by Lynn Shannon
“No. I don’t regret it.”
His mouth quirked at the corners and she found herself smiling back. His phone beeped with an incoming message. He glanced at it. “Luke sent me the address. And a name. Jason Gonzalez.”
She froze. “The artist?”
“Yes. Luke mentioned something about that. Why? Do you know him?”
“No, but Vikki did.”
Grady was a man of action.
He knew how to take charge of a situation. He also prided himself on being able to read people. There was a time to push and a time to hold back.
It was definitely time to hold back with Tara.
He’d dumped a lot on her lap in the last half hour, plus what she was already dealing with. The timing was awful, and Grady had little doubt Tara’s romantic feelings toward him were new. She would need time to sort them out. He would wait.
And he would continue to be here. For her and Maddy.
“Did Luke say when Jason called into the station?” Tara asked, cutting into his thoughts.
“Sunday afternoon.” Grady slowed his truck at a red stoplight. “Was there any relationship between Jason and Vikki? Beyond the professional, I mean.”
“Not that I know of. She didn’t say much about him, only that his artwork was very good and he seemed like a nice guy. Truthfully, I wouldn’t have remembered the conversation except there aren’t that many professional artists out this way. It piqued my interest.” She paused. “Then again, Grady, it’s possible she knew him better than I understood. Vikki didn’t tell me everything.”
It was something that had been bothering him. “How is that possible? She felt comfortable enough to make you the guardian of her baby.”
“The guardianship came as a surprise to me. We’d had a passing conversation about it, but I never thought she’d hire a lawyer and move forward with the paperwork.” She reached up to play with her cross necklace. “Although, in hindsight, I should have realized how serious she was. Vikki had lost her parents in a car accident and their deaths affected her. She didn’t have many friends, and Dan couldn’t be relied on. She was alone with Maddy. Honestly, she reminded me of my own mother. Trying to do the right thing for her baby and working hard to make that happen. I felt for her and tried to help out as much as I could.”
“But you weren’t close?”
“We were. Or…I thought we were. Dan mentioned once Vikki looked up to me, almost like I was an older sister.”
Grady grunted. “Which means she cared deeply about what you thought and filtered what she told you.”
“Based on what I’ve discovered since her death, I think so.”
That left a lot of wriggle room. “Maybe this Jason guy can give us some answers.”
The GPS led them to a strip mall near the county line. Jason’s studio was tucked between a laundromat and a barber shop. The tinted windows made it impossible to see inside. Grady pulled on the door handle. Locked. Cupping his hands over his eyes, he peered in. Easels with canvases of different sizes were placed around the room. A few sculptures. A bare desk in the rear. No computer. No phone.
“It doesn’t look like anyone’s here,” Tara said.
“Hey, dude, what are you doing?”
Grady turned. A man wearing a black apron glared at them. The barber’s shoulders were thrown back, his stance wide, as if he was spoiling for a fight.
He frowned. “Mack?”
The other man’s posture relaxed. “Grady. I didn’t recognize you. Long time, no see.”
At least a decade. Mack had been a freshman player on the football team in Grady’s senior year. His athletic form had softened around the edges, but his hands, capable of cradling a football the way most men did a lemon, were still the same. Huge.
Mack’s gaze shifted to Tara. She stepped around Grady to extend her hand. “Tara Sims.”
“You’re the doctor in Sweetgrass, right? My aunt Bessie says you’re the best doctor in three counties.” He turned back to Grady. “What are ya’ll doing?”
“We’re looking for Jason Gonzalez. Any idea when he’ll be back?”
“No. Why? He in trouble or something?”
“Not at all. I’m hoping he might be able to help me out on a case.” Grady parted his jacket enough to flash the badge pinned to his shirt. “I’m with the Texas Rangers now.”
“I heard that rumor. Some of my clients come from Sweetgrass, and they keep me apprised of the comings and goings.”
Grady tossed a thumb over his shoulder at the studio. “When’s the last time you heard from Jason?”
