“Yeah. I need to do that. Right now.”
“What’s that stuff in the trash bag, Chuck?” Something in his eyes told her she wouldn’t like the answer. “You know what happens when you destroy evidence, right?”
His voice was barely audible. “I do.”
“Then don’t. Bag it and put it in the back of my SUV. I’ll take it home with me and we’ll store it somewhere Eric can’t find it, okay? But don’t do that to yourself.”
“Yeah, okay. That works. Thanks, Carly. Thank you. I haven’t always been fair or nice or―”
“Water under the bridge, Chuck. Just go.” Without another word, he rushed past her. “Hey, Newsom?” Carly called out.
“Yeah?”
“Could you carry this bag of stuff out to my SUV and put it in the back?”
The younger deputy appeared in the doorway, a funny look on his face. “Uh, yeah. I guess so. Where’d the sheriff go in such a hurry?”
Carly rolled her eyes and shook her head. “He’s gotta see a man about a dog.”
Chapter 14
Carly didn’t notice the truck behind her when she pulled away from the office, but she did when she pulled into her driveway and Ross’s rental pickup rolled in right behind her. “Did you follow me from work?”
“Damn skippy I did. I’m not sure why you’re so surprised,” he answered as he stepped up toward her. “I told you I’d protect you, and I’m trying to.”
“Then help me. I’ve got something in the back of my SUV that I need taken out and hidden.”
When she opened the tailgate, Ross peered in. “What is this?”
Carly grinned. “I told him I’d take care of it. I didn’t promise him we wouldn’t look through it.”
“Oh, we’re not going through it, but I bet somebody else does.” Ross grabbed the trash bag and hauled it over his shoulder. “Let’s get inside and lock the doors. Come on.”
Twenty minutes later, they were inside, doors locked, and the garbage bag full of papers was hidden in the crawl space under the floor. Carly was pretty sure Eric didn’t know about that spot, but by the time the night was over, Michael and Tank both did. If anything happened to them, those papers would be delivered to the San Antonio FBI office and Agent Livingston. It was pretty clear that things were about to get crazy and they couldn’t take any chances. Everything had gone too far for that.
The rest of the evening didn’t go well. She was so keyed up that, try as she might, she couldn’t get off. Ross got a little frustrated until he admitted he was strung out too. They finally gave up, snuggled up together, and closed their eyes. It took her until almost three o’clock to fall asleep, and even then, it wasn’t restful. As soon as she was up and lucid the next morning, Carly called Chuck. He didn’t answer, so she called Adelaide. She didn’t answer either. She waited until eight thirty and called the office. “Bandera County Sheriff’s Department, Lt. Guiterrez speaking.”
“Louie, where’s Chuck?”
“Good question. He hasn’t come in and he hasn’t called. I was guessing he was running behind or something.”
A wave of panic rolled over Carly. “Okay. Just checking. Thanks.” She grabbed clothes and started pulling them on.
“Where are you going?”
“To the school. I’ve got to see if Chuck’s kids are there.”
“I’m coming with you.”
“Then you’d better hurry and get dressed,” she growled as Ross yanked his jeans on.
They got to the high school in record time and Carly ran straight to the office. “I’m Deputy Carly Cross with the Bandera County Sheriff’s Department. Is Sheriff Anderson’s son Elliott in school today?”
The school secretary poked around on her computer. “No, officer. He’s not.”
“Thank you. Sorry to bother you.” She met Ross back in the hallway, and there was no way she could voice her fear. “He’s not here. There’s no point in going to the elementary school. Camden’s not there either, I’m sure.”
“Fuck. Okay. What now?”
“We’re going to their house. I’m hoping he took my advice and got them out of town, but if he didn’t … I need to know. He should’ve told somebody where he was and when he’d be back, but he said nothing to the guys on days.”
“Then let’s go.”
She snapped her blue lights on and barreled down the road toward the Anderson’s house. It was outside town, almost to Lakehills. When people asked why the sheriff’s office was in Tarpley, the answer was simple—property there was cheap. It was a small place that was a drive to anywhere important, and most people didn’t want to live there. Anybody with money lived elsewhere in the county, the sheriff included.
