MOST ELIGIBLE SHERIFF

by Cathy McDavid

  Oh, God. How to tell her that Crowley, the man she feared the most, had taken her sister hostage?

  Iva Lynn’s voice filled his ear. “Cliff, be careful. Witnesses also reported Crowley has a gun.”

  “Stay put,” Cliff told Ruby in no uncertain terms. “Don’t move from this spot for any reason. And keep Sarge with you.” He thrust the dog’s leash into her hands.

  “Okay.”

  Déjà vu. He’d instructed Scarlett not to make any sidetrips, to go directly to the ranch, only she hadn’t.

  “I mean it, Ruby.” They stood in front of the Perfect Fit Tuxedo shop. Away from all the commotion and prying eyes. Her presence would raise questions, and he had no time to waste explaining.

  “I said okay,” she snapped.

  She was scared. He got that. Not angry at him.

  Walking across the street and through the crowd, he found his aunt and cousin waiting with the kids in front of the general store. The site of Scarlett’s abduction.

  Questioning witnesses wasn’t easy. Emotions frequently ran high. Questioning your own family was harder. And children...

  Cliff would give anything not to have his nieces and nephew involved.

  “Hey, girls.”

  They turned in unison. “Uncle Cliff!”

  He pulled them close and buried his face in their hair, something he hadn’t been able to do when he’d first arrived on scene. Thank God they were safe.

  “The man took Scarlett,” Ellie said, her voice quaking. “You have to get her back.”

  “I will. I promise.”

  Evan was in his mother’s arms and howling up a storm. That meant he was fine, right? Scared and confused but not hurt.

  Scarlett wasn’t fine. Crowley had her, and he might not let her go.

  What had he been thinking? Cliff mentally kicked himself. He should have seen this coming. Never let Ruby or Scarlett out of his sight for one second.

  “Shouldn’t you be doing something?” His aunt screeched at him.

  Speaking of emotions running high.

  “I am. I’m interviewing the witnesses.” Cliff went down on one knee, putting himself on the same level as his nieces. “I know you’re afraid, but I have to ask you some questions. So that I can save Scarlett.”

  “What kind of questions?” Maeve moved closer. Cliff may be her cousin but she was still hardwired to protect her children.

  “Can you tell me what the man looked like?” he asked.

  “He was mean,” Ellie said. “He said bad words. And he hurt Scarlett. She yelled.”

  “That’s not what Uncle Cliff wants to know,” Erin interjected with older sister authority. “He asked what the man looked like.”

  It was only then that Cliff noticed the well-dressed TV reporter and scruffy camera operator to his left. Shit! They were less than three feet away. Apparently a potential abduction in broad daylight was far more interesting than a chitchat with the mayor about weddings.

  “Back off,” Cliff barked.

  “Can we have an interview, Sheriff?” the reporter asked.

  “I said, back off.” How long until more reporters arrived?

  His expression must have matched his mood, for the reporter and camera operator retreated.

  Great. How many other people had witnessed his outburst?

  Cliff couldn’t worry about that. He had far more important concerns.

  “It’s okay, Ellie.” He reached out and smoothed the younger girl’s hair. “Anything you tell me will help us find Scarlett.”

  “He had black hair.” Erin, the bearer of more useable information, stood straighter. “And a mustache. He wore a brown shirt.”

  Black hair and mustache. The description, though generic, matched Crowley.

  “Did you see which way the car went?”

  Erin pointed up the road.

  “Good job.” His niece would make a fine police detective one day.

  “What now?” his aunt asked.

  “The Vegas police and Washoe County Sheriff’s Department are on the way.”

  “What about Scarlett?”

  “We have no idea where he’s taken her. Iva Lynn called in an APB. The authorities will be looking for his car.”

  Much as he hated it and until he had help, questioning witnesses and gathering information was the best use of his time and resources. The tiniest piece of information might prove invaluable.

  Cliff tore himself away from his family and entered the crowd. Additional interviews confirmed Erin’s description of Crowley and the events as they’d happened. Scarlett was abducted by a young man driving a white Infiniti. The car had left town by the north road.

