by Mallory Kane
She reached up to rub her temple and winced when she encountered the bandage. “There’s a second compartment. It’s hidden underneath the first. It opens much like the first one did, with a certain sequence of brads.”
Zane headed toward the door. “I’m going to check it out. Why don’t you lie down?”
Anna opened her mouth to tell him she was too keyed up to relax, but he was already out the door and headed down the hall, his boots loud as his heels hit the hardwood floor.
That was the sound!
“Zane!” She sprung up out of the chair and stopped, her head spinning. She grabbed the chair back and waited for the dizziness to pass. Then, taking a deep breath, she headed down the hall to the evidence room.
“Zane—” She turned the corner and found him standing at a rolling table with the suitcase open before him, studying the contents.
He didn’t look up. “I told you to lie down.”
“Zane, the noise—the thud I heard? It was a boot, hitting the hardwood floor. The sound was exactly the same as the sound of you walking down the hall, only much quieter, as if the person was trying to be quiet.”
He nodded shortly. “What did you touch?”
“In the suitcase? I opened the lid and touched the brads. Then I lifted both false bottoms.”
“Tell me how to get into the second false bottom.”
She ran through the sequence, watching him as he performed each step perfectly. Finally, the inner hidden layer was exposed.
Zane stared at the contents of the second false bottom. “Did you handle anything?”
“Inside the flap? No.”
He looked at her from underneath his brows. “What about the papers?”
“I didn’t touch them. I swear. I saw what they were, and I knew it would cause problems if I touched them.”
“You knew Sarah had put this information here.”
“I knew she’d probably used the false bottom, but I’d forgotten about the second compartment.” Anna’s head was swimming again. She leaned against the door facing. “What do you see? I thought I saw receipts and bills, a lot of them with Leland’s name on them. Plus some notes in my mother’s handwriting.”
Zane couldn’t deny the surge of excitement he’d felt when he’d opened the case and seen the small stack of papers. He’d studied every bit of writing or print that he could see without touching anything.
“You’re basically right. The bills and receipts are photocopies of Leland Hendricks’s financial records. I can’t read much of the handwritten notes, but it looks like Lou Ann was keeping a journal or a record of Leland’s activities.” He angled his head and spotted another familiar name. “And Donna’s.”
Anna started forward. “Well, take them out.”
He glared at her. “I have to preserve the chain of evidence as much as possible. You’re absolutely sure you didn’t touch even one sheet of paper?”
She nodded.
“You’d swear under oath?”
She turned pale and her lower lip trembled, but she nodded. “Of course. I’m not lying.”
Relief fluttered in his chest. “Good. That helps. I need to photograph the suitcase just as it is. Then I’ll bag each piece of paper after I photograph it in place. I don’t want any doubt that the papers are authentic and untouched.”
He looked up in time to see Anna put a trembling hand to her head.
“You need to lie down. Get some sleep. Tomorrow you’re going back to Dallas. I’ll arrange for a bodyguard for you until all this is over.”
He skirted the table and put his arm around her waist. “Now come on. I can’t have you fainting in the evidence room.”
“I’m sorry,” she mumbled.
Zane tightened his hold on her. Her firm yet supple waist and hips reminded him of her lovely body, naked and golden, beneath his. Despite the hour, despite his irritation with her, his body reacted.
Back in the break room, he lowered her gently to the couch.
She sighed and closed her eyes.
He turned out the light and stood there for a moment, watching her, torturing himself by letting the memory of their lovemaking push its way into his mind. He grew hard just from looking at her generous, luscious lips, her small, perfect breasts, the vee between her legs.
He gritted his teeth to keep from groaning out loud as he forced his brain to stop picturing her naked and uninhibited. He needed to get back to photographing and tagging the evidence Sarah had brought to Justice. It could mean a break in the case. He turned to go.
“Zane?” The soft voice pulled at his heartstrings.
“Yeah, honey?”
“You and your dad—”
Apprehension arrowed through his gut. Her voice was so quiet he could barely understand her. But he heard your dad.
He stepped over to the couch and perched on the edge near her thighs. “Annie, stop thinking about all this and go to sleep.”
She reached out and caught his wrist, curling her fingers around it as far as they would go. “I know your dad hurt you. But tonight—he was with you tonight wasn’t he?”
His heart pounded. He knew where she was going. He’d already been there and it had turned his whole attitude upside down.
She didn’t wait for his answer. “He was there, with you, so he couldn’t have been the one who attacked me.”
“I know.” Zane’s voice sounded choked to his own ears.
“He’s not the killer.”
Zane couldn’t have described how he felt at hearing the words he’d never dared to say to himself. Warring emotions threatened to pull him apart. He swallowed and clenched his jaw. It didn’t matter if he was simultaneously relieved and terrified, confident and confused. His job was to focus.
He put his hand over hers. “The evidence is certainly pointing in a different direction.”
“Damn it, Zane. Step away from your badge for a minute. Think like a son, not like a Texas Ranger. Your dad is a wonderful man. He loves you more than anything.”
