ll do a quick check of your doors and windows before I leave. Make sure everything is secure.”
“Thank you, Grady.” She bit her lip. “It’s probably silly to be worried—”
“Not at all. You’ve had a serious scare. I’ll start in Maddy’s room. That way you can lay her down and I won’t accidentally wake her up.”
He knew firsthand the dangers of waking a sleeping baby. Being shot had left him recuperating with a ridiculous amount of time on his hands. His older sister Lauren had twins around the same time. Helping to take care of his niece and nephew had saved his sanity and given him purpose during a period of his life he’d desperately needed it.
In the nursery, Grady checked the windows. All locked up tight. He moved on to the other rooms, methodically inspecting every entry point. When he circled back to the front door, he opened it.
He scanned the street, noting everything. The wind chimes on the porch, the beat-up truck two doors down, Vikki Spencer’s empty house across the street. It smelled of damp grass and leaves. Somewhere a dog barked.
He went down the drive and opened his truck to retrieve Tara’s groceries. Flashes of what might’ve transpired had he not interrupted the attack made his stomach churn. While waiting for Tara at the hospital, he’d alternated between worrying for her and running through the events in his mind. Something about the robbery was bothering him, but he couldn’t quite pinpoint what it was.
He set the canvas bags on the dining room table. A flare of headlights made their way down the street. The vehicle slowed. Grady parted the curtains near the front door with the edge of his finger. The street light reflected off a Sweetgrass Police Department logo. He relaxed. The cavalry were here.
Footsteps came down the stairs. “What are you looking at?”
“Patrol car. I asked for special rounds around your house tonight.” He dropped the curtain back into place. “It’s nothing to be worried about. Just an extra precaution.”
Her shoulders dropped. “You thought of everything.”
“Believe it or not, it’s my job.” He tapped on the ranger badge pinned above his shirt pocket. “If you were to ask me to read an X-ray or prescribe antibiotics, I’m at a complete loss.”
Her lips turned up at the corners. His breath hitched. Gosh, she was beautiful. It hit him every time he looked at her. She used to be his younger sister’s pesky friend. Now, he saw her as anything but. Her hair was cut short, framing mahogany eyes and a face that was leaner and more defined than he remembered. But it was her personality that truly held him captive. Smart, honest, and unrelentingly kind.
He’d debated coming clean about his feelings, but
held back. Getting involved with his sister’s best friend was a hazardous proposition. Plus, Tara had an I’m-not-interested-so-don’t-ask wall he couldn’t quite figure out how to bypass.
“I’m going to make a cup of tea,” she said. “Would you like some? I can scrounge up some of those buttery cookies you like so much.”
“Well, if there’s a cookie involved, I’m there.”
She laughed. “Green tea, okay?”
He wouldn’t know green tea from any other kind. He was a coffee man. But Tara obviously didn’t want him to leave yet and he wasn’t going anywhere until she was ready. “Whatever you have is fine.”
He leaned against the divider between the kitchen and rest of the living area. Tara pulled out a container of cookies from the pantry and removed the lid. The scents of butter and vanilla wafted out. A warm feeling lodged in his chest to see the square ones with the sugar sprinkles—his favorite—hadn’t been touched. Had she saved them for him?
Don’t be ridiculous. He gave himself a mental shake. They’re Janet’s favorite too.
“Some night, huh?” Tara filled an electric kettle with water. “I bet you didn’t think a quick run to the grocery store would end with saving a damsel in distress.”
He snorted, fishing a cookie out of the pile. “You’re no damsel in distress. The detective told me you knocked the gun out of the perpetrator’s hands.”
Her cheeks turned pink as she pulled two mugs down from the cabinet. “With the grocery sacks. Thank goodness the formula cans were heavy.”
“Well, the weapon was recovered from the scene. Hopefully, we’ll get forensics from it.”
“The detective who took my statement said it was a solid lead. Apparently, they’ve had several similar robberies in Navasota. He’s hoping the gun will help them get this guy.”
His phone beeped. He tossed the last bit of cookie in his mouth and read the text.
“They found your purse.” The dessert turned sour in his stomach. The lingering sense of unease he’d been fighting with since the parking lot grew. “The money and credit cards were gone, along with your cell phone, but the rest of it appears to be intact. You won’t have to replace your driver’s license after all.”
“Well, that’s one small favor.” She blew on her tea then took a sip. “I called the bank from the hospital and they hadn’t had any fraudulent charges yet. All of that for the twenty dollars in cash in my wallet and my dry-cleaning slips.”
Tara’s shoulders were tense and her mouth tight. Continuing to talk about the attack wasn’t going to help her sleep tonight. Time to change the subject.
“Tell me the truth. How stupid is the tux for my sister’s wedding?” He arched his brows. “Are we talking bow tie and suspenders or just that silly thing that wraps around your waist?”
Her mouth quirked up. “You’re in luck. No tux, just a suit. Plus, you get to keep your cowboy boots. At least, that’s what I heard last. Now, if your mother gets involved, all bets are off.”
He groaned. “I don’t stand a chance against both Janet and my mother.”
They joked and told stories. Twenty minutes later when Tara yawned, he set his mug down.
“Let me get out of here so you can get some rest.”
She followed him to the door. “Thank you, Grady. For everything.”
“No need to thank me.” He paused on the stoop, resisting the urge to touch her one last time. “That’s what friends do for each other. I’ll see you in the morning. Don’t forget to arm your security system.”
“I won’t.”