The house was a big, beautiful, two-story Tudor-style with a two-car garage and a professionally-manicured lawn. They stepped up to the front door and Carly punched the doorbell. She could hear it sound the Westminster chimes, but no one came. On impulse, she tried the doorknob, but it was locked. “Something’s not right,” she whispered.
“Why do you think that?”
“I just have this gut feeling, Ross. Something’s really not right.” They started around the house, trying to look in the windows here and there, but it was hard. The foundation was tall and the windows were far enough off the ground that looking in was almost impossible. They walked on around the side to the back and across the concrete drive, listening carefully. As they neared the back door, she caught a scent of something on the wind. “What’s that smell?”
“I don’t know, but I smell it too. It’s weird. Smells like … copper maybe? I don’t―”
“Oh, god.” Carly’s breath caught in her lungs. Blood. It was running out from under the back door and dripping down the top step. Without even thinking, she reached for the radio mic on her shoulder. “Central dispatch, central dispatch, this is Bandera County Deputy Cross, unit eighteen, badge number fifteen ninety-seven. I need all units at the home of Sheriff Charles Anderson, twelve eighty-three county route six forty-five. Repeat, I need all units at twelve eighty-three county route six forty-five. I need ambulances, at least two, and all first responders. Over.”
“Roger that, unit eighteen. In route in three. Over.”
“Contact Texas Highway Patrol, ask them to send at least two units. I repeat, ask them to send at least two units. Forensic team as well. Over.”
“Roger that, unit eighteen. THP on call and forensic requested. Over.”
“Central dispatch, I have no choice but to enter the residence. Maintain contact. Over.”
“Go to channel fifteen A, unit eighteen. Fifteen A. Over.”
“Roger that, central dispatch. Going to channel fifteen A.” Carly twisted a knob on her mic. “Central dispatch, do you copy?”
“Roger, unit eighteen. All units en route. ETA first responder, five minutes. Over.”
“Copy that.”
Static rattled over the radio and they heard a voice yell, “Carly! What the fuck’s going on?”
“Louie, lock up the office. Get everybody in their cruisers and get them to Chuck’s house now!”
“What’s―”
“It’s bad, Louie. Think the worst that could happen. It’s that bad.”
“Roger. We’re on our way. Hang in there, Cross.”
“Roger that.”
Ross looked completely bewildered. “What do we do now?”
“We don’t do anything. I have to go in.”
“You can’t go in there alone!”
“I don’t have a choice. If anybody’s still alive, I have to render assistance. This is it. It’s my job, Ross. That’s my superior officer.”
“If they are, I’m an EMT. I can’t just sit back. I have a sworn duty to―”
“Then come on!” She ran back to the front door, stepped back, and gave the door a mighty kick. The door frame shattered and the door slammed against the wall behind it. Standing to the side, Carly pulled her weapon and lifted it upright. “You. Stay here. Understand?”
Ross’s face was pale. “Yes.”
Carly slipped into the silent living room. Sliding along the wall, she crept quietly along, peering around corners before stepping around them. As she went, she saw and heard nothing—not a sound. When that room was cleared and she was satisfied there was no one there, she made her way slowly into the dining room, but it was empty. The next doorway was the kitchen, and fear consumed her as she neared it.
One step. That was all it took for her worst fears to be realized. The kitchen was a bloodbath. Chuck lay face down on the floor, his service weapon still in his hand. Adelaide was nearby, face up, a bullet hole neatly piercing her forehead, her vacant eyes staring at the ceiling. Their oldest child, Elliott, was nearby, slumped against the wall and sitting in a pool of blood, and the younger one, Camden, was by the back door. Based on the streaks of blood under the doorknob, he’d tried to escape and had failed. Two feet from him …
The son of a bitch had shot their dog. Every ounce of fear and horror in Carly turned to white-hot, raging fury. She stood there, staring at the disaster in front of her, and wondered how she’d ever loved an animal who could do that kind of thing to an entire family. Who was Eric Cross, and what kind of monster was he?
