Sovereign Sheriff

by Cassie Miles

  That meant the intruder had already been in place, watching the resort and waiting until nightfall to make his move. With the ranch hands on patrol as night watchmen, the window of opportunity for making a break-in was narrow.

  Danny said he’d showed up just after dark. His arrival—coincidence or not—had saved the intruder a lot of trouble and risk.

  The bigger question was motive. Why had the intruder broken into Saida’s suite? She hadn’t made a thorough search of her belongings, but nothing seemed to be disturbed. And this intrusion wasn’t a simple robbery.

  Had he been looking for information? She’d had her cell phone and laptop with her, and that might have foiled his search. What was he after?

  Jake paused on the pathway and gazed up at the North Star, wishing for strength. He turned to the east and the south. If legends were true, the stars should have spelled out the answers to his questions. But there was no magic in the night sky.

  He had to figure it out for himself.

  In his mind, he turned the question of motive around and around. A break-in occurred. Nothing was taken.

  Maybe something had been left behind.

  But what?

  The intruder could have come into Saida’s rooms and planted a tiny camera or a listening device to spy on her. A foolish idea. Jake could have the rooms swept for bugs and spy cams.

  Frankly, he didn’t want Saida to stay in that room anymore. Yes, the resort was beautiful and luxurious. Security had been breached. To make sure she’d be safe, he needed to take her home with him. He wanted her to share his bed.

  His motivation didn’t have a damn thing to do with security or the investigation. His desires were irresponsible, inappropriate. And he didn’t care. He wanted to make love to the princess.

  Quickly, he returned to the resort and went to the conference room. The door was still closed, but it was going to take more than a slab of wood to stop him. Jake tapped on the wood and waited.

  Nasim answered. Though his eyelids drooped with exhaustion, his suit was still impeccable and his necktie still knotted neatly.

  “I need to speak with Princess Saida,” Jake said. “About the investigation.”

  The old man opened the door wider and beckoned to Saida. As soon as she saw him, she grabbed her purse and rushed away from the conference table toward him. To the others, she said, “I’ll be back shortly.”

  Jake’s heart jumped when he saw her eagerness. It took an effort to keep from smiling. “I have a few questions. Come with me.”

  In the hallway leading to the lobby, she fell into step beside him. “I’m so glad you rescued me. I was about to faint from boredom.”

  “The talk isn’t going well?”

  “Oh, it’s going great. I’ve heard more about oil drilling and COIN political factions than I ever wanted to know.”

  He wanted to be alone with her, but the princess was an attention magnet. One of the women working at the front desk had moved away from her post to get a better view of Saida.

  Might as well use that interest. Jake approached the curious woman and asked, “Is there a place where the princess and I can speak privately?”

  She went through a half-curtsy dance similar to the way Maggie had first greeted the princess, then she directed them to an office behind the desk, giggled and closed the door.

  Jake knew he shouldn’t touch Saida. If they were found in an embrace, there’d be no end of trouble. But she was worth it. He caught hold of her waist. Slowly, he reeled her toward him. Her hands glided up his chest and wrapped around his neck. Her body fit against him like a velvet glove.

  It felt good to hold her, damn good.

  He lowered his head and whispered in her ear, “You can’t stay in your suite tonight.”

  “I know. It’s a crime scene.”

  “Come home with me.”

  Her head tilted back and she looked up at him with eyes so warm that he began to melt. “I want to, Jake. I really do. But I can’t leave. Not now. I’ve finally gotten these guys to trust me.”

  Having dealt with the royals, he knew what an amazing accomplishment it was to have them change their minds. “I’m proud of you.”

  “It was your idea. You were the one who suggested that someone from Jamala or another COIN nation might have financed Dormund and Granger.”

  He liked that she was still investigating. Her focus on finding Amir overwhelmed everything else. “What have you found out?”

  “I’m not sure that you’re right. We need a clue. Something that would…”

  Her words trailed off, and her body tensed. Something was bothering her. “What is it, Saida?”

  “Nothing.” But her smile turned stiff. “Why don’t you want me to stay in the suite?”

  “Logic. Since the intruder didn’t steal from you, I think he broke into your room to leave something. It might be some kind of spy cam.”

  She buried her face in the crook of his neck and held him tightly for a long moment. Then she broke away.

  “You’re right, Jake. He left something. A message. It was in plain sight on the coffee table by the phone.” She dug into her pocket and took out a scrap of paper with red lettering. “A phone number and a warning. It says that I should tell no one.”

  Not even him. She should have known better than to withhold evidence. “What were you thinking?”

  “I was afraid. I didn’t want to risk losing a connection that would lead to my brother.”

  “Have you made the call?”

  She shook her head. “I didn’t want to do anything until I talked to you.”

  Though he wished she would have instinctively handed the note to him the minute she found it, he appreciated her trust—belated though it was. He took a backward step and leaned against the desk. “Go ahead. Call him.”

  She took her cell phone from her purse and punched in the number. For over a minute, she held the phone to her ear. She disconnected and tried again.

  He could feel her tension rising. Avoiding his gaze, she paced in front of the desk. She tried again. And again. “Why won’t he answer? I don’t understand.”

