All the Lost Little Horses (A Desperation Creek Novel Book 2)

by Janice Kay Johnson

  Linette crossed her arms tightly. “You have to go, don’t you?”

  “In a minute.” Much as he wanted to hold her, he was aware of the nearby deputies, one of whom was Jarman. He kept his voice low for the same reason. “Are you okay?”

  “Yes.” She lifted one shoulder, her expression wry. “Not really, but I’ll manage.”

  Shit. He’d give a lot to stay with her. He wouldn’t have left her if Niall hadn’t been waiting for her.

  “You need to take my truck, don’t you?” she continued, uncrossing her arms so she could dig in the pocket of her jeans. “I can walk back—”

  “No.” He laid a hand on her arm, and she looked up. “I won’t leave you two stranded. I’ll hitch a ride.” He nodded toward the deputies waiting for him. “Be careful today. Stay in the barn as much as you can.”

  “But it wasn’t me—”

  His fingers tightened. “No, but we can’t be sure what the goal was. Does whoever pulled the trigger know Niall is here? This might have been an attempt to isolate you.”

  He would have regretted scaring her if he didn’t believe that Theodore Darcy Willis had targeted her. Like most cops, Jed was highly suspicious of coincidences. Theo had murdered two women eleven weeks ago and then vanished. Another woman he’d once brutalized – a woman who’d not only called the cops on him but also walked away from him – was now living in fear after a number of incidences that ranged from puzzling through scary all the way to vicious. Sounded like his modus operandi.

  Linette needed to be afraid.

  She nodded. “I’m not stupid.”

  Jed’s mouth curved. “No,” he said softly. “Stubborn, though…”

  She made a face at him. Then, solemn again, she said, “You be careful, too, Jed. Somebody tried to kill you. I wish I thought you’d stay safe in your office.”

  “You know I can’t.” He released her arm and took a step back. “I’m hard to kill, you know.”

  Resignation and something else he couldn’t identify crossed her face. But all she said was, “Please keep me informed about Troy,” and opened the door and hopped into her truck.

  A minute later, that pickup disappeared around the curve.

  *****

  Jed’s call confirmed what Grant had already heard over the police radio. Deeply disturbed by the news, Grant picked up his own phone. Chief Seward might have heard, but if not it was Grant’s obligation to let him know that it appeared someone was, once again, shooting at local law enforcement officials.

  As was too frequently the case, he had to wait on hold for several minutes before Seward picked up.

  “We have reason to believe an attempt was made to kill Detective Dawson this morning,” Grant told him. “Thought you should know.”

  After a pause, the police chief said, “He’s annoyed more than his share of residents in this county.”

  Stunned not so much by the sentiment as by Seward’s indiscretion in expressing it, Grant couldn’t help noticing that any concern about whether Jed had survived the attempt was conspicuously lacking.

  The chief added hastily, “That didn’t come out the way I meant.”

  “Didn’t it?”

  “You have to admit, he’s more aggressive than any of your other deputies.” The tinge of dislike was unmistakable.

  Grant said carefully, “A police detective’s job is to look for the truth. To do that job well takes a certain attitude, don’t you think?”

  “Of course. Guess I’m just wondering if this was personal, or if it has to do with that cattle rustling investigation of his.”

  “I doubt it was personal. If I’d believed that, I wouldn’t have called you. Since I assume this shooting has to do with Detective Dawson’s job, I thought you might want to warn your officers to keep a sharp eye out.”

  “I’ll do that. Ah…I hope he wasn’t badly injured.”

  “A teenage boy who’d borrowed his pickup truck was shot instead.”

  This silence must have lasted thirty seconds. “A boy?” His shock was apparent. “Was he killed?”

  “He’s in critical condition.”

  “Why would Dawson let anyone drive his pickup?”

  Given the strangeness of some of Chief Seward’s responses, Grant wasn’t sure he wanted to answer that question. He knew he wasn’t going to name the victim. “I understand the loan was for a quick errand while the detective was having breakfast.”

