Her Heart-Stealing Cowboys [Hellfire Ranch 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour)

by Jennifer August

  Tag’s face softened. “There isn’t any new information on her case,” he said. “I just want her to tell me what’s going on.”

  Rebecca cleared her throat. “Sounds like you already know.”

  Wade wavered then sighed. “Fine.” He looked at Rebecca and jerked his chin toward Wallace’s photo strewn desk. His stomach churned again. “I’ll be right over here if you need me.”

  “For Pete’s sake, I’m just going to talk to her, not burn her at the stake.”

  Wade managed a grin. “Sometimes with you they’re the same thing.”

  He turned and walked to the desk. He sat the computer down and pulled out the chair then placed his hands on the keys. Within moments he was eyeballs-deep in files, folders, and hidden code.

  He whistled as he dug through layer after layer of crap. No way did this guy have a fetish for LOLZ cats. He must have had a thousand JPEGs of the goofy critters but the files all had the same creation date. They were merely camouflage.

  He dug deeper and found a file with the same date that was named close to the others. He didn’t know why it caught his attention but it did.

  He opened the file and a password-protection window popped up.

  “Huh,” he said.

  “What’s that?” Stewart looked up with a half smile. “Did you say something, Mr. Merritt?”

  Wade shook his head. “Sorry, just making noises.”

  “Oh, all right.”

  The office phone jangled and Stewart picked it up. “Sheriff’s office.”

  Wade squinted at the screen and tapped his finger to his chin. If he were an ex-Marine turned criminal, what kind of password would he have? It wouldn’t be obvious. The man had proven to be a pretty decent wiz.

  Despite his own reasoning, Wade tried a few easy things like the Marine’s inception date, the last duty post he knew Fischer had been in, and the unit’s name. Nothing.

  He swiveled in the chair. “Tag,” he hollered.

  Through the glass window of his office, Tag looked up with a frown. He was bent close to Rebecca who had an equally irritated expression on her face. She shoved at him and stood up then stalked from the room.

  Tag raked a hand through his hair then came into the office. “What did you find?”

  “I need a password.”

  Tag shrugged. “Hell, I don’t know. You’re the computer genius.”

  “Yeah, but you knew him.” Wade couldn’t keep the respect out of his voice. “This guy was a pretty damn good hacker himself. He really knows his stuff. If I put in the wrong password too many times, I could end up in a wormhole or corrupting the data.”

  “You mean erase it?”

  “Nah, chances are it won’t go someplace we can’t retrieve it, but it would take for-freaking-ever. I’d just rather try the easier approach of breaking his password first.”

  “What do you need for that?”

  Wade shot a cautious look at Boone and cleared his throat. He lowered his voice. “I have some software at my house that might help.”

  “Don’t worry, Merritt,” Boone called out cheerfully. “I promise not to arrest you for possession of illegal software.”

  “It’s mine, not illegal,” Wade said.

  “Right,” Boone said.

  “It is,” Wade muttered to Tag. “It’s just not exactly something I’m supposed to be doing. Involves reverse engineering and recoding of—”

  Tag lifted a hand as his eyes widened. “Don’t,” he said in a strangled voice. “Do not tell me. I don’t want to know.” He looked at the laptop. “Can you get into it?”

  “Tell me about Fischer.”

  “Boone, get over here,” Tag ordered.

  Wade grinned and lowered his voice even more. “You just love tweaking that tiger’s tail.”

  Tag snickered. “He deserves it.”

  Boone joined them. “Who deserves what?”

  Wade blinked. He was no good at on-the-spot lying.

  Fortunately Tag was. “Fischer. He deserves us being all up in his business. Remember how that little weasel was always getting into everyone else’s?”

  “Yep. He was a little old lady in disguise. Always wanting to know what was going on, but ask him in return and he’d just as soon shiv you in the kidneys as answer a question. So what’s up?”

  “What do you know about him? I need some sort of personal information that I can use to get in,” Wade said.

  “He was an ass,” Tag offered.