“Couple of days ago. On Monday, I found a note slipped under my door telling me he was going on vacation. He didn’t say where, but he asked me to keep an eye on the place for him.”
Grady frowned. Jason took off right after calling in to the tip line. A sinking feeling started in the pit of his stomach. “Do you still have the note?”
“Naw. I threw it away.” Mack scratched his chin. “You know he was military?”
Tara’s shoulders stiffened. Grady shook his head.
“Yeah. Got the scars and stuff from being blown up. Anyway, Jason always takes a vacation about this time of year. Something about the anniversary of the attack. Last year, he was hiking out in West Texas.”
“Do you happen to have a contact number for him? The one he gave is for the studio.”
Mack frowned. “Jason doesn’t have a cell. But he generally calls in every couple of days to check on things.”
“When he does”—Grady pulled out a business card—“can you ask him to contact me?”
“Absolutely.”
They chatted a bit more. Before leaving, Grady stopped and slid another business card under Jason’s door.
“Is it always like this?” Tara asked when they got back into the truck. “Phone calls and chasing people around?”
“Yeah. And paperwork. Lots and lots of paperwork.” He pulled out of the lot. “But it’s all necessary. Cases can be busted wide-open by paying attention to the details.”
“One thing Mack said caught my attention.”
“The fact that Jason was in the military.”
“Yeah.” She fiddled with the air vent. “Vikki mentioned Maddy’s father was a soldier. Maybe it’s Jason. Or someone Jason knows.”
“Could be. It’s an avenue worth pursuing.” He turned a corner onto the street running behind the strip mall. They’d arrived from the other direction, and he wanted to get a feel for the area since he didn’t come out this way often.
Tara frowned. She pointed to the faded sign above a commercial garage. “Isn’t that Travis Cobb’s shop?”
With a jolt, he realized she was right.
A chain fence enclosed the back half of the property. Grass and weeds tangled with wrecked cars and stacked tires. Grady slowed down. The bay doors to the shop were open, but no one was visible. Still, a prickly sense of unease made him regret bringing Tara.
He sped up.
In the rearview mirror a man appeared, watching them go.
Ten
Tara hauled the suitcase off the bed. Hopefully, she’d packed far more than she needed. She loved staying with Grady’s parents and being on the ranch made her feel exponentially safer, but catching the kidnapper would be even better.
She wheeled the bag to the top of the stairs. Below, Grady waited next to the newel post. Their eyes met and she stumbled. She grabbed onto the railing to stop from falling.
He took the stairs two at a time and intercepted her, taking the suitcase from her hand. “Got everything you need?”
Her gaze dropped to his mouth. The memory of their kiss invaded her thoughts and a heat flushed her cheeks. Tara gave herself a mental shake. Now was not the time to deal with anything more than keeping Maddy safe.
“For at least a week. Sorry about this. When I packed the first time, I hadn’t expected to stay at the ranch for so long.” She followed him down the stairs, ignoring the way his sports coat emphasized his broa
d shoulders. “Did I hear you talking to someone on the phone?”
“Luke. He’s still running down leads, but I asked him to push Jason Gonzalez to the top of the list. We have a BOLO—a Be-On-The-Lookout—on his vehicle. We’re going to talk to Jason’s neighbors as well as any family he has. I’m hoping someone knows more about his whereabouts. I don’t like the fact that all Mack had was a note. Especially given the timing.”
Her brow wrinkled. “Are you thinking he’s on the run?”
“Could be. I don’t want to rule anything out.” He held the front door open for her. “The detectives have sent over Vikki’s entire file, including their interviews. I’m going to look through as much as I can tonight. Maybe we’ll find something there.”
The clouds hung low overhead, the sky dark and threatening. The wind chimes on Tara’s porch danced. She shivered and hunched down into her coat.
Grady used his body to block her from the wind as she locked up. “Rumor has it, Mom is making lasagna for dinner.”
