Finger on the Trigger

by Delores Fossen

  Griff nodded. “But he wasn’t armed, and there was no gunshot residue on his clothes or hands when Egan tested him. There wasn’t even a trace on Marlon.”

  She groaned, wishing all this could be tied up in a neat little package. One that would lead to Marlon’s arrest. Apparently, that wasn’t going to happen.

  “Marlon could have hired the triggerman who was shooting at us from the trees,” Rachel pointed out. “And the gunman could have been Buddy. Maybe he needed a fix badly enough that he was willing to kill for it.”

  Obviously, that wasn’t news to Griff, and he quickly nodded again. “Buddy hasn’t turned up yet. And the CSIs are combing that area across from my house now for anything that can give us an ID on the shooter.” He paused. “It’s possible, though, that he was just a hired thug, but it could have been one of our other suspects.”

  Yes. Either Simon, Brad or Alma. Though Rachel couldn’t picture Alma traipsing around a wooded area with a rifle. As for Brad, he still hadn’t contacted them so he could explain why he’d been at the inn in Silver Creek, but he wasn’t the rifle-toting sort, either.

  “Simon and Alma have alibis,” Griff went on. “But that’s because they say they were together. Alma said that Simon spent the night at her place because she was so upset after yesterday’s interrogation.”

  So they could be lying for each other. Or one of them could have slipped out without the other’s knowledge and gone to Griff’s. Even though Rachel and he hadn’t exactly spread it around that they were going to his house, someone could have been watching them.

  “Alma did give Egan complete access to her bank accounts,” Griff went on. “And she did that without a court order. He’ll have the Rangers go through everything to see if there’s a money trail.”

  It didn’t sound as if there would be. After all, Alma wouldn’t have just given them her accounts to examine if she’d thought there was anything to find. “What about Simon? Did he give Egan access, too?”

  “No.” Griff’s mouth tightened. “In fact, he tried to talk Alma out of it. He claims we’re all on a witch hunt and that we’ll manufacture evidence if necessary.”

  They wouldn’t, but it had to look like it to Simon, since there was now plenty of bad blood between Alma and the McCalls.

  “Egan said he didn’t think Alma was holding any real grudges against your dad,” Griff stated. “From what he gathered from the interview, she seems to be trying to move on with her life.”

  That could be all for show. Still, that theory didn’t feel right. If Alma wanted to get back at her former lover, why not just go after him? Or Warren’s wife, so Alma could get her out of the picture?

  When that last question popped into Rachel’s head, a bad thought followed.

  “Is there still a guard with Mom?” she asked.

  “Yes. A PI I trust, Kevin Teal. I called him about an hour ago just to make sure all was well. It is. Helen was still sleeping, but the nurse will tell her that I want to talk to her. Well, the nurse will do that if your mom’s having a good enough day, and then maybe Helen will call me back.”

  Maybe. But Rachel knew from experience that her mother had more bad days than good. Plus, a conversation with Griff might be too much for her to handle.

  “I can’t go visit her,” Rachel said. “Because I don’t want to risk our attacker following me there. Plus, she’d see the worry on my face, and that would upset her even more.”

  Griff made a quick sound of agreement. “If she calls back, you can talk to her. That might help both of you.”

  It would. She was a grown woman, but it was still comforting to hear her mother’s voice. Even if it was also a reminder that her mother was ill and might never be the same again.

  Rachel hadn’t really wanted to think beyond the present, but it was possible her mother would file for a divorce. And she certainly couldn’t fault her for that. Still, it ate away at her to think that her mom might never come home.

  Griff glanced around the room. “Where are Thea and Ruby?”

  “Thea’s at the back of the house, keeping watch. Two hands are guarding the front, and Ruby’s in the kitchen. She fixed breakfast, if you’re hungry.”

  He eyed the table and her unfinished cup of tea. “You’re not eating?”