  He dialed Iva Lynn at the station. She let him know that, in addition to Detective James and the Washoe Sheriff’s Department, officers from Carson City were en route.

  “Crowley took the north road. Call in for an air support.” A helicopter could cover more area in less time than an entire fleet of vehicles.

  He no sooner got off the phone than a couple approached him. They’d been returning from a bike ride and stopped when they saw Cliff. Not realizing there was a connection, they had thought to complain about a speeding car that nearly forced them off the road when it made a sharp turn.

  “Where was this?”

  “About a half mile outside of town,” the man said.

  The wife glanced at him for confirmation. “I think the sign said Windfall Claim Two Miles.”

  The old abandoned mine! Was it coincidence or calculated? Had Crowley planned to take Ruby there all along or had he seen the sign and made a spontaneous decision?

  Cliff didn’t have time to consider an answer. The next instant, Iva Lynn called again.

  “Washoe deputies will be here in five.”

  “Thanks.”

  He filled Iva Lynn in on Crowley’s possible location and that he may be holding Scarlett hostage in the mine. “Put in a call for a hostage negotiator, just in case.”

  Ignoring the questions being thrown at him from all sides by concerned citizens and curiosity seekers, he returned to his family.

  “What’s happening?” His aunt blocked his path. She could be a force when she chose, a skill that served her well as mayor and a business owner.

  “Crowley may have taken Scarlett to the Windfall Claim.”

  “Oh, my God.” His aunt covered her mouth with her hands. “Why her? It seems like he targeted Scarlett. That’s what people are saying. Is the town in danger?”

  She wouldn’t let him go without an answer. “He most likely thought Scarlett was Ruby McPhee. Her sister.”

  “I don’t understand.” His aunt shook her head. “That makes no sense.”

  “Scarlett’s identical twin sister, Ruby. A man named Crowley, has been stalking her for months. In Vegas. We’re assuming he’s the one who abducted Scarlett. The description matches.”

  “Why did he come to Sweetheart?”

  “Ruby’s here. Has been for the past two weeks. She was hiding from him until his arraignment was over. Except yesterday the charges against him were dropped.”

  He gave a brief accounting of Ruby’s case and how she’d replaced Scarlett at the ranch. Midway through, Maeve joined them, listening intently. The children had been left in the care of Mrs. Yeung, owner of the Sweetheart Wedding Chapel.

  Cliff glanced across the street at the tuxedo shop. Good, Ruby hadn’t left.

  “I don’t believe it!” Maeve exclaimed when he was done. “For the past two weeks, the person we thought was Scarlett was really her sister, Ruby?”

  The wail of sirens sounded in the distance. The sheriff’s department was close. “I’ve got to go,” Cliff said.

  Maeve cut him off. She could be as forceful as her
mother. “You let Scarlett watch my children knowing full well that this Crowley character might show up at any minute.”

  “I’m sorry, Maeve.”

  “What were you thinking?”

  A pair of tourists stood nearby, the man recording the exchange with his phone. Anger surged inside Cliff. He barely refrained from charging over there and plowing his fist into the device. Instead, he drew a breath and faced his cousin.

  “You have every right to be angry at me. And we’ll deal with this later. But right now, I have a potential hostage situation. Get the kids home right now and let me do my job.”

  Two official vehicles from the Washoe County Sheriff’s Department roared into town and braked to a tire-squealing stop near Cliff’s SUV. Right behind them was Iva Lynn’s truck. The situation was in immediate need of crowd control.

  Cliff assigned Iva Lynn the task, then went and met with Sheriff Eberhardt and his two deputies. Cliff was informed that a third deputy had set up a road block on the south end of town. Another deputy was immediately dispatched to set up a road block on the north side. Who knew what trick Crowley might pull?

  While Cliff and Sheriff Eberhardt studied a map of the area and discussed strategy, Detective James called and apprised Cliff of his ETA. Another hour. Well behind the Carson City police who were fifteen minutes out.

