Justice For A Ranger

by Rita Herron

  Joey pressed a hand to his shoulder. “Don’t worry, Caleb. I work for the governor. You were innocent in all this, and I’ll see that the man who loved and raised you isn’t charged.”

  Cole shot her a warning look. She couldn’t make that promise. Then again, he didn’t know for sure how much power she had over Governor Grange.

  “I’d like to see you again,” Joey said softly.

  “When you’re ready, Caleb, I’ll be here.” She removed a business card from her purse and dropped it on the table, then gave Sangston a genuine smile.

  “I won’t intrude on your family, but if Caleb is my brother as I suspect, I’d like some kind of relationship with him. No pressure, though.”

  Sangston scrubbed a hand over his craggy face. “Thank you, Miss Hendricks. My wife and I…we loved Caleb like he was our own. I’d do anything for him.”

  Tears dampened Joey’s eyes, but she blinked them away, then leaned over and gave the old man a hug. “Thank you for keeping him safe and loving him all these years. I…owe you for that.”

  Caleb stood and moved to Sangston’s side, but gave Joey a tentative smile.

  “One more question,” Cole said. “Mr. Sangston, did you receive a monthly check for Caleb? A thousand dollars?”

  Sangston’s chin quivered as he nodded.

  “It came from Donna Hendricks?” Joey asked bluntly.

  “I did get a check, but it came through St. Francis church. I…honestly had no idea who donated the money. The church said it was from a Good Samaritan.”

  Cole shifted and tucked his thumbs in his belt loops but refrained from commenting. “We’ll call you when we receive the DNA results.”

  He nodded, and Joey gave Caleb a last longing look, then walked outside into the hot air. By the time they reached the car, and she’d situated herself inside, her shoulders were shaking and tears rolled down her cheeks.

  Cole started the car, flipped on the air conditioner, then drove down the long winding driveway from the ranch to the main road. Damn. He tried to harden himself to her emotions. Had to confront her parents. Maybe arrest them.

  And he wasn’t supposed to care.

  But hell. He’d always been a sucker for a woman in trouble. Especially long-legged blondes with eyes that haunted him. And a heart that was just as beautiful.

  Ignoring the fact that Zane had warned him not to trust her, he hauled the car to the side of the road beneath a cluster of sprawling trees, then cradled her in his arms and held her.

  If Donna had been sending money to the ranch, she had to have known about the boy. He wanted to strangle her for not telling Joey.

  “I CAN’T BELIEVE IT, Cole,” Joey cried. “I can’t believe he’s really alive.” She hated the onslaught of emotions, but she couldn’t control them. It had taken all her restraint not to break down in front of Justin.

  “I know it’s a shock.” Cole stroked her back, his voice soothing but troubled.

  She let the tears fall until she felt spent and exhausted. But slowly as her shock wore off and she began to calm, the full implications of their visit registered. A sick feeling stole into her stomach as she put the pieces together. Finally she pushed back, dried her eyes and looked up at Cole.

  “Oh, my heavens, Cole. You think Donna knows that Justin is alive?”

  A muscle ticked in his broad jaw. “It’s possible.”

  Anger and betrayal knifed through her as the realization kicked in. “She sent money to that ranch every month. She had to have been sending it to him.”

  Cole tucked a damp strand of her hair behind her ear. “Shh, don’t jump to conclusions. There may be another possibility.”

  Rage built inside her. How could Donna have allowed her to believe her brother was dead all these years if she’d known the truth? And Leland? If he didn’t know, keeping the truth from him was cruel as well. “What other explanation could there be?”

  Cole shrugged. “Perhaps a nun at the church where Donna sends the money told her about a charity that supports abandoned kids. Maybe Donna thought she was helping an orphan, not necessarily Justin.”

  Joey considered the idea. Knew it was a long shot. But she latched onto it.

  “I have to know,” she said quietly. “I’m going to call Donna and Leland. Have them both meet us at the lab where we’re taking the blanket.”

  It was a dicey move. But their options were running out. The blanket might just be the straw that would break the camel’s back and send all Donna and Leland’s secrets spilling over.