  Rachel shook her head. “I’m not hungry yet. Maybe later, once my nerves settle a bit.” She hated that her voice cracked a little. Hated it because Griff already felt bad enough about the attack without thinking she was about to fall apart. “I’ll be okay,” she added.

  He showed no sign whatsoever that he believed that, and with a heavy sigh he went to her and pulled her into his arms. She got another of those chaste kisses on her forehead, but just the simple hug helped. Of course, it would have been better if it hadn’t helped, because then she would have moved away from him. It really wasn’t a good idea for them to be touching like this.

  Griff eased back enough that he could look down at her and make eye contact. “Your dad’s worried about you. I’m worried about you.”

  She wanted to tell him there was no need for that, that she was fine, but the lie didn’t make it past her throat.

  “I know,” he said, brushing her forehead with another kiss. “You hate us worrying about you.”

  She did, but maybe she could soon convince them that she was okay. It was just that she had been thrown off-kilter with the seizure and the two attempts to murder her. It was going to take a lifetime for her to forget the sound of that explosion and those bullets.

  Rachel was about to step back, but Griff spoke before she could do that. “You kissed me,” he said. “Right before all hell broke loose at my house.”

  He hadn’t needed to add that last part. She was well aware of what kiss he was talking about. And yes, she had indeed done that.

  “I’m trying very hard to remember why that kiss was such a bad idea,” she replied. Though that was probably something she should have kept to herself, because it caused Griff to smile.

  He had an amazing smile. One that reminded her of why she’d kissed him, and wanted him in the first place.

  For a moment she thought he would back away and take that bedroom smile with him. After all, they were in the dining room, where anyone, including her father, could come walking in at any minute. But this time it was Griff who did something stupid, by leaning in and putting his mouth on hers.

  Just like the other times they’d kissed, the heat came. Mercy, did it. Rachel could feel it make its way from her mouth to all parts of her body. And the heat just kept coming when he pulled her deeper into his arms.

  He tasted good. A taste she had no trouble remembering. Of course, it helped that they were now pressed right against each other so she could feel the tight muscles in his chest. She also heard the deep groan that rumbled in his throat. Apparently, his brain was protesting this, but the rest of him continued with it.

  Griff slipped his hand around the back of her neck, angling her head so he could deepen the kiss. It was too much, too soon, but Rachel did absolutely nothing to stop it. In fact, she made things worse by sliding her hands around his back and inching their bodies even closer. Even though this was still just a kiss, it was beginning to feel a lot like foreplay.

  He groaned again and muttered some profanity when he stepped back. She hated the feel of him moving away from her, and the kiss had so clouded her mind that it took her several moments to figure out why he had put an abrupt end to it. But even over the low roar of her pulse in her ears, she finally heard what Griff must have.

  The sound of an approaching car engine.

  Considering how recent the attacks had been, Rachel was stunned that she hadn’t been more alert, but the vehicle had already come to a stop in front of the house.

  “If there’d been a problem, the hands would have called us,” Griff said, probably because he’d seen how tense she’d
suddenly gotten.

  That was true, but it still took a couple seconds for her to rein in her too-fast heartbeat.

  Griff went to the foyer, and huffed when he looked out one of the side windows. “It’s Brad.”

  Obviously, the hands hadn’t known that Brad wasn’t exactly a welcome visitor. Not anymore. But they probably hadn’t heard about his change in status, since he often came to the ranch.

  “Stay back until I find out if he’s armed,” Griff warned her.

  She did. Rachel stepped into the adjacent family room while Griff disengaged the security system and opened the door.

  “Where’s Rachel?” Brad immediately snapped. “I need to see her.”

  Griff didn’t budge, and in fact, he blocked Brad from coming in. “We’ve been trying to get in touch with you for hours. Where have you been, and why didn’t you return our calls?”

  “I was away on business, but I came as soon as I heard what happened. Someone tried to kill Rachel again.” Brad didn’t pause long enough for Griff to respond to that. “What the hell were you thinking, taking her to your place? You knew how dangerous that could be for her.”

