“I didn’t think to ask the warden about Stella. But she was sentenced to life without parole. Unless she escapes, she’ll die behind bars. But even if she wanted a hit on Will, where would she get money? And how would she get it to Marie on the outside? There’s got to be a simpler explanation.” Beau glanced at his watch. “By the time I get to town, the sheriff should be in. I’ll find out as much as I can.”
“And try to bring Luke back,” Erin said. “If he hasn’t been arrested, they can only hold him twenty-four hours—isn’t that the way the law works?”
“As far as I know. We’ll see.” Beau’s answer was noncommittal. Erin understood. If he had any doubts about Luke’s innocence, Beau wouldn’t want him on the ranch—or anywhere around her.
“If there’s any news worth reporting, I’ll call you,” he said, and strode to his car. As he drove away, Erin’s lips formed a word of silent prayer.
Please . . .
* * *
As he drove into town, Beau couldn’t help observing that no matter how many times he left, Blanco Springs always seemed to call him back. He never wanted to live here again. Neither did Natalie, whose memories of the town, and her abusive first marriage, were far worse than his own. They both liked their suburban DC lifestyle, with its manicured neighborhoods, good private schools, and world-class cultural events. But every time he came back here, he came home—to the simple houses with their rusty old trucks and dead-grass yards; to the Blue Coyote, the Burger Shack, and the one-show movie house; to the rancher’s son and high school track star he would never be again. Whether he liked it or not, Blanco Springs, like the Rimrock, was in his blood.
The sheriff’s office and the jail were part of a sprawling, brick complex that also housed the court and shared city and county offices. At this early hour Beau had expected the place to be quiet. He couldn’t have been more wrong.
There was an air of frenetic activity about the place. The tan county vehicles were parked out front, and the city constable’s black and white car was just pulling up, along with the ambulance that was used to transport bodies to the morgue. Beau had no idea what was going on until he walked in the front door and almost collided with the bulky form of Sheriff Cyrus Harger.
“Beau.” The sheriff didn’t offer a handshake. “I’m sorry, you’ve come at a bad time. One of my deputies, Roy Porter, was murdered last night. He took a call about a break-in at the Blue Coyote. This morning, a neighbor walking his dog spotted him dead at the top of the back stairs. Hell, he was just a kid. But he loved bein’ a cop.” Harger wiped his eyes. “No trace of the sonofabitch who killed him, but we’re thinking it might be the same low-down skunk who shot your brother. Bullet wound looks a lot the same.”
“I’m sorry.” Beau shook his head. Only in Blanco County would a rookie cop be allowed to answer a call without backup. But that wasn’t why he was here. “So does that mean you’re letting Luke Maddox go?” he asked.
“For now. But he’s still a person of interest. He’s been warned to stay close. I guess he can go back to the Rimrock if you’ll have him.”
“If it’ll make you feel any better, you can release him to my custody,” Beau said.
“Oh, that’s right. You’re one of those federal cops. FBI, right?”
“DEA. While I’m here, I want to ask about my brother’s remains. How soon—?”
“Ask me in a couple of days. Things are crazy right now.” The sheriff turned away and rushed outside to meet the TV news van that had just swung into the parking lot.
Beau walked back down the hall to find Luke at the counter, getting his personal things back. He looked red-eyed, rumpled, and unshaven after spending the night in lockup. The two men acknowledged each other with curt nods. “Are you all right, Maddox?” Beau asked.
“For now. I’m getting the keys to my rig back, but they’re keeping the pistol for evidence. I guess that means I’m still a suspect.”
“You’ve been discharged to me,” Beau said. “You can stay at the Rimrock, wherever you were bunking before. You can even go back to work if Erin wants to let you. She’s the boss now.”
“Fi
ne. And thanks.” Luke wasn’t smiling. “You won’t have any trouble from me.”
“I wasn’t expecting any. Where’s your rig?”
“Out back. I’ll see you at the ranch.”
Beau was waiting for Luke to assure him that he wouldn’t simply take the keys and run. But that assurance didn’t come. Evidently, Luke Maddox considered his word to be enough. Beau found himself respecting, if not liking, the man for that.
Beau drove out of town. At the junction with the highway, he glanced in his rearview mirror. He could see Luke’s pickup and trailer following a few blocks behind him.
Was this the man who’d planned Will’s murder and carried it out in cold blood? So far, he wasn’t acting like it. But for all Beau knew, he could be putting on a front. Now he was bringing Luke home to Erin, who was clearly in love with him. If he turned out to be the murderer, her tender young heart would be shattered forever.
“So help me God, Luke Maddox.” Beau addressed the oath to the man driving the truck behind him. “If I find out you killed my brother and destroyed my niece, I’ll do anything to bring you to justice—even if I have to kill you myself!”
* * *
Marie wiped the pistol clean and dropped it into a deep, narrow ravine that was little more than a crack in the rust-hued earth. She hated losing a good weapon, but she couldn’t risk being caught with a gun that could link her to the shooting of the young deputy. That unlucky accident would buy her a one-way ticket to death row.
She’d known he was dead as soon as she reached him and saw the bleeding hole where his heart would be. The poor, dumb kid hadn’t even been wearing a flak vest. He should’ve known better, Marie had told herself as she stepped carefully around the pooling blood. For an instant she’d been tempted to take the 9mm Glock that had fallen from his hand, or to rifle his wallet for much needed cash. But that would’ve been stupid. Resisting the urge, she’d swung over the railing, dropped to the shadowed gravel surface below the outside stairs, scuffed out any tracks, and made what she hoped was a clean getaway.