  “You call Donna. I’ll phone Leland.”

  She nodded and punched in her mother’s number, while Cole stepped from the car to phone Leland. Donna’s voice wavered at Joey’s request.

  “What is this about, Joey?”

  “Just meet me there, Mother. It’s important.” She hung up without giving her mother time to respond, then punched in another number. She had to talk to the governor. Find out how much he knew. If he had slept with Lou Anne. If he and Donna had had an affair. If Justin might be his…

  And if he’d known…

  If he had, would he have hunted for him? Or would he have wanted Donna to keep the child’s paternity a secret? What if Lou Anne had discovered the truth and had met with him to blackmail him?

  Then he, too, had a motive for murder.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Cole and Joey had a late lunch on the way to the crime lab in Dallas, taking time to discuss their strategy. Cole’s thoughts were troubled as Joey sat stonily beside him, staring out the window, her eyes still red rimmed from her crying jag. She chewed on her bottom lip and curled her arms around her waist as if struggling to hold on to her last thread of hope that her parents hadn’t deceived her.

  On the other hand, he also sympathized with the young boy. How would Caleb/Justin handle learning his father had planned a fake kidnapping/murder for money? What kind of price did a man put on his child’s safety?

  Leland hadn’t been much of a father to Joey, either. He’d been too focused on his financial problems, on his bitterness toward his first wife and keeping secrets to love his daughter.

  Seemed neither the McKinneys nor Hendrickses knew much about raising a family.

  Another reason he never intended to get tied down with anyone. He liked women, but he’d never been able to commit, just like his old man. He’d probably make a sorry excuse for a father.

  His hands tightened around the steering wheel. Why the hell was he thinking about fatherhood? The subject had never entered his brain before.

  Caleb—Justin. Joey. That was the problem.

  Joey was getting beneath his skin and making him care about her.

  Traffic thickened as he approached the Dallas lab. If the blood on the blanket was Justin’s, they’d know they had the right kid. And if there was a second type…maybe they’d learn who had abducted the toddler.

  Joey’s breathing sounded unsteady as he parked at the lab, and they stepped onto the asphalt. The heat felt oppressive, the noisy traffic sounds deafening. He much preferred the ranches, farmland, woods and open-air spaces.

  The freedom.

  Yet as they entered the building and the elevator, the urge to comfort Joey was so strong he drew her to him. “Joey, are you all right?”

  A flash of pain and worry darkened her expression, but resolve and strength emanated from her. “I have to know the truth. It’s past time.”

  He admired her courage as they went inside. He identified himself as Sergeant Cole McKinney, and they were shown to the lead investigator’s, Simmons’s, office, the same detective Cole had consulted about the ballistics test.

  Cole explained about the blanket, and Simmons secured it in an evidence bag. “I’ll get someone on it ASAP.”

  An hour later, the receptionist appeared at the door to inform them that Donna had arrived. Donna rushed into the front office, her hair perfectly coiffed, her dress a white linen that made her look cool and composed in spite of the soaring temperatures and st
ressful situation.

  “What’s this about, Joey?”

  “Sit down, Mother. I want to wait until Leland arrives before we proceed.”

  The first sign of panic lined Donna’s mouth as she chewed on her lip. “Joey, I don’t know what’s going on, but think long and hard about what you’re going to say and do today.”

  “I have, Mother,” Joey said through clenched teeth. “Now sit down.”

  Donna spotted the baby blanket in the plastic bag, and the color drained from her face. She slumped into the chair, twining her fingers together. The silence roared with tension as they waited for Leland, but finally he arrived, his face ruddy from rushing in the heat.

  Annoyance and anger colored his eyes as he seated himself in the chair adjacent to Donna.

  “Mr. and Mrs. Hendricks,” Cole began. “We’ve asked you here because we may have some new evidence concerning the disappearance of your son, Justin.”

  Donna’s gaze shot back to the baby blanket, and Leland’s mouth gaped.

  Cole picked up the bagged blanket and held it in front of him. “Do either of you recognize this?”

  Donna’s lower lip quivered. “Yes, that belonged to my baby. He always slept with it.”