  No way could Rachel stand there and let Griff take the blame for that. “I insisted we go to his house.” That was close to the truth, anyway. She just hadn’t wanted to come back home.

  Brad tried to barge in again, but Griff pushed him back on the porch. Rachel figured this could turn ugly fast, so she went closer. However, she still didn’t get near the doorway, since there could be a sniper in the area.

  “Could you go ahead and search Brad for a weapon so the three of us can talk?” she asked Griff.

  “The three of us?” Brad snarled. He was snarling even more when Griff patted him down. “And now you’re treating me like a criminal. I’m the DA and Rachel’s a close friend, or did you forget?” He added a glare at Griff with that last question.

  Griff ignored him, continued the search and came up with a gun. Probably one that he took from the concealed holster that Brad usually wore. Griff put the weapon on the foyer table. “You’ll get that back when you leave.”

  When Griff finally allowed him to come in, Brad’s gaze zoomed straight to her. “What the hell is going on?” But as soon as he’d growled out that question, his expression softened. He went to her as if he might pull her into his arms, but Rachel dropped back a step. She would have dropped back even farther if she had to, because she had no intention of letting him touch her.

  Brad’s soft expression vanished, and he aimed another glare at Griff. “What have you been telling Rachel to turn her against me?”

  “I didn’t tell her anything, but we did see a picture that made us think twice about trusting you,” Griff answered. He shut the door.

  “A picture?” Brad questioned. “What picture?”

  “One that was taken outside the inn at Silver Creek where Rachel was staying. It was snapped the very night someone tried to kill her. Any reason you wouldn’t tell us you were there?” Griff pressed. “And before you answer, remember that anything you say can and will be used against you if I decide to arrest you for withholding evidence.”

  Brad opened his mouth as if he might blast Griff for that, but just as quickly turned back to her. “This isn’t how it looks.”

  Rachel folded her arms over her chest. “Then why don’t you tell us what happened? Because it’s looking pretty bad right now.”

  He nodded, but it took him several long moments and a couple deep breaths before he finally got started. “I didn’t mention it because I didn’t want you to think I was stalking you. I wasn’t,” he quickly added. “But I got an anonymous tip that you were staying there, and I wanted to see for myself.”

  “An anonymous tip?” Griff sounded as skeptical as she felt. Although someone had lured her father there after he’d been drugged.

  Brad took out his phone. “It was a text.” He scrolled through and pulled up the message from an “unknown sender.” “I thought it might have come from Warren. He’s always wanted Rachel and me to get back together, and I figured he gave me her location so I’d go after her and bring her home.”

  She looked at Griff to see if he was buying this. He wasn’t. But Rachel wasn’t sure just yet what she believed. “Why would you think my father would send you a text from an unknown number?” she asked.

  “I thought maybe he wouldn’t want you to know that he was the one who’d tipped me off to your location. I figured he had a burner cell lying around and used it to cover his tracks.”

  That was a stretch, but it was possibly true. She wouldn’t have wanted her father involved in any search to find her. Actually, she hadn’t wanted anyone involved, because she’d wanted to stay hidden away. But at the time she would have been especially resistant to having her father, or Griff, find her. It was amazing how her perspective could change after such a short period of time.

  “Why didn’t you say something to me when you saw me at the inn?” Rachel pressed.

  “Because I saw the other two men, and I wanted to make sure they weren’t following you. I mean, your whole family was getting those threatening emails, and I didn’t know if someone was stalking you.”

  “Apparently, a lot of people were doing just that. You, included.”

  Brad shook his head. “No. I just wanted to make sure you were safe. If one of those men had gone after you, I would have stopped him. But the two of them got in some kind of argument, so I left to try to see where you were going. My car was parked up the street, but by the time I got to it, you were already out of sight.”