“That sounds amazing.” Her stomach fluttered as he placed a hand on the small of her back to guide her down the walk. “I missed lunch because I was trying to squeeze in as many patients as necessary—”
Her steps faltered. Leaves scattered across Vikki’s yard and a squirrel jumped into her oak tree. Tara smacked her forehead with her hand.
“Grady, I need to go back inside and get the keys to Vikki’s house. A neighbor mentioned that he spotted a hole in one of the eaves and some squirrels might’ve moved into the attic. I meant to check it earlier but completely forgot.”
“Okay.” He opened the truck and stowed her suitcase in the back seat. “Let’s move quick, though. The storm is coming in fast.”
Tara raced into the house and fished the keys out of her kitchen drawer. When she came back outside, Grady was standing next to the truck with a hefty flashlight. He clicked it on and the beam cut through the night. Together, they crossed the street.
“Do you know where the hole is?”
“Has to be on the right-hand side.” She pointed to the house next to Vikki’s. “Ken was doing work on his own roof when he spotted it.”
The grass sank under her steps. She led Grady to the fence and unlocked the deadbolt. He directed the flashlight on the eave, and it wasn’t long before the beam cut across a chunk of missing wood.
“Oh, no.” Tara stood on her tiptoes to get a better look. “That’s big enough a squirrel could get inside. What a mess.”
Grady frowned, his flashlight beam tracing the hole. She turned and hurried to the back door. A bolt of lightning lit up the sky. It shimmered across a gap between the door and the frame. Tara froze.
“Grady,” she whispered.
His head snapped in her direction. Her fingers tightened around the keys, the edges biting into the soft palm of her hand. “The door isn’t locked.”
Her words were like a blast of icy wind. Grady closed the distance between them in three strides. Keeping his eye on the door, he placed himself in a protective position in front of Tara. He used the flashlight to scan the yard and the back of the house. No windows were broken. The door jamb didn’t appear damaged.
“Who else has keys to the house?” he asked.
“No one. At least, no one is supposed to.” She swallowed hard. “Of course, it’s possible someone else does. I didn’t change the locks after Vikki died.”
Grady drew his weapon, but hesitated at the threshold. What to do with Tara? He didn’t want her returning to her house alone. Nor did he want to leave her outside in the yard by herself. There was only one other option left.
“Stay right behind me. Keep your hand on my belt and don’t let go.”
She nodded. He edged the back door open wider with his foot. The kitchen was stripped bare, the flowered wallpaper faded. His boots made no sound on the linoleum. His gun was pointed at the floor, his finger next to the trigger. The last thing he wanted to do was shoot someone who legitimately had access to the house. Behind him, Tara’s breathing was rapid.
As quickly as possible, he cleared the living room and half bath. Every room was devoid of furniture, making the process much easier. Together, silently, they moved toward the bedrooms. Only two. The door on the right was open. He rushed inside.
No one. The accompanying bathroom door was cocked open. Grady approached at an angle. Pushed it with the toe of his boot. Also empty.
Lightning cracked. Tara jumped.
He turned and leaned down, right next to the shell of her ear. “There’s just the last bedroom. Take my flashlight. After I turn the knob, I want you to give it back to me. Then you stay outside the room until I tell you otherwise.”
She swallowed hard but nodded. She was a champion. Grady was trained for this. She wasn’t. Keeping cool under this situation took a strong will and a level head.
He handed her the flashlight. Her jaw tightened. Tara might not have a weapon, but he had no doubt she had his back. He crept into the hall. This was the most dangerous of all. If someone was inside, had they heard Grady and Tara moving through the house? It was possible.
He twisted the knob, careful to keep Tara and himself clear of the door. It cracked open. He reached behind him, and she slid the flashlight into his palm. He took a deep breath. Tara released her hold on his belt.
Grady bolted into the room in one stride.
His gaze swept over it, his mind processing the sleeping bag on the floor, the ashtray, and the discarded food wrappers in quick snaps. The bathroom door was open. No one was inside. He immediately moved to the walk-in closet.
Empty.