  “I see. That’s, ah, unfortunate.”

  That a boy had been shot? Or that Jed hadn’t been shot?

  “Yes, it is. Now, I have other calls to make…”

  “Of course, of course. You’ll keep us informed?”

  Grant lied. He had no intention of sharing any more information with Harrison Seward. Damn, he wished Seward would retire and the city council and mayor would hire a truly competent replacement.

  *****

  Half of Jed’s drive back to Fort Halleck from the hospital in Madras had been spent on the phone. He’d learned that the damage to his truck was limited to the right front fender and headlight as well as the windshield – and the tears and blood on the driver side headrest. Didn’t mean fixing it wasn’t going to cost, although insurance would cover all but the deductible. Donald Rooney, the owner of the auto body shop, had promised the pickup would be ready tomorrow morning.

  Jed had been glad to be able to call Linette and let her know that Troy was awake and talking, that the bullet had ricocheted off his cranium. The MRI had showed some damage to the parietal bone, and there was swelling beneath, so the doctor intended to keep him for what might be several days.

  He spoke to the Crook County detective, who was supervising as the stolen cattle were loaded for return to their owners. Oren Calderon had just paid bail and walked, still having refusing to name confederates. Apparently, it hadn’t occurred to him that he might be safer in jail.

  Between phone calls, Jed brooded. He was stuck on his own question. Now what? Make the rounds and lean on all his suspects again? Look for recent transplants to the county in hopes of unmasking Theo Willis? Ask sheriff’s departments in neighboring counties to do the same, in case Willis had the brains not to be living here in Hayes County?

  His instincts said Willis hadn’t dared rent an apartment or house, and wasn’t working, either. Either way, he’d be taking a big chance. Plus, with a relative small population, he’d risk being recognized if police flashed his picture around. More likely, he was staying outside the area – or had found someone he could use. Someone who was putting him up and asking no questions, very likely a woman who had no idea what a monster she’d taken in.

  Jed did now have a photograph from Willis’s last, and still unexpired, driver’s license. After printing it out, he had stared at it for longer than he would want to admit.

  He’d been uneasy to see parallels with him. They didn’t share any resemblance in facial features or coloring, thank God, but their builds were similar. According to the driver’s license, Willis had brown hair, although in the photo his head was shaved. He wore a close-cut beard in the currently popular style. Jed guessed the guy, now that he was on the run, had either grown out the beard as a disguise, or shaved his square jaw. Good bet that he’d let his hair grow, too, although it would still be short.

  His eyes were brown, his nose a little crooked, as if it had been broken at some point, and his smile was closer to a sneer. His gaze had seemed to challenge the photographer, as if he resented having to submit to authority even in the form of the driver’s licensing bureau.

  Jed wanted to ask Linette how they’d met, why the guy had attracted her, why she’d let him treat her like shit before remembering she had a spine. But no, that last question wasn’t one he’d ever ask. Given that she’d been sexually molested by a man she should have been able to trust, abandoned by another one – him – she might have been doomed to make bad choices where men were concerned.

  In her mind – and he couldn’t deny it – he was one of those ba
d choices.

  Was it remotely possible she might give him another chance? Jed thought that’s what she’d implied…but couldn’t be sure. He knew he’d never forgive himself for walking out on her the way he had.

  He pulled into the lot behind headquarters and turned off the engine, but sat for a minute trying to shake off his personal issues. He kept a wary eye out for Chris Jarman as he crossed the parking lot, knowing he might blow his top if the swaggering bastard said the wrong thing right now.

  Inside, he saw Erin Brown coming out of the women’s restroom.

  “Hey,” he said, nodding as he passed her.

  “Detective?”

  Jed stopped and turned around. “Something on your mind?”

  She took a deep breath. “Normally I wouldn’t tattle, but I heard something that bothered me.”

  Jed waited.