  That meshed with what Marlon had told them, and Brad wouldn’t have necessarily recognized either of the men. Well, he wouldn’t have recognized them if he was innocent.

  “What’d you do then?” Griff asked, using his lawman’s tone.

  Brad lifted his shoulder. “I left and came back home.”

  Now she was skeptical again. “You drove all the way to Silver Creek to see me and then just left?”

  Brad huffed and looked away from her. “I realized how stupid it was to go there. You’re a grown woman, and if you’d wanted me to know where you were, then you would have told me. It felt as if I’d violated your privacy.” He glanced at Griff then. “And I figured you’d already had enough of that.”

  That was no doubt a dig at Griff, and it meant that Brad had perhaps heard about her going to him the night of her father’s shooting. Griff ignored the dig and kept on questioning Brad.

  “Did you see Warren when you were in Silver Creek?”

  “No,” Brad answered without hesitation. “And I saw nothing illegal going on.”

  Griff didn’t exactly roll his eyes, but came close. “You didn’t notice that one of the men was taking pictures?”

  “Of course I did. He was taking pictures of the inn, and that’s when Rachel came out.” Brad paused. “I don’t remember him aiming the camera in my direction, though.”

  “He claims he was taking a picture of the parking lot and that you just happened to be in the shot,” Griff explained.

  Brad’s eyes narrowed a little. “That guy was Marlon Stowe, the jerk who has it in for Rachel?”

  Griff nodded. “That’s the one. Now explain to me again why you wouldn’t have told Egan or me about this little visit to Silver Creek.”

  “Because I knew it would look bad,” Brad snapped. “There was no way I could explain it to Rachel where she wouldn’t think bad of me.” He turned to her again. “But I swear, I was just trying to make sure you were okay. You were so upset when you left town, and I was worried.”

  Brad reached for her, but as she’d done before, Rachel stepped back. He huffed and scrubbed his hand over his face. “I don’t know why I bother. It’s obvious that Griff’s turned you against me.”

  “This has nothing to do with Griff.” Again, that was mostly true. “And y
ou did do something wrong. But you didn’t tell the truth. This puts Egan in a very bad position, because now he’s got to work with a district attorney he might not be able to trust.”

  “He can trust me!” His voice was practically a shout, but she could see him trying to push down his temper. “You can trust me. But can you say the same thing about Griff? Rachel, he nearly got you killed by taking you to his house. Please. Don’t stay here with him. Let me protect you.”

  “No.” She didn’t have to think about that, either. And her response had nothing to do with that kiss. “I’m staying in Griff’s protective custody.”

  That tightened every muscle in Brad’s face. “Even after he lied to you?” He aimed an accusing finger at Griff. “I didn’t tell you the truth about seeing you in Silver Creek, but Griff’s lie was much, much bigger. He knew about Warren’s affair and kept it secret. That’s the kind of man he is.”

  And with that, Brad snatched up his gun and stormed out, slamming the front door behind him. Griff didn’t say a word. He locked the door and went to the window, no doubt so he could make sure that Brad left.

  “That’s not the kind of man you are,” Rachel argued. And, yes, the kiss probably was responsible for her saying that. Still, it was true. Griff wasn’t a liar by nature, but she was beginning to wonder if Brad was.

  Griff was still watching Brad drive away when his phone rang, and she saw the name on the screen. Kevin Teal. That was the bodyguard at the hospital where her mother was staying.

  Griff answered on the first ring and put the call on speaker. “Is everything okay?” he immediately asked.

  “Everything’s fine with Mrs. McCall. She’s still asleep. But she just got a visitor, and I thought I’d run it past you first because he’s insisting that he talk to her. The guy says his name is Buddy Hoskins.”

  Oh, God. Buddy was there.

  “Call the cops,” Griff insisted. “And whatever you do, don’t let Buddy anywhere near Helen.”

  Chapter Ten

  “I should be there at the sheriff’s office when the San Antonio cops bring in Buddy,” Rachel said.