Striking Range

by Margaret Mizushima

  Mattie nodded. The sheriff of Timber Creek County, Abraham McCoy, had shared this information months earlier, and they’d speculated that someone in the Cobb brothers’ original smuggling ring had arranged the hit. Until today, that theory hadn’t seemed significant—old news. Now, however, Mattie had to wonder if the person or persons who’d arranged Harold’s death had also ordered John’s.

  Hauck paused, but Mattie waited him out, deciding it best to withhold comment until she knew where he was coming from.

  “It looks like John Cobb died from some type of opioid, but possibly by a self-inflicted, accidental overdose.” Hauck raised his left brow, looking skeptical. “At this point we don’t actually know how he died or what killed him, right?”

  “That’s right. But John Cobb has been imprisoned here for five months, and it seems like a huge coincidence that he would die the morning he was scheduled for an interview with us. I’m not a fan of coincidences. And Donahue said Cobb had no known history of drug use during his stay here, so accidental overdose seems unlikely.”

  “I hear you. I’ll get us the autopsy report as soon as possible. That should tell us something.”

  It was a relief that Hauck planned to keep her in the loop, but she still intended to ask Sheriff McCoy to request the report as well. “I wish we could have interrogated the men he ate breakfast with and his guards. It would have been easy to slip something into his food or drink.”

  “I know, but Russo didn’t want our help. Not our jurisdiction.”

  “Do you think he’ll share information with you?”

  “I think so. I’ll follow up tomorrow and see where he’s at.”

  That sounded good. “When do you go back to California?”

  “I’m scheduled to fly home this evening.” Hauck gave her that speculative look of his. “But I’m thinking of changing my plans.”

  “Oh?”

  “What do you think of that trail map in the book? The one with the markings.”

  “I think there’s something significant about it and it might be a lead.”

  Hauck frowned. “There was something about that map that upset you. You said you’d tell me later.”

  By this time, Mattie had recovered from the shock of seeing the mark on the spot where she’d been taken to die. She tried to remain detached while she spoke. “One X was on the place where John Cobb took me when he tried to kill me.”

  Hauck’s eyes narrowed, and he withdrew his cell phone from his inside coat pocket. He swiped and tapped and then held up the screen, showing her the photo he’d taken of the map. “Show me which one.”

  Mattie pointed to the X on the backside of Redstone Ridge. “Cobb built a fire pit intended for me that night, but sparks from the flames set fire to the forest instead. Investigation of the area afterward didn’t reveal anything. But now I wonder if something’s there, maybe hidden or buried.”

  Hauck cursed under his breath as he leaned back in his bucket seat. “How did you get away?”

  “I fought him.”

  “He’s about my age, but he appeared to be a pretty strong guy. You must be one hell of a scrapper.”

  Mattie would’ve laughed if she hadn’t had such a tight feeling in her gut from the memories of it. “I had my share of practice growing up as a kid.”

  Hauck studied her for a moment, as if taking her measure. “So … I’d like to go up to that area to look around.”

  That surprised her. “The trail’s long and it’s steep. Are you used to hiking?”

  “I stay fit.”

  “But you’re not used to this altitude. It makes a difference.”

  “I think I can do it.”

  Mattie wasn’t so sure. “We have a sheriff’s posse that supplies horses for us when we go on a mission up into the high country,” she said, thinking of Cole. “We could arrange for you to go on horseback. Are you okay with that?”

  He smiled. “I’m okay around horses. Used to have a couple myself until I moved to San Diego and it was too expensive to keep them.”

  His enthusiasm to continue to investigate excited her. “Let’s go, then. It’ll take about four hours to drive to Timber Creek. Do you want to follow me?”

  “I’m going to need to buy some hiking boots.” He tapped the steering wheel. “I have navigation, so getting there shouldn’t be a problem. I’ll come after I do some shopping.”

  “Will you want to stay the night in Timber Creek so we can get started early in the morning?”

  “Sure,” he said, quirking his eyebrow again. “Is that a problem?”

  “There’s only one motel. I’ll make sure they reserve a room for you.”