  “Give me the phone number. I’ll run a trace. I can find out who it belongs to.”

  “No,” she said firmly. “I trust you, Jake. Trust you with my life. But I don’t want anyone else knowing about this note or this phone number.”

  It wasn’t her decision. She didn’t get to call the shots when it came to evidence. That was his job, and he had a responsibility to do things right. The correct procedure would be for him to confiscate the note so forensics could check for fingerprints. But he also needed her cooperation, especially now that she’d been accepted into the inner circle of the COIN royals.

  Her gaze met his. Sadly, there was a distance. The heat between them had chilled by several degrees. She was using their relationship to circumvent police procedure. And he was using her, as well.

  “Promise me one thing,” he said. “You won’t call that number without telling me.”

  “Done.”

  For now, that would be enough.

  Chapter Nineteen

  The next morning at a few minutes before seven o’clock, Saida awoke with a start. Yanked from slumber, she reached for the cell phone on the bedside table. The number—scrawled in red ink—flashed in her brain. Last night, she’d made two more attempts to reach the intruder. Both times, Jake had been standing by, watching while she placed the call.

  No one had answered.

  Maybe this morning, maybe now, she’d have better luck.

  She dragged herself from the bed. Though her new room at the resort was far less luxurious than her original suite, the bed linens were soft as a caress. Under normal circumstances, she would have allowed herself to glide into a new day, reveling in the drowsy warmth of the comfortable bed and ordering espresso from room service. Not today.

  She called Jake’s house on the landline in the room. When he answered, his voice was husky and warm. She wondered if he w
as still in his bed. More important, would she ever share that bed?

  Last night, he’d been angry with her for not telling him right away when she found the note. In the blink of an eye, he’d transformed from hot, sexy lover to super-responsible sheriff. He was still hot and sexy, of course. That was his natural state of being.

  “Did I wake you?” she asked.

  “I’m up.”

  “And dressed?”

  “I just got out of the shower.”

  She closed her eyes, conjuring a mental image of Jake wearing nothing but a skimpy bath towel around his waist.

  “Saida, why did you call?”

  She exhaled a sigh as her fantasy dissipated. “I thought I’d try the mystery number again.”

  “Go for it,” he said. “Remember what we discussed.”

  “I remember.” Last night, he’d given her a few guidelines for handling a telephone negotiation with a criminal. First, she needed to remember that bad guys lied and shouldn’t be believed. Second, her goal was to get as much information as possible, asking where he was and if she could meet with him face-to-face. Third, she shouldn’t agree to anything.

  “Call him on your cell,” Jake said. “I’ll be right here, listening.”

  From memory, she punched in the red-lettered number and listened while it rang several times. Why wouldn’t he answer? This person had gone to a great deal of trouble and had taken a risk to leave his number in her room. Where was he?

  She disconnected. “No answer.”

  “Don’t let it shake you,” he said.

  “What kind of game is he playing?” Tension gripped her by the throat. Finally, she had a clue, a connection, a person who might lead her to Amir. Why wouldn’t he pick up his phone? “It’s making me crazy.”

  “He’ll answer when he’s ready. In the meantime, we have a lot to do.”

  “Such as?”

  “Much as I hate to get involved in girl stuff, Maggie has been bouncing off the wall ever since I told her she’d be coming to the ball. She needs to talk about clothes with you.”

  “Our plane leaves at four o’clock. I’ll see Maggie before then.”

  “Much appreciated,” he said. “Later today you and I can interview the other people who showed up repeatedly in Danny’s photos. There’s the guy who works for Maddox, his name is Chuck Scowron. And the lady who owns the quilt shop.”

  “I’ll be at your office by nine,” she said.

  THOUGH SHE DIDN’T WASTE a moment, it took longer than expected for her to deal with the morning’s business. At a few minutes after ten o’clock, Nasim drove the yellow Hummer into the parking lot for the county courthouse in Dumont.

  Saida hadn’t spent much time in the town and decided that she hadn’t missed much. Dumont was pleasant but unremarkable, and the courthouse had all the charm and architectural elegance of a beige brick shoebox.

  As Nasim guided the car into an empty space, she said, “You really don’t have to accompany me.”

  “Until our departure this afternoon, I will act as your bodyguard. It is my duty.”

  He wasn’t altogether pleased with the plan for him to return to Jamala and take a stronger leadership role with the bickering factions. And he definitely didn’t like being pushed into that position by the COIN royals.

  “I’ll be fine,” she assured him.

  “You must not underestimate the threat, Princess.”

  “I assure you, Nasim, I’m taking all that has happened very seriously.” She knew the potential for danger existed. Not just for her, but for Amir. “I won’t take any risks.”

  “You are impatient,” he said.

  “But I get things done. Did you ever think I’d get the princes to listen to me? They wouldn’t let me leave this morning. Even Efraim had to admit that I had insight.”

  “I have said many times, you are a born diplomat. And your brother is a statesman. Together, you are formidable.”

  On the second floor, they went down a wide hallway to a pair of double doors where the sheriff’s department was located. Inside, she and Nasim approached a wood counter that separated the entryway from a large room with partitions, desks, file cabinets and office equipment.