He cleared his suddenly clogged throat. That was the reason he couldn’t let down his guard. Couldn’t give in to his emotions. He was in charge. People depended on him to be brave, to be rational, to catch the killer— not to be crippled by emotion.
He stood. “Go to sleep,” he said gruffly.
“What comes next?”
“I already told you what comes next. In the morning you’re going back to Dallas.”
“I don’t want to leave—” She stopped. “This is my case, too.”
“I can’t be worrying about you. I’ve got to put all this evidence together and see if we can call a grand jury.”
“Evidence against Leland?”
He nodded.
“So you believe your dad is innocent?”
Zane shrugged. “Who knows? But I don’t have any evidence on him and I do on Leland. He tampered with the videotape the night of your mother’s murder. Donna Hendricks destroyed his alibi for Sarah’s time of death, although she may be lying out of hatred and resentment. And then there’s whatever we find in your mom’s papers. That’s a lot of strikes against Leland.”
“That’s true.” Anna sat up. “Zane, please. I need to stay here. Maybe if I see or speak to whoever attacked me, I can recognize him.”
“No. That’s out of the question. I want you away from here, out of the murderer’s reach. If you died—” His throat seized.
She gave him a funny look. “You’d feel responsible?” She stood and looked up at him, her sleepy green eyes questioning.
He stepped closer and touched the edge of her bandage with his forefinger.
She caught her lower lip between her teeth.
“I’d feel,” he whispered, sliding his hand around the back of her neck. He bent his head and kissed her, deeply, thoroughly.
Her arms wrapped around his neck as she returned his kiss.
Zane cursed himself for a fool as he lowered her to the couch. Still, at least for the rest of tonight, Anna
would be safe.
Chapter Thirteen
By the time Anna awoke the next morning, Zane had arranged for one of his Rangers to escort her back to Dallas. He’d walked her next door to the inn and told her to pack and be ready. She’d tried to protest again, but he was stronger this morning. He’d drawn on his determination and flatly told her he didn’t need her here any longer.
He’d forced himself to ignore her look of surprised hurt, and left, making sure she locked her door behind him.
It was the right decision. Hell, it was a decision he should have made four days ago.
Whatever it was that made him crave her touch, that made him long to be with her, had to be squelched. Personal feelings had no place in a murder investigation. They were dangerous, distracting.
Early this morning, as he’d watched her sleep and felt her soft breath against his shoulder, he faced the hard truth.
It was his fault she’d nearly been killed last night. She shouldn’t even have been here. He should have sent her back to Dallas that first night, after he’d taken her statement.
Now he sat at the sheriff’s desk, forcing himself to concentrate on the evidence he’d collected. The most interesting and yet puzzling information were the papers Lou Ann had collected and kept.
From what he saw, the obvious conclusion was that she was planning to blackmail Leland—and Donna.
That information, along with the altered videotape and Donna’s statement that she’d seen Leland sneaking out of his house on the night of Sarah’s murder was enough to convene a grand jury.
Sitting back in his chair, Zane rubbed a weary hand over his face. It was also more than enough to exonerate his dad. His throat tightened and his eyes burned. What would this mean to his family? His mom, Sloan, his dad? Would it heal the wounds?
A peculiar longing settled deep inside him. He’d missed his dad.
He sat up, clearing his throat and composing his face. He needed to get going. He had a lot to do today. Picking up his cell phone, he punched in a familiar number.
“Hey, Bud,” his brother Sloan said cheerily. Zane frowned and glanced at his watch. Usually, Sloan was asleep at nine o’clock in the morning if he wasn’t on a case. Then he was grouchy until at least noon.
“Look, Squirt, I can’t wait any longer. You’ve got to get here today.”
“Don’t get your shorts in a twist. I’m on my way.”
“Where are you?”
“Throwing my bag in the car. It shouldn’t take two hours.”
“Right. The way you drive. Don’t come yet. I need you to stay there. I’ve got some papers to give you, and I want to fill you in. I’ll be there as soon as I make sure Anna’s safely on her way back to Dallas.”
“Anna?” Amusement and curiosity tinged his brother’s voice. “The mousy little sister?”
“She’s not mousy.”
“Oh? So how’d you get so concerned about her?”
“Because she was almost killed last night, by whoever killed Lou Ann and Sarah.”
“Whoa. Is she all right?”
“Yeah, but I’m making sure she’s out of harm’s way.”
“So why come here? I can probably be there before your Anna leaves.”
“I don’t want anyone, even the deputies, to know about this. Besides, I’m going to convene a grand jury. I have ample evidence against Leland Hendricks.”
“Hendricks? No kidding. You think he’s the killer?”
“No. It doesn’t feel right. I don’t think Leland is clever enough or brave enough, but the evidence all points to him.”
“It doesn’t feel right because you still think Dad’s guilty.” Sloan’s tone changed, turned cold.
“What I never got is why you always defended him.”
“Because he’s my dad.”
Zane drew in a deep breath. “Dad didn’t do it.”
After a stunned pause, Sloan spoke. “Never thought I’d hear those words from you. What makes you so sure?”
“He was with me last night when the murderer tried to kill Anna.”