  He released a quiet snort. “Small-town Colorado, huh?”

  “You’ll see.”

  “Give me the name of the place, and I’ll make my own reservation.”

  Eager to get on the road, Mattie gave him the information he needed and said good-bye. After getting out of his car, she closed the door, the sound evidently loud enough to alert Robo. He popped back up in the side window, and as she approached, he began his happy dance, a silly grin on his face.

  Hauck’s plan to come to Timber Creek and her dog’s greeting had done much to restore her spirits. She opened the hatch to give Robo a hug and splash fresh water into his bowl from his supply. She petted him while he slurped and exchanged waves with Hauck as he drove past on his way out of the parking lot.

  Hauck stared at Robo on his way by. Her dog was an eye-catcher all right. She’d grown used to people being afraid of him, but she knew he was a pussycat at heart—though she would never take his protectiveness for granted. He wouldn’t hesitate to put his life on the line to save hers, and she would do the same for him.

  She snapped a leash on his collar and invited him out of the vehicle. As he gamboled beside her, she led him to a grassy area, her mind churning with unanswered questions. She was certain that John Cobb had been murdered. Who’d killed him? And why?

  “Take a break,” she murmured to Robo when they reached some bushes.

  She continued to mull things over while Robo took care of his business. What secrets had Cobb known that someone wanted to keep hidden? Were there still active members in the smuggling ring that he’d been a part of decades ago? And if so, what were they into now? Drugs? Guns? What?

  Her phone vibrated in her pocket, and she took it out to check. It was a text from Cole: Puppies delivered by C-Section this morning. 4 males, 4 females. Sassy is fine. Come see them when you can. They’ll be here at the clinic until tomorrow.

  Her spirits skyrocketed. “You’re a father, Robo!”

  Evidently latching on to her mood, her dog responded playfully, rising up on his hind feet to place his paws on her shoulders. She gave him a quick hug before making him get down. “Four boys and four girls, papa.”

  To help Robo expend some of his energy—and hers—she decided to take a few laps around the parking lot before the long journey home. She told him to heel and jogged off with him at her side, feeling more joyful than she would have believed possible under the circumstances.

  But then, what could bring more joy than a litter of puppies?

  * * *

  A stiff wind buffeted the side of Mattie’s SUV as she reached the top of the last mountain pass that stood between her and Timber Creek. It had been dark when she’d driven through here earlier this morning, but now the view of the forest rolled out before her in a display of gorgeous, Colorado-autumn splendor. Aspen groves stood out amid healthy green pine in pockets of gold, yellow, and orange. Groves of blue spruce complemented and enhanced the fall display—a panorama of shifting colors.

  Thirty minutes more to reach home. Even though she’d been born in California to Ramona and Douglas Wray, Mattie considered Timber Creek home, and she was eager to get back. She’d ended up here after the Cobb brothers abducted her, her mother, and her older brother William. She had very few memories of her life with Harold Cobb, because the abuse she’d suffered at his hands
had created a mental barrier to that time. Counseling and practice in relaxation and meditation techniques were gradually opening her memories back up to her.

  Her long day of driving had given her too much time to think, usually not a good thing. She felt tired and depressed despite the conversation she’d had with Cole earlier about the puppies. She worried about her family’s safety. John Cobb had thought her mother had stolen his money, and he’d tortured her brother William to find out where Ramona was hiding. Willie hadn’t known where Ramona lived at that time, but now Mattie did. And so did her sister Julia and their grandmother.

  If her father’s killers were still out there somewhere, actively pursuing illegal business, would someone try to go after Ramona again? And if so, would they also target Julia and their grandmother?

  Mattie hoped to get to the bottom of the mystery surrounding her father’s murder and uncover any remaining scumbags who might threaten her family. She knew the danger was real, and she couldn’t rest until her mother, sister, and grandmother were safe.