She hadn’t noticed how badly her knees were shaking until she turned to leave the room and almost fell. Hand on the wall to steady herself, she made her way back to the front door and slumped onto the porch. “Babe! Are you okay? Carly! Talk to me! Carly?”
It hit her in that moment and the tears started to fall. “Dead. They’re all dead, Ross. He killed them all. Chuck, Adelaide. Both the boys. Camden was only eleven. He shot their dog, Ross—their FUCKING DOG! We’ve got to stop that bastard. We’ve got to.”
“I hate to tell you this, but we’re in his crosshairs now.” The sound of sirens was coming closer and closer, and Carly felt nothing but relief, even though they were sitting ducks there until someone else came along.
Ten minutes later, the Andersons’ yard was an ocean of flashing blue and red lights. Every deputy on duty had already arrived, and anyone who wasn’t on duty was on their way. By the time the coroner got there, a black SUV pulled into the driveway and two men got out. They marched up the walk and straight to Carly and Ross. “Mr. McEvers?” the tall, dark man asked.
“Yes?”
“I’m Agent Livingston and this is Ranger Chambers. I think we need to talk.”
“So do I,” Ross told them. All Carly could do was nod. She was exhausted, but she was afraid she’d never be able to sleep again. The nightmare in her head would never go away.
There were some things you could never unsee.
Chapter 15
The four of them took a seat in the conference room at the sheriff’s office. Everyone else was still at the crime scene, but that was okay with Ross. It was time they did something constructive before everything came down around their ears.
“What’s your next move?” he asked as they all sat down.
“We’ve already asked the federal judge for this district to issue a search warrant for Cross’s house. We’ve got a lot of information on the real Eric Cross, but none on this guy except his picture, and facial recognition hasn’t picked up anything. What we really need are fingerprints and dental records. If we can get just a hint at who we’re dealing with, we can probably find him, or at the very least figure out who he really is,” Agent Livingston said. Ross felt better just listening to the guy. Cruz Livingston made him comfortable, probably because he exuded confidence. He believed he could get the asshole, and Ross wanted to believe it too.
“Do you have what you need to get a search warrant for his address?” Carly asked. “I mean, to anyone outside this room, he’s done nothing wrong.”
“We don’t have to have much in this instance. Because he’s a suspect in a murder, we requested one for something called ‘primary domicile.’ Wherever he primarily resides, we can search. Probable cause,” Ranger Chambers answered. “And we’ve been assured we’re going to get the warrant, so we’re moving forward.”
“Good.”
“We sent a pair of Texas Highway Patrol officers to his office this morning. Of course, he’s not there and hasn’t checked in,” Agent Livingston reported.
“No surprise there,” Ross agreed.
“Yeah. So there are four more THP people going to his residence, and there’s a forensic team following them. They’ll wait down the street until the THPs have cleared the house, and then they’ll move in and start processing. I don’t expect them to find him there. I’d actually be far more shocked if they did,” Ranger Chambers said.
“Agent Livingston, does―”
“Please. Just call me Cruz, and that’s Dax. I have a feeling we’re going to be spending a lot of time together over the next few weeks, and there’s no need for formalities. Ross, right?”
“Yes, si … Cruz. And this is Carly,” Ross said, leaning over and slipping an arm around her shoulders. She hadn’t said a word since they’d sat down in the conference room. “Babe, you need anything?”
She shook her head and when she spoke, it was a whisper. “No.”
Ross was worried about her. She looked unwell, and she’d barely spoken since they’d left the Andersons’ house. He pointed out to the front. “What’s his name?”
She looked up. “You mean Andy?” He nodded. “Andy Danvers.”
“Hey, Deputy Danvers?” Ross called out. It had occurred to him that not only had neither of them had showers, but they’d had nothing to eat.
“Yes, sir?”
“It’s just Ross. Here.” He handed Andy two twenties and a ten. “Could you go get all of us something to eat? I dunno what, just something. Maybe some burgers, or pasta, or something? I think Carly needs to eat.”