The door closed behind him. He waited on the front porch until the snick of the lock slid into place, then went back to his truck and started the engine. He pulled out of the driveway and, slowly, circled the block.
Everything was quiet. Chances were, the loser in the parking lot was looking for a quick buck and had attacked Tara for her jewelry. Chasing down rabbit holes and improbable theories didn’t often make sense, yet the incident left a bad taste in Grady’s mouth.
Something about this wasn’t right.
He pulled his phone from his pocket and dialed. “Hey, Luke, sorry to call so late, but I have a favor to ask.”
Three
The blade shimmered in the faint moonlight. He tightened his hand around the hilt. Across the street, Tara pulled Maddy from the back of a pickup truck. The baby was nothing more than a tiny lump encased in a blanket.
So close. He’d been so close.
He’d planned everything for weeks. A carefully orchestrated attack that would solve all of his problems in one fell swoop. His gaze jumped to Tara and his teeth ground together. She messed up everything. Everything!
He pressed the tip of the blade against the skin of his upper forearm. Blood beaded as he slowly, ever so slowly, sliced. Sharp pain radiated from the cut and warmth trickled down. In his mind, it was her skin he was slashing. Her blood flowing out.
Release. He unclenched his fist and took a deep breath. The pain brought clarity and kept the anger at bay. He couldn’t lose control now. That was when mistakes were made, and things were already bad enough.
Grady West was a problem.
He didn’t know the Texas Ranger personally, but he’d done enough research to have gathered two facts: his family was close to Tara and Grady wasn’t someone to be underestimated.
Lights came on and, beyond the windows, shapes moved from room to room. The ranger was making sure the house was secure. He scoffed. As if he would be stupid enough to do anything tonight. He needed time to think. To plan. His gaze flickered to Maddy’s room. The nightlight gave off the slightest glow.
Tara appeared in the upstairs window. She parted the curtains and stared down on the street. The light caressed her face, made her hair shimmer. His teeth ground together. How could she have fought him? He sliced with his blade. His arm throbbed and a fresh wave of warmth flowed down his skin. He closed his eyes, relishing the pain his knife wrought. She would be punished for her actions. He would make sure of that.
The door to the house opened and Grady came out. He stood on the porch scanning the street.
Keep looking. You can’t see me, but I can see you.
He was smarter than all of them. If the ranger became a problem, he would take care of him too. No one was going to stand in his way.
Plan A hadn’t worked. Never mind.
It was time to move to Plan B.
Four
Grady parked his truck on the far side of Burk’s Grocers. The lot was empty save for one other state police vehicle and Tara’s car. He settled his cowboy hat on his head, shading his eyes from the morning sunshine before grabbing the coffees he’d picked up on the way. There was a bit of a nip in the air, although the forecast called for loads of sunshine. His fellow ranger, Luke Tatum, was leaning against his truck but straightened when he spotted Grady.
Grady handed him a coffee. “Thanks for making the drive down.”
“Not a problem.” Luke flashed a grin. “I’m always glad to rack up another IOU. You never know when they will come in handy.”
“Right now you’re down by two, so don’t get ahead of yourself.”
It was all bluster. Rangers were part of a unique and elite brotherhood. They always helped each other out. Company A was especially tight.
“I’ve already spoken to Chief Rodriguez,” Luke said. “He’s agreed, due to the special circumstances, to allow me to take the lead on this investigation.”
Texas Rangers had jurisdiction over the entire state, but they only took the lead on cases after an invitation by local police and sheriffs’ departments or, in rare cases, when it was mandated. Additionally, each ranger had an assigned geographical area. Grady lived in Sweetgrass but worked in nearby Huntsville and took care of the counties farther north. Tara’s attack—along with the other robberies—had occurred in Grimes County, which was Luke’s area.
“I’m not surprised he agreed so quickly. They don’t get much crime like this here.”
“I know. Navasota doesn’t either.” Luke took a long sip of his coffee. “How’s your friend?”
“Shaken, but she’s holding it together.”
Luke started across the parking lot. “This her car?”
“Yes.”
Grady gave him a rundown of the events, showing him where the baby had been in the cart, as well as where Tara was lying when he found her. In the daylight, it was easier to see details. Blood stained the asphalt. Her blood. The image of the attacker standing over her ate at him. If he’d been seconds later…
“What kind of jewelry was Tara wearing?”
Grady forced his attention away from the blood. “A diamond cross around her neck. The detective who took her initial statement believes that’s why the robber attacked her.”
Which only brought another wave of anger. The necklace had originally belonged to Tara’s mother who’d died of brain cancer. She would’ve been devastated to lose it.
“You mentioned something about the scene was bugging you. Any ideas what?”
“Some.” Grady ran a hand over his face. “The robbery almost felt like an afterthought. The perpetrator stole her purse as he was running away. He doesn’t attempt to use her credit cards. He doesn’t steal her ID. It left me with questions.”
“You’re afraid this is personal?”
“I’d like to rule it out.”
“Well, the case sounds similar to the ones in Navasota,” Luke said. “The perpetrator wears black clothing, including a ski mask, and always uses a gun. He targets women, snatching their purses and sometimes their jewelry. The previous robberies have all taken place in parking lots. A grocery store, like this one, a strip mall, and a pharmacy.”
Grady heard a tone in Luke’s voice. “But?”
“Not once did he ever bother to take out the light.”
Glass crunched under the heel of Grady’s boot as he moved closer to Tara’s car. The sedan was sprinkled with the remnant shards of the light she’d parked underneath. His mouth flattened. “That’s not easy to do.”