  From the corner of his eye, Cliff saw his cousin herd her children into the I Do Café. He’d rather she go home as he’d instructed and considered ordering her to do so. His aunt was another matter. She and his uncle stayed. Between them, the crowd, the reporters and every tourist with a phone and a morbid sense of fascination, Cliff felt like a ticking time bomb.

  As if he hadn’t done that already.

  There would be retribution for his mistake. He owed his family more than an apology. Later. After they rescued Scarlett and Crowley was apprehended.

  Iva Lynn skirted the barricade she’d erected with yellow crime-scene tape. “The hostage negotiator will be here within an hour. He’s supposed to be one of the best around.”

  “Call me when he arrives.”

  “Are you heading to the mine site?”

  “After I stop at the station.” He didn’t have to tell Iva Lynn why. They both knew he was after weapons and ammunition. “I’m depending on you to hold down the fort.”

  “Count on it, Sheriff.”

  “Cliff?”

  At the sound of Ruby’s teary voice, he pivoted, and his heart tripped.

  “I told you to wait at the shop.”

  “Please.” She absentmindedly threaded Sarge’s leash through her fingers. “I’m worried about Scarlett. What’s going on?”

  “It’s possible Crowley’s taken her to the Windfall Claim.”

  Her eyes widened. “Why there?

  A confined space in which to control his hostage. A high vantage point to see what was coming.

  “We’re going to get her back, honey.”

  “I want to go with you.”

  “Not a chance. Iva Lynn!” he hollered. The older woman hurried over. “Do not let Ruby go anywhere that isn’t indoors and out of sight.”

  “I’ll keep a watch on her.”

  The next instant, the very situation Cliff had hoped to avoid occurred. Maeve and the kids charged out of the café, donuts in the girls’ hands.

  Ellie spied Ruby and promptly ran toward her. “It’s Scarlett. You’re okay.”

  Maeve chased after her, Evan bouncing on her hip and dragging Erin along with her free hand. “Ellie, get back here.”

  The girl skidded to a stop a few feet in front of Ruby, her mother and sister bumping into her like a trio of bumbling Keystone Kops. “You’re not Scarlett,” Ellie said.

  Cliff saw panic flare in Ruby’s eyes. Evidently his cousin hadn’t told her children the full story. “It’s her twin sister, Ruby,” he said.

  “Sister?” Erin frowned.

  Ellie, on the other hand, beamed. “That’s cool.”

  “Dempsey!” the sheriff from Washoe beckoned him while simultaneously speaking into the radio attached to his uniform. “We need to leave now!”

  Crowley must have been spotted!

  Ruby held his arm, restraining him. “Please be careful. And bring my sister home.”

  “I’ll call Iva Lynn with any updates.”

  She threw her arms around his neck. Though he couldn’t spare another second, he hugged her back. Grabbing Sarge’s leash, he sped off, the dog trotting beside him.

  Engaging his flashers and siren, he followed the Washoe sheriff out of town and to the Windfall Claim. From the backseat, Sarge barked.

  Cliff reached behind him to ruffle the dog’s fur. “Ready to go to work, buddy?”

  * * *

  “THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!”

  Ruby spun, shocked to find Mayor Dempsey literally in her face. “I’m s-sorry.”

  “My grandchildren could have been injured. Or worse.” She choked on the last word. “Did that ever occur to you?”

  Ruby was grateful Cliff’s cousin had decided to leave and take the kids with her. She didn’t want more people than had already gathered to witness the mayor’s outburst.

  She was also grateful for Iva Lynn’s proximity. After Cliff’s stern dictate, the deputy wasn’t letting Ruby out of her sight, angry mayor or no angry mayor. That was fine with her. She didn’t want to miss one update regarding her sister.

  “Cliff told Scarlett not to go anywhere except the Gold Nugget,” Ruby said. “I don’t know what she was doing here.”

  The mayor talked over Ruby, would have stomped over Ruby if she could get away with it. “You should never have come to Sweetheart. We’ve got enough problems as it is.”