  “A suck-up, too,” Boone said. “He was always in Colonel Reed’s office. Usually bitching about something someone else did.”

  Wade cleared his throat. “I was looking for more personal information.”

  The men stared at him.

  “Like what?”

  He felt like he was talking to a classroom full of stubborn seventh graders. “Like his birthday, his mother’s maiden name, his hometown. That kind of stuff.”

  Boone looked skeptical. “You said he’s a hacker. No way is he going to use a password that easy.”

  “Yeah,” Tag agreed. “You’d be better off going home and getting your software.”

  Wade shoved his hands in his pockets. “Just give me something,” he muttered.

  “I don’t know his birthday. Didn’t give that much of a damn,” Boone said. “He was from someplace in Wyoming though. Gillette, I think.”

  Tag nodded. “Sounds right. His mom’s name was something weird, remember? Reetsa or Leetsa.”

  Boone snapped his fingers. “Leetha.”

  “Yeah, that’s it.”

  They looked at him expectantly.

  “Well? You gonna try that?” Tag demanded.

  “What else?” Wade asked. “I want as much information as I can get before I try. I have three, four attempts max. After that I run the risk of meltdown and total lockout. Did he have any girlfriends?”

  “No,” Tag said.

  “Unless you count Olivia,” Boone said.

  Wade started. “Olivia?”

  Tag snorted. “In his dreams, Boone. You and I both know that pissant never had the balls to approach her.”

  “Yep. But he still wanted her. Man, he wanted her bad.”

  Wade narrowed his eyes and turned around. Surely it couldn’t be that easy.

  He typed in Olivia’s name.

  Incorrect password.

  He tried Olivia followed by the unit’s name of Hellfire.

  Incorrect password.

  Wade had a feeling he was close, though he had nothing logical to back that up. He just knew that Olivia was the key somehow. Was it possible that Fischer’s obsession led him to defy the ultimate computer rule? Random passwords are nearly impossible to break but something meaningful was totally different. Had he really been that hung up on her? God, he hoped so.

  Wade closed his eyes and set his fingers on the keyboard.

  “One last try,” he muttered.

  6-5-…His fingers hesitated over the keypad. Would Fischer have used a one for the I in Olivia’s name or go the straight T-9 texting route? While he sure as hell hoped Olivia was the password, Wade now had to decide if it was 6-5-4-8-4-2 or 6-5-1-8-1-2. He rubbed his fingers together, took a deep breath, and entered the second set of digits.

  He opened his eyes and hit enter before he could rethink his choice.

  The computer hummed and whirred and a document popped onto the screen.

  He spun around. “Gentlemen, we’re in.”

  Chapter Twelve

  “How long will it take you to decode it?” Tag asked.

  Rebecca saw the tension in his face even though his tone was nonaggressive.

  “Don’t know,” Wade replied. “Depends on what kind of system he used and what’s included. For all we know, it could be his grandmother’s cherished pie recipes.”

  Rebecca giggled then cleared her throat when Tag, Wade, and Boone pinned her with dark stares. “Hey, don’t want a laugh, don’t make a joke.”

  Deputy Carson strolled over. “M
ind if I look?”

  Everyone turned to stare at her. Rebecca hoped her surprise wasn’t as obviously pasted on her face as it was on the men’s.

  “You know computers?” Boone asked.

  Deputy Carson shrugged. “I know codes and ciphers. I was a geeky kind of kid.”

  Boone’s dark-black gaze traveled slowly up and down her body. Rebecca didn’t think he was aware of what he was doing until the agent winked at Samantha. “I don’t believe it,” Boone said.

  The deputy ignored him completely and looked at Tag. She waved a hand at the computer. “May I?”

  Wade rose and cracked his back. “Have at it, Deputy,” he said. “I could use a little break.”

  “I guess that’s a yes,” Tag said. “Wade, write down that password.”

  “Sheriff,” Stewart called out. “There’s a call for you.”

  Tag looked from deputy to deputy then at her. Rebecca saw the frustration parked in his eyes. She had also realized about four seconds into his rant about the packages sent to her office that he was letting off steam. It looked like he could still use a release.