He holstered his gun. “It’s clear. There’s no one here now.”
Tara moved toward the items on the floor.
“Don’t touch anything,” he ordered. “It’s evidence.”
The sleeping bag was crumpled and open. Grady bent down next to the ashtray. It was full of discarded butts, but the room didn’t stink of smoke. Whoever was squatting in Vikki’s house hadn’t been here recently.
“What’s that on the windowsill?” Tara asked.
Grady lifted his flashlight. The beam hit on a set of high-powered binoculars. Fat raindrops smacked against the window pane, drawing his attention to what was beyond.
Tara’s house.
He reached for her, instinctively wanting to protect her from what he’d figured out, but he was too late.
Tara gasped. Her hand flew to her mouth, and she took a step backward.
“Someone’s been watching us.”
Grady didn’t feel fear often. At least, not that he registered anymore. His work undercover forced him to bury his emotions to get the job done. Being a ranger wasn’t much different. Yet the feeling plaguing him, as he walked from his home to his parents’ across the ranch, could only be described as fear. Not for himself.
For Tara. For Maddy.
He had to get a grip on it. He couldn’t allow emotions to cloud his judgment so last night, after making sure the ranch was secure, he’d pored over Vikki’s murder file. His eyes needed toothpicks to hold them up, but the hard work had paid off. He’d found something worth digging into.
He stepped onto the porch and wiped his boots on the mat before entering the mud room and hanging his hat on the hook. A flash of color caught his eye. Tara and Maddy were in the kitchen. The baby was dressed in footed pajamas, her rebellious curls wild. She rested her head against her mother’s shoulder. Tara rocked side-to-side and whispered words to Maddy, the soft murmur of her voice drifting across the room.
A warmth radiated through his chest. He was a plumb fool. There was no way he could separate his emotions from this case. When it came to Tara and her little girl, things were too complicated for that. The feelings he had for them were instinctive. Fiercely protective. Deeper than anything he’d felt before.
Tara glanced up and her eyes brightened. “Good morning.”
“Morning. Did you sleep well?”
“No.” Her hand traced a path d
own Maddy’s back. “This little one has a tooth coming in. She was up and down.”
Tara had shadows under her eyes. Her hair had been pulled back, but she was still in her pajamas. Grady wrapped an arm around her and pulled her next to him. She sighed, leaning on his shoulder.
Words didn’t need to be said. It was enough to just hold them.
Maddy’s head poked up from Tara’s shoulder like a turtle coming out of its shell. Poor thing looked awful. She had her fingers in her mouth and her nose was running.
Grady held out his hands. “Hey there, darlin’. How about we give your mama a break?”
The baby leaned over, and he lifted her. The sweet scents of baby powder and clean laundry detergent wafted over him. Tara grabbed a tissue off the counter and swiped it under Maddy’s nose.
“I’ve given her some pain medication and rubbed numbing cream on her gums, but this tooth is proving to be a tough one.” She sighed again. “There’s a fresh pot of coffee. Would you like some?”
“I’ll get it. Sit before you fall down.”
“No.” She rubbed a hand over her face. “I probably look bad, but I’ve done long nights before. Medical school was a test of endurance. How about we divide and conquer? You hold Maddy and I’ll start breakfast.”
“Somehow, I got the better end of the bargain.”
She smiled softly. “There is something about holding a baby, isn’t there? Even if she’s snotty and cranky.”
There was. In fact, it was downright amazing. Maddy laid her little head on his chest and his heart squeezed so tight, he thought it would burst.
Tara opened the fridge and eyed the ingredients. “How about an omelet?”
“You don’t even need to ask. The answer to that question is always yes.” He retrieved some mugs from the cabinet, being careful not to jostle Maddy. The coffee was strong and dark, just the way he liked it. “Mom and Dad still sleeping?”
“Your mom is out in the barn taking care of the horses, but your dad’s still asleep.” She cracked an egg into a mixing bowl. “I think he’s sleep-deprived. I’ve heard him making rounds every night since we got here.”