  No point trying to explain Ruby and Scarlett’s original plan. Or that Scarlett had thrown a wrench in it by returning early.

  Was it possible? Had that been what tipped Crowley off? He must have had Demitri watched, too.

  How could Ruby and Cliff have been so stupid?

  But wouldn’t Crowley have known he was grabbing Scarlett and not Ruby? Did he even care which sister he had?

  Her throat burned with unshed tears and unexpressed frustration. She would never forgive herself for this.

  “I’m sorry,” she repeated to the mayor and covered her face with her hands.

  “If even one person is harmed or suffers because of this, you will be a lot more than sorry, young lady.”

  Hard to imagine this was the same woman Ruby had considered petitioning for a job a mere hour ago.

  Like she cared now. If anything happened to Scarlett...

  Mayor Dempsey jabbed the air with her finger. “I’ll have you arrested for endangerment—”

  “That’s enough!” Iva Lynn planted herself between the mayor and Ruby. “Leave her alone.”

  The mayor drew herself up. “Need I remind you who you work for?”

  “Need I remind you who’s in charge of this situation?”

  “She brought danger to us.”

  “Stop it!” Ruby yelled. “Stop it now!” She wheeled on the mayor. “Your grandchildren are safe. Nothing happened to them other than a scare. A bad one but still just a scare.” A sob broke free. “My sister’s in the hands of a lunatic.”

  The mayor instantly sobered. “Of course, we all hope she’s safe. I didn’t mean...”

  Ruby broke into uncontrolled tears.

  An arm went around her shoulders. It belonged to Iva Lynn. When she spoke, it was in a low voice and directed at the mayor.

  “There’s a reporter right there and the camera is rolling. Unless you want the rest of this ‘oh, so nice’ scene played out on national television, I suggest you shut up.”

  The mayor blanched.

  “Come
on, now,” Iva Lynn said to Ruby. “Let’s go to the café. A cup of coffee will do you good.”

  She didn’t want any coffee. All she wanted was her sister back and for this nightmare to end.

  It wasn’t going to happen anytime soon. She and Iva Lynn had just taken seats at the café counter when the deputy’s phone rang.

  “Yes, Sheriff.” Iva Lynn remained stoic during the entire brief conversation. “I’ll tell her. Good luck.” A pause followed. “No, neither one of them is here yet...Right. Will do.”

  “Tell me what?” Ruby demanded the instant Iva Lynn hung up.

  The other woman took hold of her hand and squeezed it hard. “Cliff, Sheriff Eberhardt and the two deputies have made it to a ravine at the base of the mine. They spotted Crowley at the entrance.”

  “Oh, my God!” Ruby’s vision dimmed as the strength drained from her.

  “Ruby, listen to me.” The pressure from Iva Lynn’s hand increased. “Scarlett was also spotted. Crowley has her, but she’s alive. You hear me? She’s alive.”

  For the moment. Ruby knew better than anyone the violence Crowley was capable of committing and the sick way his mind worked.

  Chapter Thirteen

  The team had taken position approximately fifty yards from the mine. Cliff peered through a pair of binoculars. No change from the last time he checked three minutes ago.

  Crowley and Scarlett were just inside the mine entrance. Both moving and apparently talking, though what they said didn’t carry down the hill to where Cliff, Detective James, two Carson City P.D. officers, Sheriff Eberhardt, his deputies and the hostage negotiator crouched in the brush or behind trees.

  On the hill to their left, a SWAT sniper and spotter kept Crowley in their sights. Per orders, the sniper’s assault rifle was loaded with rubber bullets. They would not risk Scarlett becoming collateral damage.

  The good news: she was alive and, for now at least, unharmed. The bad news: Crowley held her captive.

  Tensions ran high among the team. This was a waiting game. Cliff despised feeling helpless, but, after countless stakeouts during his years with Reno Drug Investigations, he knew the value of maintaining a cool head. The slightest thing could set Crowley off, and the results were guaranteed to be disastrous.