  “Chris was talking on his cell phone. He didn’t see me. What he was saying was probably all hot air, but…I didn’t like it. I have no idea who he was talking to, but he said that you being buddy-buddy with the sheriff didn’t make you untouchable.”

  “Untouchable,” Jed echoed.

  She nibbled nervously on her lower lip. “He sounded so angry, I had goosebumps rise on my arms.”

  “You’re sure he didn’t see you?”

  Erin nodded.

  “Then what I want is for you to do your best to stay away from him. He may associate you with his embarrassment because you’re the one who did the follow-up with Ms. Broussard. I doubt he’ll try to pull anything, but he obviously doesn’t appreciate being corrected. I did discuss the incident with Sheriff Holcomb, who spoke to him. He didn’t like it.”

  “Then he’s even madder.”

  “That’s possible.” He smiled. “Like you said, he was probably just venting, and he’ll get over it. But if he wants to take me on, that’s fine by me.”

  “Okay.” She hesitated. “I did something— Oh, it doesn’t matter. Gosh, I’d better get back out on the road. Thanks.”

  “Stay safe.”

  He watched until she pushed through the heavy exterior door before continuing on his way. What had she done?

  Once Grant waved him into his office, Jed shelved the question. He had trouble making himself sit, but he didn’t want to give away how unsettled he felt by pacing.

  His boss raised his eyebrows. “Do you have anything new?”

  Jed shared his conversation with Detective Frazier in Crook County. “Calderon could be a flight risk.” Or at risk of having his mouth shut permanently.

  Grant grunted. He leaned forward, elbows on his desk. “I had a strange conversation with Chief Seward.”

  “I’ve never had anything but.”

  Grant reacted with a quick grin, then started talking. Jed listened intently. At the end, Jed said, “You thinking what I’m thinking?”

  “Reluctantly.”

  “Seward’s no dummy.”

  Grant’s gaze sharpened. “Are you back to your theory that none of your suspects could possibly be the brains behind the organization?”

  “Yeah.” He tipped his head back for a minute, contemplating the ceiling. “I could take a quiet look at his place.”

  “He’s got to have some employees.”

  Jed released a breath and met Grant’s eyes. “I have another idea.”

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  At the sound of a deep-throated engine outside the barn, Linette hurried to the open door. The unmarked black SUV had all the hallmarks of a law enforcement vehicle. Jed parked it and stepped out, his gaze finding her in the shadows just inside the barn as if she were jumping up and down, waving her hands.

  A wave of relief washed away the unrelenting tension of the day. Just seeing him shouldn’t have so powerful an effect, but how could she resist this tumble of emotion? Caught in the moment, she rushed out to meet him.

  She hadn’t intended to throw herself into his arms, but when he pulled her against him, she didn’t resist him. It felt so good to lean on him, feel his strength, to wrap her arms around his solid torso.

  He made a ragged sound. “This is what I wanted to do this morning. With the other deputies still there, though…”

  “It’s okay. I didn’t expect to be comforted.”

  “You should have a right to expect it.” He sounded…offended.

  She lifted her head from that broad chest. “Why me?”

  He frowned. “You’re so determined not to need anyone.”

  “Aren’t you, too?”

  Unblinking, he held her gaze for so long, she gathered herself to step back. But then he spoke. “I have been, but I was wrong.”

  He meant…he would come to her when he needed to be held? To talk about something troubling? Her cynical side wondered if he meant it. She was stunned to discover that she believed he was being honest. The very fact that he looked unhappy was convincing. He would hate the idea of laying himself out there. Had he finally understood…?

  If this was a con job, he would finally break her.

  No. Just no. What she’d do was summon again the resolve that had allowed her to go on. To make a life free of emotional ties. She’d done it once, she could do it again.

  His mouth tightened. “I don’t like what you’re thinking.”

  “Tough.” Surprising even herself, she rose on tiptoes and pressed a kiss to his jaw. “I’m glad you’re here, but right now, I left a horse cross-tied and wondering where I disappeared to.”