  She’d give him a release, all right. She preferred the idea of naked bodies, silken sheets, and glorious sex.

  “In my office,” Tag said.

  Rebecca’s eyes snapped open. “What?” she said on a strangled gasp.

  He was already turning away but he grinned back at her. “We’re not finished with that phone call, counselor. What were you thinking?”

  She could feel the burn crawling up her cheeks. She’d gained the attention of both Boone and Samantha now.

  They studied her with obvious interest.

  “Nothing,” Rebecca snapped.

  “Oh,” Wade said. “Interesting again, huh?”

  Her glare melted when she tried to look at him. Instead she laughed and shook her head. “I say we’re all pretty full of interesting things around here, Wade.”

  “Yep.”

  “Sam, I’d like both of you working on this at the same time,” Boone said. “Print out a copy for Wade, would you?”

  “Sure,” the blonde deputy said. Seconds later the printer clattered and churned.

  “Excuse me,” Wade said and scooped up the pages. He flapped them in the air and frowned. “There are six pieces of paper here.”

  “Is that a problem?” Rebecca asked.

  He shrugged. “Maybe? The shorter length definitely helps us.”

  “How?”

  “Means there are less possible variables,” Samantha said. “Whatever code he used is probably not so intricate. If it were, there would be a lot more sheets to go through.”

  Rebecca tipped her head.

  “I don’t like that look,” Wade muttered.

  “I’m just thinking,” she said.

  “What she means is that she sees at least a dozen holes in your theory and she’s trying to find the best, most polite way to shoot it down,” Boone said.

  Rebecca bristled but only because he was right. “Look,” she began. “It’s just a couple of thoughts but it might be important to how you go about cracking the code.”

  Deputy Carson sighed. “Such as?”

  “Well, what if this is a new file? That would be one he hadn’t had a chance to populate. Or maybe it’s one of several files and the rest are still embedded like this one was.”

  Wade and Boone groaned loudly.

  “New plan,” Boone said. “Samantha, you take the printout and start going over it. Wade, back on the drive and make sure we have the only file.”

  Rebecca eased out of the way as they shifted positions. “I wish there was something I could do to help,” she told Wade. “But I’m pretty bad at computers.”

  He shook his head. “I doubt that. You might not know programming but I have a feeling you’ve got depths you’re not letting on about.”

  “Oh, you have no idea,” Boone said sotto voce. This time he winked at her instead of the blonde deputy.

  She glared at him. She knew without a doubt he wasn’t talking about computers but something far more intimate. Boone’s knowledge of her past could be a pain in the ass when he teased her about it but she knew he’d never out her. His discretion and secret-keeping abilities were legendary.

  She swept her gaze over Tag and Wade again. Sharing those sensual thoughts and desires with the two of them was something she wanted to delve into even further than they already had. But they were both hip-deep in the case right now and didn’t need the distraction.

  She could sure use one, though. She checked her watch and a sudden yearning burst through her. She looked down the small aisle of desks into Tag’s office. He was still on the phone. The top buttons of his wrinkled uniform shirt were open. He’d not put on another undershirt and a shock of his dark chest hair peeped out at her.

  Her body thrummed again.

  She needed an outlet and fast.

  “I imagine you guys are going to be busy for a while,” she said. “It’s almost five. I think I’ll wander down on the Hex. I barely had a chance to look this morning.”

  “I don’t think you should be out there on your own,” Wade said and half-stood.

  She waved him back down and shared a look with Boone. He also appeared ready to shoot down her idea of leaving. “I’ll be fine,” she said emphatically. “It’s not that far. Just a couple of blocks.”

  What she really wanted was a nice long jog but she wasn’t dressed for it. And even though it was nearing evening time, the air outside was still as stifling hot as it had been a few hours ago. She’d probably pass out before she made three miles.

  “Look, I have my cell phone. It’ll be fine.”

  She looked around for her purse and spotted it on the floor near the door.

  “Tag won’t like it,” Wade said.

