“Does it have anything to do with this investigation?” Deputy Taggart asked.
“Maybe,” Austin said.
“This is a police matter now. I don’t want you interfering with the investigation or putting yourselves in more danger.”
“We were hired to investigate too, Deputy Taggart.” Willow stared at her computer, looking beat. She was working on something and was determined to see this case through. Austin knew just how she felt.
They’d been hired to find Charlie, which they’d done. But she was still in danger until her abductor was brought to justice. Willow was likely still in danger as well. Besides, Austin wanted justice for JT as much as Willow did. “We’re only going to question Mr. Haus, an elderly man in a nursing home. If we learn anything from him, we’ll share that information with you. He’s in Clair though, so Sheriff Everett will want to know what we find out too.”
Deputy Taggart nodded. Many law enforcement entities would be involved before this ended, what with a cold case abduction victim found and the person they believed was behind Marilee’s murder and the abduction still out there. Austin didn’t have time to waste as they waited for others to get up to speed.
“I can’t exactly tell you not to talk to Mr. Haus, but humor me. Come right back here. I want to keep track of everyone in case I have more questions, especially if a killer is still out there. Mind if I ask about his connection?”
“I’m not sure,” Willow said. “Call it a hunch. He knew Marilee, Charlie’s mother, who was murdered. I’m trying to find a link back to Texas and that hospital in Houston where Charlie was taken from.”
Mr. Haus said Marilee knew his secret. Maybe he knew some of hers too. Maybe Mr. Haus knew the man she planned to meet the night she was murdered. Austin kept that part to himself. It was a long shot anyway.
“Fair enough.” Taggart headed for the door. “Then come straight back to the ranch. Agreed?”
“Agreed,” Austin said.
“Keep her safe, McKade.”
To my last breath . . . Austin appreciated that Taggart trusted him to do just that. More than anything, he wanted this to be over so he could hold Willow. Kiss her. Tell her the emotions bursting through the cracks in his heart. Working through this with her had brought them closer than they had ever been.
Austin drove Heath’s truck to the nursing home in Clair. Willow was quiet on the drive, but he understood. So much had happened within a short time that his mind had to catch up. Had to comprehend and internalize. Maybe he could see clearly what they had been missing all along.
Someone had paid Sheriff Haines to do his business. Had Marilee also been paid to abduct Charlie? What was this person’s connection to the sheriff and Katelyn Mason? Why had law enforcement not found that connection early on but instead deemed the abduction random?
“You’re sure quiet. What are you thinking?” he asked.
“I hope we aren’t barking up the wrong tree, as Sheriff Everett put it.”
“Well, he was wrong about that, wasn’t he? We found her.”
“Dead wrong. But we almost got her killed in the search too. Sheriff Haines had been warning us away.”
“Since there’s another person out there involved—the person who killed Marilee, if the sheriff can be believed—we don’t know if Charlie would have been safe if we had left her alone to hide. The truth needed to come out.”
“Needs to come out. We’re not done here yet.”
“I’m with you all the way. I need to know who was behind the abduction too, Willow. And for what it’s worth, I think you’re on the right track. It’s a hunch JT would have followed. It’s a thread. So we follow the threads.” Would they finally find the right needle? “You make an excellent investigator. You should apply to work for the FBI.”
“I think I’m good right where I am.”
“I’m glad you realize that.” He hadn’t been sure she would keep the business going with JT gone, but maybe now she would have the confidence to do so.
Once they arrived at the nursing home, he followed Willow in, letting her lead the way. She’d been wonderful with Mr. Haus before, forming a loose but warm friendship. He was certain the man would want to see her again—that is, if he remembered her. Dementia often had the unwanted effect of wiping the memory slate clean—short-term and long-term.
At the counter, they met another nurse, Bob. A thirty-something lanky guy with dark hair and glasses.
“We’re here to see Mr. Haus.”
“You family?”
“Friends. We came by a couple of days ago, and I told him I’d come back to see him,” Willow said.
“I’m sorry to have to tell you this, but he passed away.”