  Detective Simmons accepted it from Cole. “I’ll take it for testing now.”

  Cole nodded. “Did you see that blanket after Justin was kidnapped?”

  Donna shook her head and twined her manicured fingers in her lap again. “No, it was missing. I…whoever took Justin must have taken it with him.”

  “Where the hell did you find it?” Leland asked.

  Joey cleared her throat. “Donna has been sending money to a church every month. For $1,000, to be exact. The nun there sends the money on to a ranch.”

  Leland stood, his tone rising, “What does that have to do with Justin’s baby blanket?”

  Cole threw up a warning hand. “Sit down, Leland. We’ll get to that.”

  Leland’s look of fury was so hot it could have melted butter, but he knotted his hands into fists and reclaimed the seat.

  “We just visited that ranch,” Joey said. Underneath her calm tone, Cole sensed the barely suppressed rage and hurt. “And guess what we found, Mother?”

  Donna gripped the armrest, then glanced away from Joey. Outside a storm cloud passed, covering the sun, and casting gray shadows across the room.

  “Mother, it’s time to come clean.” Joey gripped the edges of the armrest and shoved her face into her mother’s, forcing Donna’s gaze back to her. “I saw him.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Donna declared.

  “Stop lying. Don’t you get it, it’s over!” Joey’s breath hissed with anger. “I saw him. We have his baby blanket. We’re going to test the DNA.” She shook the chair, rattling Donna. “Now tell me the truth. You sent money to that ranch because the boy who lives there, the one named Caleb, who was adopted by a couple named the Sangstons, is Justin, isn’t he?”

  Leland flattened his hand against his heart and made a choking sound in his throat. Donna’s hand flew to her mouth but Joey refused to feel sorry for her.

  “Tell me, Mother. I have a right to the truth.” She gestured toward her father. “Even Leland deserves to know if Justin is alive!”

  “Yes,” Donna screeched, her calm disintegrating. “Yes, Justin is alive. I c…an’t believe you found him.”

  Joey’s heart ached. “How could you have done this, Mother?” She glanced once more at her father, wanting to hate him, too, but the stunned look on his face indicated that he had no knowledge of Justin’s whereabouts.

  Donna reached for her, but Joey backed away, shaking her head violently.

  “How could you have lied to me all these years? Made me believe Justin was dead? You let me blame myself for his disappearance.” Joey choked on the last sentence, the anguish from her childhood resurfacing.

  “Just listen, Joey—” Donna began.

  “Listen to what? Excuses?” Joey wanted to shake her, to make her suffer as she had. “What did you do? Plan the fake kidnapping and murder to keep him away from Dad, then whisk Justin away to that ranch?” Her voice grew colder. “Did you pay someone to cover for you?”

  “It’s not like that,” Donna said. “I did not plan that kidnapping.” Donna aimed a suspicious look at Leland. “I’m guessing your father did that. He wanted the insurance money and he wanted to hurt me.”

  Leland slammed his fist against the desk, jarring papers. “How dare you accuse me of foul play when you’ve been caught lying?”

  Donna jumped up, waving her arms, her calm disintegrating. “I didn’t plan the kidnapping. You did, Leland, to hurt me. You had someone steal my son during that fire, didn’t you?” She whirled on Joey. “I was devastated, you know that, Joey. I thought Justin was dead for a long time. You have to believe me.”

  Joey steeled herself against Donna, not trusting anything her parents uttered.

  “But I never gave up looking for him. Even after Leland did, I kept searching. I hired a private investigator with my own money.” She pressed a hand over her heart. “I just couldn’t let myself believe that my baby boy was really dead. I felt in here, that he was still alive. Out there somewhere.” Her voice broke. “At night, I used to wake up and hear him crying for me. Saying Mama. I wanted to die inside, too.”

  “When did you find him?” Cole asked.

  Donna clasped her hands together. “About ten years ago. The P.I. got a lead. He called me and I went to this church in Dallas and saw this little boy there. He was with a man and a woman, a family called the Sangstons. They owned a ranch near Mineral Wells.” She inhaled and rushed on. “The minute I laid eyes on that boy, I knew he was my son, Justin. I wanted to tear him away from them.”