“Okay, Bud. Looks like I’m going to need a lot of briefing.”
“I’ll be there in a couple of hours.”
For an instant Sloan was silent. “Zane? It’ll be good to see you.”
Zane’s eyes stung. “Yeah, Squirt. You, too.”
WITHIN A HALF HOUR Zane stood in the doorway of the police station, watching the Ranger and Anna leave town. She hadn’t spoken to him or even looked at him. She was hurt and angry, but right now he couldn’t do anything about that.
He had to make sure Sloan had every bit of information he possessed before he turned the investigation over to him. He knew Sloan was one of the best. And he’d be able to inspire the townspeople’s confidence more than Zane. After all, Sloan had been sheriff of Justice for five years.
It took him about twenty minutes to make sure he had everything he needed, including Leland’s videotape, all the statements he’d gathered and Lou Ann’s suitcase.
He thanked the deputies for their help and told them that Sergeant Sloan McKinney would be taking over the investigation.
Then he climbed into his car. But instead of heading for Dallas, he turned in the opposite direction, toward his parents’ house.
It was only a couple of blocks to the street where he’d grown up. As he pulled up to the house, he had to force himself not to peel away from the curb and head toward the Interstate.
He got out of his car and started up the sidewalk.
His dad rounded the corner of the house and paused, obviously surprised to see his son. He looked like he’d been working in the yard. His work pants sported grass stains and his tennis shoes were plastered with grass clippings. He took a cloth from his back pocket and wiped his face.
Zane swallowed as his dad stopped in front of him.
“Hey, Bud,” Jim said. His face was lined with worry and his hand shook as he stuffed the cloth back into his pocket. “What’s up?”
“Annie was attacked last night, while you were with me.”
Jim’s gaze darkened. “Is she all right?”
“Yeah, no thanks to me. Richie was a diversion, so they could get to Annie.”
“You’re awfully hard on yourself, Zane. Always have been.”
Zane shrugged. A lump had erupted from somewhere and was lodged in his throat. It had probably been a bad idea to come here. Right now he couldn’t even say why he’d done it.
“Your mom’s inside. She’ll be glad to see you and feed you.”
Zane smiled, then took a shaky breath. “Dad—”
Jim’s expression turned wary and Zane felt a deep, suffocating shame for the way he’d treated his father all these years.
“Dad, I just wanted to say—”
“Bud, is it something about the case? Something about me?”
He shook his head. “No, it’s me.”
Jim frowned. “You? Are you hurt, son?”
This was the hardest thing Zane had ever done. And yet in a way it was also the most important.
“I’m sorry, Dad—” His voice failed him. He cleared his throat. “I’ve been an ass. Can you…can you forgive me?”
Jim McKinney’s eyes filled with tears as he took a tentative step forward.
Zane reached out and hugged his dad, blinking to stop his own tears.
THE NEXT NIGHT Anna sat in the spacious living room of her apartment in her little red camisole and pajama bottoms, nursing a glass of wine and contemplating turning on the television.
She’d fixed dinner, just like she’d fixed breakfast and lunch, but most of it had gone uneaten. She’d always loved her apartment with its balcony looking out at the city of Dallas. But she’d been back hardly more than twenty-four hours, and it felt like a spacious, beautifully decorated prison.
It infuriated her that Zane McKinney had gotten to her. He was a stiff-necked, arrogant, emotionless man. There was nothing about him that appealed to her.
Liar.
Her mind fed her a slide show of his attributes—his even features, the smoky-blue eyes, that beautiful, sexy mouth. Not to mention his long, sleekly muscled body.
And those hands. Liquid desire swirled within her at the memory of his hands touching her.
“Fine,” she muttered. “So he’s gorgeous.”
What about his cold determination? His ability to make exquisite love to her one moment and morph back into Zane McKinney, Texas Ranger, the next.
What an idiot she was, believing that their coupling had meant more to him than just a fling—a release of tension in a dangerous situation. In those blissful moments, she’d been sure she was seeing a side of him that he never showed. A tender, vulnerable side. The real man behind the badge.
But whatever she thought she’d seen always disappeared the next day or sometimes in the next instant. And she knew why. The fact remained that he hated her mother for destroying his family.
A horrible thought occurred to her. Had he screwed her and walked away out of revenge?
She stood and took her glass to the kitchen. She hadn’t slept much last night and although she was drowsy, she still felt too keyed up to sleep. She yawned.
That was Zane’s fault, too. She’d never been more comfortable, more content, than when she was lying on the lumpy break room couch with him, their bodies entwined on the narrow cushions.
Her eyes filled with tears and she wiped at them angrily.
Get over yourself. They had succumbed to a physical attraction that was enhanced by danger. That was all.
What was important was that her mother and sister were finally getting justice.
She turned off the lights and stepped over to pull the drapes across the French doors to the balcony.
The doorbell rang.
She jumped and her heart began to pound. Nobody came to see her at this time of the night without calling first. She thought about Zane’s insistence that she get out of Justice for her own safety. Could the killer have followed her?
She crept silently over to the door and peered through the peephole. Her heart bounced up into her throat. Her mouth went dry.