The news turned Austin’s insides to stone.
Willow stumbled back a little. “I’m so sorry to hear that. When?”
“Last night.”
Willow swayed. Austin grabbed her elbow. “What about Kim? Can we speak with her?”
“She’s in Mr. Haus’s room, clearing things out for his son.” Bob ushered them past the circle of elderly patients in wheelchairs playing a game involving bubbles and down the long hallway to the farthest room on the left. “Here you go.” He peeked his head into the room. “Kim, some people came to see Henry. Claim they knew him. I’ll let you deal with it.” To them, he said, “Go right in.”
Austin ushered a shaky Willow into the room. Antiseptic and asparagus again. Kim eyed them. “Y’all are too late.”
Pain etched Willow’s face. “What happened?”
“What do you mean? The guy was ninety-two years old.”
Willow roamed the room, eyeing the few knickknacks and photographs that sat out.
“He’s been here so long, I didn’t have the heart to take his stuff out to make room for the next person. He’s been here longer than I have. Usually people don’t stay so long. Insurance won’t let them, or they die. But Mr. Haus beat the statistics.”
Austin peered at the photographs along with Willow. She lifted one particular photograph. A man stood next to . . . was that . . . was that Sheriff Haines? Albeit a much younger man—a deputy at the time.
Willow showed it to Austin, then she asked Kim, “Who is this man?”
Kim pointed at the man standing next to Haines. “Mr. Haus’s son. And that’s his friend. He’s the sheriff the next county over now, I hear. Sheriff Haines. I told you he only had one son.”
Willow held Austin’s gaze.
The man in the picture wasn’t Silas Everett. Interesting. Then Kim didn’t know that Mr. Haus was Sheriff Everett’s biological father. Nor did she know that Mr. Haus had two sons, after all, just like he had said. Who knew? Marilee? Did Sheriff Everett even know his real father had died last night?
“That isn’t true.” A uniformed man filled the door frame, startling them. Sheriff Everett. He stepped all the way into the room, his law enforcement presence intimidating in the small space.
His features contorted. “He could never openly recognize me. After all, he’d had an affair with my mother that destroyed his family. Could have destroyed mine, except no one knew about it. Not even the man who raised me as his own knew Henry Haus was my real father.” He picked up the picture of Haines standing next to Mr. Haus’s other son. “Marilee brought him to meet me a couple of times a year for the last ten years or so.”
“You’re the secret, then. Mr. Haus said that Marilee knew his secret.” Willow eyed Kim. “He told us he had two sons, but apparently only Marilee knew about that.”
Regret filled his eyes as he shook his head. Then he angled it, suspicion shoving aside the regret. “Why are you two here?”
“We had hoped to ask Mr. Haus if he knew anything about a man Marilee was supposedly in love with. That’s what Clyde told us.”
Everett shook his head. “My cousin was insanely jealous. You can’t listen to anything he says. That’s why Marilee fought with him. She wanted out of the relationship. But I knew he couldn’t kill anyone. I kne
w he hadn’t killed her. He was with me.”
“Sheriff, do you know anything about your half brother?” Austin asked.
“Nothing more than his name. He knew about me, before I knew the truth, and never contacted me. I figured he didn’t want to meet me. I didn’t know for the better part of my life that old Mr. Haus here was my father.”
“He was here last night,” Kim said. “He got to say goodbye before his father died.”
Sheriff Everett narrowed his eyes. “How often did he come?”
“Usually once a year. Mr. Haus was surprised to see him.”
“And he showed up last night? Why?” Willow asked.
“I couldn’t say.” Kim pursed her lips.
“What’s his name?” Willow asked.
“Jay,” Kim said.
“Jay . . . ?”
“Jay Haus, what else? After he left, we had to call him to let him know his father had died. At least Mr. Haus got to see his son one last time, only moments before he died.”
Could Jay have killed his father because of the secrets he knew—the secrets Mr. Haus claimed Marilee had kept for him? If so, it wouldn’t be a stretch if Jay had killed them both.