  Through a half-glass wall, she could see Jake in his office. He was talking to Deputy Wheeler.

  The middle-aged woman who occupied the desk directly in front of Jake’s office did a double take when she looked up and saw Saida and Nasim. In this very functional office, Saida knew that they stood out. Nasim’s tailored suit, white shirt and necktie seemed as formal as a tuxedo. Though she’d dressed casually, her gray slacks had a designer shimmer, her blouse was purple silk and her four-inch platform heels were embellished with red leather stars.

  The woman bustled toward them, peering over the rims of her silver-frame glasses. Her mouth pursed in a tight little bow as though she was holding back words.

  Saida made the first move, stepping forward to grasp the woman’s hand and give a firm shake. “I’m Saida. This is Nasim. We’re here to see the sheriff.”

  “I’m Jake’s secretary. Maggie told me all about you, Princess.” Her smile lingered on Nasim. “But she didn’t mention this gentleman. Are you a sheik, too?”

  “I am Minister of Affairs for Jamala,” he said.

  “Affairs, eh? That sounds mighty interesting. We might need to chat about affairs.” She gestured for them to follow her. “The sheriff is expecting you.”

  Jake’s private office was relatively small and blah. In addition to the desk and chairs, there was a basketball hoop and a couple of photos—one of which showed a school picture of young men in light blue-and-red basketball uniforms. As soon as Saida entered, she was hit by the urge to decorate. This room needed to be more personalized. Until Jake put his own stamp on his office, he hadn’t really settled into his position.

  After she greeted Wheeler, Saida was anxious to make her next attempted phone call to the mystery number. “I need to speak to the sheriff in private,” she said. “Perhaps Deputy Wheeler could show Nasim where to find coffee.”

  As soon as they left the office, she whipped out her cell phone. “Can I try again?”

  “Sit.” He pointed to a chair on the opposite side of his desk. “I have some information.”

  “Good news?” She perched on the edge of the chair.

  “I have the preliminary forensics report from Jane Cameron regarding your suite at the resort. She found a fingerprint on the coffee table near the windows.”

  “Which is where I found the note,” she said. “Who is it?”

  “Not so fast.” He laced his fingers behind his head and tilted back in his chair. “I’d like to take this opportunity to mention that this information is the result of simple, old-fashioned police work. Open and direct.”

  “You’ve made your point.”

  “Have I?” He stared up at the ceiling. “Over the past few weeks, I’ve put up with a wall of silence from the COIN entourage. They’ve withheld information and evidence. On occasion, they’ve refused to cooperate.”

  “I’m not like them,” she protested.

  His hands separated and he leaned across the desk toward her. “Last night, your first instinct was to hide that note.”

  “And my second instinct was to tell you.” She stood and rested her palms on the desk. “When I came to Wyoming, your house was my first stop. I came to you. Not the princes.”

  He stood, facing her. “No secrets, Saida.”

  “Tell me who left the phone number, Jake.”

  “The fingerprint was from Chad Granger.”

  As soon as he said the name, it seemed obvious. Granger tried to abduct her. The dead man was found in Granger’s truck. “What do you think he wants from me?”

  Jake shrugged. “Try the number again.”

  She dialed and listened to the monotonous drone of the ringer. Once, twice, three times…

  “Nothing,” she said.

  Jake looked worried. “I can think of only one reas
on Granger would contact you. He wants money.”

  “A ransom.” She was immediately on edge. The thought of Amir being held captive was terrible. At least she’d know that he was alive. “I’d pay anything to rescue my brother.”

  “It’s doubtful that somebody like Granger could pull off a kidnapping,” he said. “I think he wants to sell you information.”

  “I’d pay. Why won’t he answer?”

  When she looked into Jake’s eyes, she saw the dark possibility that neither of them wanted to say aloud. Granger might not be able to pick up his phone. He might already be dead.

  Wheeler tapped on the office door and pushed it open. “Sorry to interrupt, Sheriff. But we’ve got a lead on Dormund’s rental car.”

  “Where is it?” Jake asked.

  “In the mountains west of town. A couple of hikers called it in. They spotted a vehicle that apparently drove off a cliff. The license plate matches the one we have for Dormund.”

  “Did they climb down and take a look inside?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  She could hear her heart thumping. The last time they’d found a vehicle, it was the truck, and William Dormund was dead. Would the rental car tell the same story? She feared that Granger had been killed before she could talk to him.

  “Was anyone in the car?” Jake asked.

  “The hikers saw blood on the driver’s side, but no body.”

  Saida never thought she’d be glad to hear a statement like that. Blood but no body. For the moment, as far as she knew, Granger was still alive, and he might be able to sell her information that would lead to her brother.

  She sat back in the chair and watched as Jake efficiently organized the next step in the investigation. He dispatched Wheeler and two other deputies to follow up on the hiker’s statement. After they located the wreck, they should do a preliminary search.

  If there was any indication that the driver might have crawled away from the crash and might still be in the area, Wheeler should contact the mountain rescue team to search, and then arrange for the car to be towed to the impound lot.