  She steered around a long downhill curve, loving the sight of the blue-tinted mountain layers in the distance. The sky had darkened, promising a storm. Frothy clouds hung low over snowcapped peaks, and wind blasted her car from the northwest, scattering dried leaves from nearby aspens across the road. She hoped a storm wouldn’t interfere with taking Hauck up to Redstone Ridge tomorrow.

  Though she was off duty, she felt a need to check in with the office. She activated her Bluetooth system and said, “Call Stella.”

  The detective answered right away. “Hey, Mattie. Are you on your way home?”

  “I’m about twelve miles away.”

  “How did the interview go?”

  “When they went to retrieve John Cobb from his cell, he was in there dead.”

  The silence on the other end of the line lengthened.

  “Stella? Are you there?”

  “Damn, Mattie! You’ve got to be kidding me.”

  “Nope. I wish I was, although frankly, that’s not a subject I’d kid about.”

  “My gut reaction?” Stella paused for a few seconds. “Who got to him?”

  It was gratifying to hear her teammate express the exact same thought that she’d had. “That was my reaction too. There was evidence of opioid exposure, and Detective Hauck mentioned the possibility of accidental overdose. But I think that’s unlikely.”

  “That man was not a drug user. Cartel lieutenant, trafficker, dealer? Yes. End user? No.”

  “I think we know our guy better than Hauck does.”

  “What’s next?”

  Mattie could imagine her friend pushing her reading glasses up to rest in her long auburn hair as she rocked back on the spring pedestal of her office chair and pursed her lips—her thinking mode.

  “The prison investigator wouldn’t let us interview inmates or guards, but he’ll share the autopsy report when it comes in. I’ll ask Sheriff McCoy to help expedite getting our hands on it.”

  “I’ll take care of that. I’m sure he’ll agree.”

  “Cobb had a book of Colorado hiking trails in his cell, and he’d dog-eared pages of Timber Creek County. He’d marked places on the Redstone Ridge trail. I need to go up there and check them out.”

  “Huh … I don’t like the sound of that. You haven’t been up there since, have you?”

  Mattie knew Stella meant since you almost died. “Right. It’s time I take Robo up to investigate that area more thoroughly. He’s never done that.”

  “Yeah, but it’s been five months.”

  “I’ve still got to search. You know how he’s been trained to find things outside of the environmental norm. He might come across something humans have missed.”

  “Then I’ll go up there with you.”

  Mattie knew that mountain hiking and even horseback riding weren’t Stella’s thing, making her even more grateful for her friend’s offer. “Detective Hauck decided to come out and take a look. He’ll go.”

  “So he wasn’t totally convinced that Cobb overdosed, huh?”

  “I think it was his way of saying I shouldn’t jump to conclusions.”

  “Got it—we do need to avoid that. But I think it’s safe to theorize that someone succeeded at getting a hit on Cobb, and that implies we’ve got some scary folks still in the game.”

  “I’d thought of that.” Mattie hated the uncertainty of the situation. “And I’ve got to wonder if Julia and my grandmother are at risk. I guess I need to call Julia and warn her, even though I hate to frighten them.”

  “I think you should call. Better safe than sorry.”

  She felt glad to have a chance to confirm her feelings with someone she trusted. “I need to let you go. I’m almost at Cole’s, and I think I’ll call Julia before I get there. Oh, I almost forgot! Sassy had her puppies this morning. I’m going to stop at Cole’s clinic to see them before I come to the station.”

  “Whoa! That’s exciting. How many?”

  “Eight. Four boys and four girls.”

  “Take some pictures of them, okay? Robo becoming a daddy is a first for our department. We need something to celebrate, and a puppy party sounds like just the thing.”

  “Will do. I’ll be in soon.”

  “But today’s your day off. You don’t need to come in until tomorrow.”

  Mattie slowed as she reached the turnoff to Cole’s clinic. “Since Hauck is on his way here, I want to talk to the sheriff and plan for tomorrow. I need to ask his permission to use Robo to help search that trail, and he might want me to do that on my own time rather than the department’s.”

  “I think the evidence points to criminal activity within Timber Creek County, though whether it’s in the past or present remains unknown. But with John Cobb’s death this morning, signs point to the possibility of there being current concerns. Sheriff McCoy will probably agree that this is departmental business.”