They had come to ask Mr. Haus if he knew who Marilee was supposed to meet at the motel the night she died. Had that man murdered her? Had Marilee kept her relationship with this man a secret even from Charlie?
But without Mr. Haus to answer their questions, it was another dead end.
Still. Maybe not. Jay Haus had been friends with Sheriff Haines. The sheriff had been working with someone.
Austin studied the contents of the box Kim had been filling with Mr. Haus’s belongings. A flash of silver beneath a few shirts caught his attention. He tugged it out without asking permission. Willow looked over his shoulder. An elaborate western belt buckle.
Handcrafted by the Wyoming Silversmith Company.
“It’s the same company that made Marilee’s necklace,” she said.
They’d never connected with Hank at the silversmith company, but there was no need now.
“Do either of you know where Jay Haus lives now?” Austin asked.
“Why are you asking?” Sheriff Everett studied Austin. “I can find out if you give me a reason to look.”
“Marilee was the woman who abducted Charlie years ago. We know that Sheriff Haines was working with someone too. Someone who abducted Willow last night.”
“Why would you suspect Jay?”
Austin rubbed his jaw. This was another thread. A very loose thread. Sheriff Everett didn’t like his questions, but he pressed on. “Marilee kept your secret about Mr. Haus being your father. Did she ever say anything to you about a relationship with Jay?”
“No.”
“I think she was good at keeping secrets,” Willow said. “If Jay was behind Charlie’s abduction and Marilee’s murder, there could be a connection to Katelyn somehow. Something that was missed before,” she said.
Maybe. But the sheriff wanted a solid reason to look into his half brother. Austin couldn’t give him that.
“Was there anything unusual about him?” Willow asked.
Kim frowned. “I’m not sure what you mean. Like what?”
“Did he appear injured?”
Good question, Willow.
She shook her head. “No, he seemed fine.”
Austin saw where she was going with the question, but if Jay was their man, he would have come here to see his father hours before he abducted Willow and hit the moose.
Willow faced the Sheriff. “Jay could have been the one to partner with Sheriff Haines in Charlie’s abduction. Obviously they were friends.”
Sheriff Everett didn’t appear convinced.
“Did he bring his father any gifts last night?” Austin asked.
“He had a sack, yes,” Kim said.
Austin peered into the garbage can. He pulled out his latex gloves and dug around in the can, then pulled out a package with a big State of Texas sticker on the front. “Pralines from Texas.”
Chapter sixty-six
SATURDAY, 4:32 P.M.
EMERALD M RANCH
Willow took a long, hot shower. She’d left Austin to speak on his cell with Deputy Taggart about what they had learned. Sheriff Everett was already on it.
The investigation crossed county lines, and they would work together with the state police as well. But all the better—together they would find Mr. Haus’s son. He was a “person of interest,” as the sheriff had put it. Good thing the elderly man had already passed from this life. Finding out the crimes his son had committed likely would have hurt him dreadfully.
While she dressed, her cell phone rang. She’d been waiting for a call from Dana. Willow couldn’t wait to tell her what they’d learned. “I think we found the guy who abducted me last night. I believe he could be the one behind Charlie’s abduction. They’ll bring him in for questioning once they find him.”
“Wait, you were abducted? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“That doesn’t matter anymore. What matters is that he might be the person behind Marilee’s murder and Charlie’s abduction.” Willow explained everything to Dana.
“Jay Haus’s birth certificate didn’t come up when I searched for Mr. Haus’s son, remember? I found Silas Everett. I’m sorry about that. Not to sound negative, but it all sounds like circumstantial evidence. You know it might not be him. And . . . I’m so sorry to hear Mr. Haus died.”
“It’s pronounced hoss, not house. He went on and on about how people mispronounced his name. Wait—” Haus. House. “Oh, Dana, maybe this is the connection. Katelyn’s sister-in-law’s last name was Houser, if I’m remembering correctly.”
“She died years ago. I don’t see how that—”
“I’m looking for a man. Her husband is still alive.” Willow snapped her fingers. “John. His name is John Houser. See what you can find on him. I’m going to look too.” Willow abruptly ended the call. She hoped the internet speed out there wouldn’t be too slow.