“I’m fine,” she mumbled and leaned against him.
“No. You’re not. Here.” He handed the deputy another twenty and another ten. “Get something for everybody, you guys included. Drinks too.”
“Thanks, Ross. I’ll be back in a few. I’m tempted to get some beer on my way back,” he muttered as he wandered out.
“Under the circumstances, I think that would be a good idea!” Dax called after him. “I think we all could use a drink, especially those of you who worked with Sheriff Anderson.”
“No shit,” Ross added.
“So let’s get down to brass tacks,” Cruz said, legal pad in front of him and pencil in hand. “Carly, what do you know about this guy that could help us catch him?”
“I realized last night that I really don’t know that much about him. He said he had no family, and I’m guessing all the things he told me about where he’d lived and his schooling were lies.”
“Most likely. You never met any of his family?” She shook her head. “You didn’t think that was odd?”
“My dad was killed in a fire when I was a child, so no. I didn’t think that was odd. Things happen to people. It actually made me feel sorry for him, which I’m guessing was the whole point behind the story.”
“You’re probably right about that,” Dax offered. “How old did he tell you he was?”
“When we married, I was twenty-six. He said he was thirty-nine. That would match the birthdate he always used, but every time he told somebody his age, they commented on how he looked a lot younger than that. I guess he actually was,” she said. Ross was worried about her. She seemed completely defeated and deflated, and was obviously having trouble concentrating.
“What do you know about his relationship with the sheriff?”
She perked up just a little. “A whole lot more than I did. I overheard him telling Chuck that he’d paid for Chuck’s position at the sheriff’s department and he expected reciprocation. And Chuck told him fifty thousand dollars only bought so much loyalty. So I dunno. Maybe he came to town specifically to worm his way into the county attorney position, met Chuck, and by giving Chuck money for his sheriff’s campaign, Chuck helped him get the county attorney position? I m
ean, Chuck’s always been here. He knows everybody. So he could be instrumental in something like that.”
“I see. So we now believe he financed Chuck’s campaign in exchange for helping him get the county attorney position. Makes sense to me. But Chuck was backing out of the arrangement. That would make him desperate.”
Ross nodded. “Exactly.” Then he remembered. “Hey! We’ve got a whole bag of stuff Chuck was cleaning out of his desk last night before he left. It’s at the house, hidden. We didn’t look through it. Figured we’d let you guys do that.”
Dax brightened. “Yeah, we need that stuff. It might give us a few more clues.”
“We can go get it in a bit. I’m sure it’s safe. Did you run his picture through the Department of Homeland Security? See if somebody had it on a passport?”
“Thing is, men can change their appearance easily. The right grooming on a beard mimics a change in the shape of a face. It can make it almost impossible for facial recognition software to work.” As he spoke, Cruz’s phone rang. “Hang on. Livingston. Yeah. Uh-huh. Good. But no sign of him, right? Okay. Yeah, keep me posted. Turns out we’ve got a bag of documents that forensics needs to go through too, so I’ll get those to you. Uh-huh. Thanks. Later.” Cruz looked up at Ross and Carly. “That was the THP officers at Cross’s house. He’s not there, of course. They haven’t found anything helpful yet, but they’re lifting prints and in the process of running those.”
Ross felt a bit of relief at that. “Good.”
Cruz picked up his pencil. “Carly, can you tell me a bit about when Eric came to town, how you met, how he met Sheriff Anderson, all of that?”
Ross leaned over and whispered in her ear. “I’m going to the restroom. I’ll be right back.” All he got was a nod as she started talking to Cruz.
He came out of the restroom and found Dax standing there. “Is she okay?” the ranger asked him.
“I dunno. She and Chuck had a turbulent relationship because of Eric and his friendship with the man, but they still worked together. They worked together before Eric came to town, both as deputies, according to Carly. He was elected sheriff about a year after she and Eric married, so apparently Eric followed through with his promise. But she knew Adelaide and the boys. Seeing them like that … It had to be hard for her.”
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