  Jed released her. She identified his expression as bemusement. Over her shoulder, she added, “Give me a minute, and I’ll come in to put dinner on.”

  *****

  Niall was just stepping out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist when he saw Jed at the foot of the stairs, frowning up at him.

  Irritation obvious, Jed said, “You couldn’t take your clothes in with you?”

  Amused at his suspicion that Jed feared his girlfriend might fall into lust with him if she set eyes on his semi-naked body, Niall grinned. “Don’t worry. Just wasn’t thinking.”

  Still not sounding real warm and fuzzy, Jed said, “Dinner’s ready. Biscuits might be gone if you don’t get down here quick enough.”

  Niall yanked on sweats and a faded T-shirt. He didn’t bother with shoes or combing his hair. If these biscuits were sourdough like his mother made, he didn’t want to miss them.

  In fact, once he got to the table, he saw that the biscuits smelled amazing and were golden brown. Oh, yeah, these were the real deal, sourdough biscuits from starter she kept going. He and Clarissa had gone to Linette and Jed’s apartment a few times for dinner. He’d forgotten what a good cook she was.

  As they dug into a really good stir fry, the conversation was a hundred percent produced by Niall and Linette. That wasn’t unusual; if nothing said demanded Jed’s participation, he didn’t bother talking.

  Of course, he might still be annoyed.

  “Thank God Troy wasn’t hurt worse.” That was Linette.

  “Hard head,” Niall suggested.

  She hoped the kid’s mother remembered to pick up his truck from the mechanic.

  Jed finally thought to tell them he’d bought the nails Troy had been on his way to the hardware store to buy. “Forgot I had them. I’ll go out and grab ’em after dinner.”

  “Any chance you can take a couple of hours in the morning to help me with the fence?” Niall asked.

  “I can—” Linette started to say.

  “Planning to,” Jed agreed.

  She made a huffing sound. Niall would have grinned if she, too, wasn’t already mad at him. In her case, she’d hinted that he cook tonight, and not been happy when he told her he wouldn’t leave her alone at the barn.

  Jed dished up a second helping for himself and grabbed two more biscuits, which he buttered. Then he set down his knife. “I have a proposition,” he said to Niall.

  Immediately wary, Niall asked, “What?”

  “I’d like you to apply for the open positi
on at the Fort Halleck P.D.”

  Niall dropped his fork and stared at him. “You’re kidding me. You want me to do what I said I wouldn’t, and oh, by the way, leave Linette alone all day, every day?”

  Now they were both gaping at him. “I think the police chief is dirty,” Jed said bluntly.

  Eyes wide, Linette jumped to her feet. “If you two need to talk alone—”

  He shook his head. “I know you won’t gossip. Anyway, this may or may not be mixed up with your troubles.”

  Not, was the correct answer. Niall could tell that Linette read between the lines as well as he did.

  “I’m wondering if he might be part of the cattle rustling ring,” Jed continued. “Maybe even the boss.”

  “The police chief?” Obviously shocked, Linette sank back onto her chair.

  Jed talked about getting some odd vibes when he interviewed the man, and about what Grant had told him about the most recent conversation.

  “He’d be in a perfect position. Neither Grant nor I had any idea he owned a ranch. It would be interesting to learn if his officers knew. I think the stolen animals had to be taken somewhere nearby for the night, or for a few days, until they could be moved on unobtrusively. He hurried to mention he had some Charolais, which are cream colored and stand out. Said he’d been raising red Angus, too. A herd of each breed were stolen.”

  “You want me to go undercover.” Intrigued now, Niall thought it over. This could be interesting.

  Jed dipped his head. “Seward will hire you for sure. You can do the job with one hand tied behind your back. Meantime, you can make friends—”

  Niall smirked. “With the idiot detective?”

  Jed had complained about Oakley, who had bungled an investigation into the murder of a newspaper employee related to a case of Jed’s.

  “Even with him. If we’re lucky, you might get a few minutes alone in the chief’s office. If he considers his officers loyal to him, he may be indiscreet.”