Making the jump from Haus to House was a long shot. It could possibly take a lot of digging and referencing multiple sources to make a connection, if there even was one, but she had a good, strong feeling about this.
A hunch worthy of her grandfather.
She logged into professional software and plugged in Jay Haus, using Houser as an alternate name, then placed his residence in both Texas and Wyoming and waited for records to start popping up.
When Willow came out of her room, she was eager to find Austin, but Charlie sat at the table with Evelyn. The older woman patted Charlie’s hand. Willow couldn’t blame the girl for being distraught, especially after everything she had been through. Willow wasn’t sure how she would react at hearing such news.
Willow descended the stairs slowly, gauging Charlie’s reaction to her.
She glanced up at Willow, her eyes red, and offered a soft smile. “One of the deputies got my stuff for me from the cabin. I have the bank statements in my bag. Someone kept depositing money in Momma’s bank account—one I didn’t share with her. One I didn’t know she had. We shared everything. Even the house was in both our names. That’s what the money was for, wasn’t it? He was paying her to raise me, wasn’t he?”
Willow’s eyes burned. “Whatever transpired before or whatever was going on, she loved you, Charlie. I’ve come to realize that truth. We can’t know the circumstances—at least not yet—under which she was led to believe she should care for you. Maybe she had been told your mother was dying and you would need a mother. I don’t know.” Please, Lord, help me to soften the blow. Give me the right words. “So hang on to that one thing, okay? Marilee Clemmons was a woman who fiercely loved her daughter.”
Charlie nodded, biting her trembling lip. “Yeah, okay. I know it’s true. I know she loved me.”
Willow snatched up her cell when it rang. She was still waiting to hear when Katelyn’s flight would arrive. Would it be tonight or tomorrow? “Willow. I’m in Jackson, on
the way to Grayback. I talked to Dana and learned you would be at that ranch. I wanted . . . I wanted to surprise her. But I thought I’d better call.”
“What? You’re already here and on your way?” Willow watched Charlie’s expression. Would the girl hold up under all this?
“Yes. I don’t want to waste time. You understand. You’ve done excellent work, Willow. I’m so thrilled, and I know your grandfather would be as well.” Willow wasn’t so certain anymore.
“Okay. We’ll be waiting.”
She ended the call.
Charlie’s eyes widened. “This is it, then. She’s coming here and I’m going to meet a stranger. She’s my mother, but she’s a stranger.”
Evelyn reached for Charlie’s hand and squeezed. “Now don’t you fret. It’s going to be just fine. All you’re doing is meeting her. You can stay here at the Emerald M as long as you like. Remember that.”
Charlie nodded. “Thank you. It means so much to me. Mack putting me up in the cabin meant everything. I owe him big-time.”
“Something else you should know is that Katelyn has a big ranch with horses in Texas. She had always wanted horses. You train them here for Mack—I mean, Heath. It runs in your blood, I guess. I hear you are really gifted with them.”
“I think so, yes. I was getting my degree in animal science with an equestrian minor. But it’s so much. Too much to take in. I’m . . . scared.”
“Take a deep breath,” Willow said. “Take it all slowly. God has a hope and a future for you. No one is rushing you into this.” Willow couldn’t speak for Katelyn, though, who might definitely rush Charlie. “Meet Katelyn Mason. You can always visit her and her ranch later.”
Charlie toyed with her mug. “Okay, sure.” At least she had relaxed.
Austin hung back in the kitchen, taking it all in. She couldn’t wait to give him the news, but Charlie had to come first. She studied his expression as he watched her. Admiration lingered in his eyes. Willow’s breath caught at the attention he gave her.
She wanted to be in his arms. But she concentrated on Charlie. The next few moments and hours would be telling. She hoped and prayed both Charlie and Katelyn would be understanding and patient and neither would hurt the other. She left Charlie with Evelyn and moved to stand by Austin.
Never Let Go Page 29