  Rebecca gritted her teeth. “Amazingly enough I happen to be an adult and capable of making my own decisions.” She strode to the door and picked up her purse. Despite her declaration of independence, she did take a quick glimpse into Tag’s office. He was standing with his back to the window. One hand was on his lean hip and the other had the old-fashioned black phone receiver jammed to his ear.

  She eased open the door. “I’ll be back in a couple of hours. Call me if you need me.”

  She stepped outside and hurried down the street toward what she hoped was the Hex. No one chased her down.

  Her phone chirped and she fished it from her purse.

  Where are you going? Get back here.

  Tag’s text message read like a scolding father. She’d never been into Daddy play and she wasn’t about to start now.

  She fired off a snappy retort and promised to keep her phone on then shoved it back into the outer pocket of her purse. It immediately buzzed. She ignored it.

  It took her another block before she slowed her pace and started to look around. Freedom really was a quaint little place. It might not have the sophisticated allure and soil-deep history of Boston but it had a charm all its own.

  Many of the buildings looked original to the town’s founding in 1873. Tag had told her the architectural styles were a mishmash of many different influences but neoclassic was most predominant.

  One side of the street held three buildings that reminded her of an Old West soundstage with saloon and old time general store. The wood exteriors were decently maintained but some boards were peeling, while others were in dire need of fresh paint.

  On the other side were buildings that more closely resembled those she was accustomed to back east. White stone with wrought iron and symmetrically placed windows. She liked the way they all worked together to create the quirky little town.

  She turned onto Sugarberry Street and saw The Page Turner. She hurried forward and tried the handle but it was locked.

  “Nuts,” Rebecca said. A small placard on the door read Will return at 9:00. She figured it meant nine in the morning. She covered her eyes and peered into the darkened shop. Books as far as she could see littered shel
ves, cupboards, and the floor. She bet she could find some real treasures in there.

  A faint green glow caught her attention and she tried to look off to the right but couldn’t see all the way into the store. Probably a night-light or maybe a computer screen.

  Her phone chirped. Her lips tightened and she headed to the next storefront. Old West saloon doors were hung on a small hallway. Intrigued, Rebecca pushed through and found herself in front of a set of locked double doors. Liquorish was stenciled in gold with the store hours beneath. Strung across the handles was a sign that said Grand Opening Friday. She peered into the glass and saw shelves full of wine, beer, and liquor bottles. A tall, elderly man with a gray halo looked up from a box and waved at her. Rebecca waved back.

  He started shuffling toward the door and unlocked it before she had a chance to wave him off.

  “Afternoon, Miss Lyons. Nice night for a stroll.”

  “How did you know my name?”

  The old man grinned and showed a set of missing bottom teeth. “Everyone does.” He held out his wrinkled, bony hand. “Pete Minter at your service.” The words whistled from his mouth. “We’re not open or I’d invite you in. My grandson Josiah and I are getting ready for our grand opening tomorrow. We’re going to have samples of everything in the store. Think you’ll come by?”

  She smiled as she shook his hand. “Sounds delightful, Pete. What time?”

  “Three p.m.”

  “That’s an odd time for a grand opening,” she said.

  He grinned and scratched at the pink flesh of his scalp. “Well, we didn’t think many folks would show up until after the wedding.”

  Rebecca nodded as if she understood that business logic.

  “Gramps,” a deep voice echoed from the back of the store. “You okay?”

  “Yeah,” Pete hollered over his shoulder. He winked at Rebecca. “Josiah is real protective of me. He’s a good boy, so I let him think I need it.”

  Rebecca smiled again. “Well, I won’t keep you. I’ll see you on Saturday.”

  “Yes, ma’am, looking forward to it.” He waved as he gently shut the door.

  Rebecca headed back onto the street and looked up then down. Was nothing open right now?

  She saw a gold gilded window with a gorgeous quilt and Tiffany lamp in the display and headed for it. An elegantly hand-lettered oval sign read The Piquant Peacock followed by Open. She pushed inside. A faint cuckoo sounded over her head.