  Mattie pulled over to stop at the top of Cole’s lane. “Maybe so. I’ll see you soon.”

  SIX

  Cole opened the door between the exam room and the lobby to greet his next client. Despite it being afternoon, Angie sat at the reception desk, and Sophie was in the kennel room with Hannah, Sassy, and the pups. Like Ruth, he’d decided to let his daughters skip the whole day of school, partially because they were so excited about staying with the puppies and partially because he needed their help. Tess had left early to take her sons to a dental appointment.

  Friday felt like a great day to play hooky. Maybe there was still a bit of the boy he used to be left in him. He liked to believe he hadn’t turned into one of those grim adults who felt life was all work and no play, though he knew his ex-wife and daughters might disagree.

  “Dr. Walker, this is Tonya Greenfield and her dog Kip,” Angie said, playing her role as receptionist.

  Cole smiled at her before turning to his new client, a young girl—looked like she was still a teen—who appeared close to nine months pregnant. The girl was holding an eager-looking border collie who tugged her across the room to deliver a tail-wagging greeting.

  “Whoa, Kip! Don’t pull your mama down.” He blocked Kip’s attempt to jump up on him by bending to hold and pet. Kip’s color pattern was perfect for the breed standard—black with a white collar around the neck, white strip on the face, white lower legs and paws—and the dog’s high-energy personality matched the breed standard as well. “Is Kip male or female?”

  “A girl,” Tonya said. She seemed skinny for someone with such an advanced pregnancy, all belly above twiggy legs. A riot of red hair curled around her thin, wan face, and dark smudges marred the skin below her blue eyes. He could tell with one glance that her peaked demeanor was no match for the energetic dog.

  A woman with sandy hair and a sprinkling of freckles across her cheeks rose from one of the lobby chairs. “I’m Eliza Greenfield, Tonya’s aunt,” she said, extending a handshake. “We need to get Kip’s shots up to date. I’m afraid she didn’t have her last pu
ppy shots, so she’s way behind.”

  Angie handed him a booklet from a vet clinic in Nebraska that detailed Kip’s vaccinations to date. “I copied this into our records already.”

  “Thanks, Angie.” The birth date told him the dog was over a year old, and there was no record of inoculations after six weeks of age. “No rabies yet?”

  Eliza pressed her lips together as she shook her head.

  “I couldn’t afford to take her in for shots,” Tonya said with a little-girl tone. “Aunt Eliza said she’d take care of it for me.”

  “Here, let me take Kip’s leash.” Cole gave the booklet back to Tonya. “She’s a little excited, and I don’t want her to pull you over.”

  “She’s always excited,” Eliza muttered, placing a hand against her back as if it pained her.

  “Border collies have a lot of energy.” Cole stroked Kip’s side and tucked her in close to his left heel. He told her to sit, but instead of sitting, she wagged her tail and looked up at him with loving eyes. “Is it okay with you if I give her a treat to make friends?”

  “Sure, she loves treats.” Tonya’s smile lit her pale face.

  Cole reached into the pocket of his lab coat, palmed a treat, and repeated the sit command while giving Kip a gentle push on her rump. After she sat, he immediately gave her the treat.

  When Cole invited her into the exam room by opening the door, Kip surged forward, but he’d already shortened the leash and made her walk beside him while Tonya, Eliza, and then Angie followed. Once he’d moved into the room, he tucked Kip close to his heel and told her to sit again. The intelligent dog plopped down without needing a touch and stared at his hand as if awaiting her treat.

  Which Cole delivered happily. “You’ve got one smart dog here, Tonya. Border collies are known for their intelligence. I think she’s ripe for obedience training.”

  Tonya looked pleased. “I’ve been kind of sick with this,” she said, rubbing the bulge of her belly. “I haven’t been able to give her the attention she needs.”

  “Maybe Ben could help train her while you’re staying with us.” Eliza looked at Cole. “Ben’s my son, Tonya’s cousin.”