  “Why didn’t you come forward then?” Cole asked.

  “Because Leland still had custody and you knew you’d lose him again,” Joey interjected.

  Donna twisted to glare at her, then Leland. “That was part of it. But Justin looked happy with those people, and I could tell they loved him, and I realized that if I spoke out, it would rock his world upside down. For once, I tried not to be selfish.”

  Joey cut her a scathing look, but Donna continued, “By then, you hated me, Joey, and Leland…he never cared about Justin. He didn’t deserve to know he was alive, much less to have custody of him again.”

  “And why didn’t he care?” Joey said, venom lacing her voice. “I always wondered why it was so easy for Dad to have used his own son in a devious plan to extract money.”

  Donna’s eyes went wild. “Joey…”

  “Justin wasn’t Leland’s son, was he, Mother?”

  “Be quiet, Joey,” Donna sputtered. “You don’t know what you’re saying.”

  “Don’t I, Mother?” Joey stared at her mother in disgust. “You blamed Leland for his infidelity and were so bitter, that you had an affair of your own.”

  “Joey, stop it!” Donna ordered.

  Leland collapsed back into the seat and scrubbed his hand over his face, sweating.

  “What I don’t understand is that if you’d confessed that Daddy wasn’t Justin’s father, you probably could have won custody of Justin.”

  “That’s not true,” Donna said, her voice trembling. “With my drinking problem, no judge was going to give me custody. Justin would have been put in foster care. That would have been awful.”

  “Or maybe his real father would have raised him,” Joey shot back. “Or did his real father even know about him? Did you keep that as another one of your tawdry secrets?”

  COLE KEPT HIS SPINE straight as he watched Joey grappling with her feelings. She seemed to be holding her breath while she waited for her mother’s answer, but Donna clammed up and refused to talk further. Leland stood and moved toward the door, his expression lethal as he whipped his head toward Donna, then Joey.

  “I have to get out of here,” he said in a harsh voice. “I’ll talk to you later, Joey.”

&nb
sp; She simply stared at him, a wealth of turmoil in the silence that stretched between them.

  “Don’t leave town, Mr. Hendricks,” Cole said. “We may want to question you again when we get the results of these DNA tests.”

  Leland gave him an icy stare, then walked out the door and slammed it behind him.

  Donna stood and smoothed down her linen suit, touched her hair as if to tuck it back in place, along with her lies. “I want you to think long and hard about how you handle this information,” she said to Joey. “I’ve kept up with your brother over the years, and he’s happy.”

  “I know, I saw him,” Joey said.

  Donna swayed slightly. “You told him?”

  “His adopted father and I did, yes.”

  “My God.” Donna pressed a trembling hand to her cheek. “How did he take it? Do you think he’ll want to see us?”

  The hope that flickered in Donna’s eyes surprised Cole. Maybe Donna really did love the boy and wanted what was best for him.

  “I don’t know, Mother.” Joey wheezed a tired breath. “He’s going to need time to process everything.”

  “I wouldn’t contact him yet,” Cole warned. “After all, the investigation is not over.”

  Donna’s eyes turned into glaciers as she frowned at Cole. “Hasn’t our family suffered enough already?”

  Cole towered over her. “What about Lou Anne Wallace and her daughter, Sarah? They suffered. Someone has to pay for their deaths, Mrs. Hendricks.”

  “I didn’t kill them.” Donna gave Joey a beseeching look. “Please, Joey. For your brother’s sake, handle this with discretion.”

  “I took care of Justin when he was little and you were drunk, Mother,” Joey said bitterly. “I’ll do everything I can to protect him now. Even if it means protecting him from you and Daddy.”

  JOEY COLLAPSED into the chair, drained as Donna left the room, leaving a cloud of suspicion in her wake.

  “Joey?”

  Cole’s deep voice barely penetrated the fog surrounding her.

  He knelt beside her and cradled her hands in his, warming them with his own. “Joey, do you know who Justin’s real father is?”