The Seventh Victim (Texas Rangers 1)

When they arrived at the clearing Harvey paused to look at the bluebonnets. “Best time of year to be here,” he said more to himself. “Sights like this make a man glad he’s alive.”

Robbie folded his arms over his chest. His fingertips rubbed his lean biceps, a self-soothing gesture.

“No reason to fret, boy. I know you’re nervous, but once we’re done tonight, you’ll be glad you saw it through.” The woman moaned and her stomach contracted against Harvey’s shoulder. “Better not barf, girl. It’ll come up your throat and the gag will send it right back. You’ll be lucky if you don’t choke to death.”

She tensed as if struggling with her own bile and then relaxed back against him, moaning fear and failure.

Harvey smacked her on the bottom and she jumped. “I think our girl here has finally figured out that there isn’t much she can do. We’re running the show now, aren’t we Robbie?”

She was gonna die.

No matter what.

“Yeah, I guess.”

Carefully, Robbie worked his way through the field of bluebonnets that gently grazed his ankles. At the far edge of the field, he spotted the hole Harvey had dug a couple of days ago and covered with a tarp.

“Boy, go on and pull the tarp off.”

Praying he’d not fail his father, he pulled off the tarp and carefully folded it into a neat square. Setting it aside he peered into the hole. Six feet long, three feet deep and two feet wide. Harvey had said it had taken a few hours to dig, and he’d complained the task had irritated the pinched nerve in his back.

Grabbing the woman’s bound hands, Harvey hauled her off his shoulders and dropped her on the ground beside the hole. An unladylike grunt whooshed from her.

The bindings kept her back arched and on her side. She looked up at Robbie, eyes silently pleading.

Harvey pulled a knife from his pocket and flicked it open. Steel glinted in moonlight. She flinched, fear igniting and burning through the pitiful plea dulling her gaze. She tried to wriggle away, but the ropes kept her immobile.

He cut through the bindings that kept her back arched but did not cut the ropes that still held her hands and feet secure. Groaning, she slowly stretched out her body, whimpering as if her muscles and bones protested.

She rolled on her back, her small breasts jutting toward him, and stared up at him with the knowing of a person who called the streets home.

Robbie knelt and removed her gag. Gingerly, he smoothed his hand over her hair. “Scream if you want. No one will hear.”

Pent-up fear and rage roared out of her in a loud, piercing howl.

Harvey laughed.

Robbie flinched as he watched her holler until finally she stopped, exhausted.

She moistened dried lips. “Why are you doing this? I don’t know you.”

“No begging or pleading from this one,” Harvey said. “I picked a damn good one for you, boy.”

The girl kept her gaze on Robbie triggering an odd twisting in his gut that wasn’t all bad.

“Not too bad is it, boy?” Harvey stared at him closely.

“Why do you do this, Harvey? It doesn’t make sense,” Robbie said.

“No, I don’t suppose it does. Just an unexplainable need that I stopped questioning a long time ago.” He winked and clapped his hands. “Time for the grand finale.”

Shadows sharpened the edge to the woman’s cheekbones. “You don’t have to do this. Let me go. I won’t tell a soul.”

“You’re wasting your breath, girl.” Harvey tsked as he reached under her armpits and dragged her toward the hole. “I already know you’re not going to tell.”

Tossing a panicked gaze toward the hole, her body tensed as she tried to dig her heels into the hard dirt. “Please, let me go.”

“Robbie, get the shovel. It’s lying on the ground over there.”

Frowning, Robbie did as he was told and held out the shovel to Harvey.

Harvey shook his head. “We said you’d do it this time. I’m not going to help. Time to make you into the man I know you can be.”

Robbie shoved out a breath. The idea of disappointing his father ripped at him. He’d do anything for Harvey. Anything. But this. “Not tonight, Harvey.”

Harvey stared at the boy, as if trying to understand his fear. “First time I put a woman in the ground, it scared the daylights out of me. Hell, I almost backed out. I was sure I’d get caught. But I didn’t get caught. Neither are you.”

Robbie shook his head, slowly opened his fingers and let the shovel drop. “I can’t.”

Harvey kept his voice calm. “Robbie, no need to test my patience. I gave you a pass last time. Let’s get on with this.”

“Robbie,” the girl said. “You don’t have to do this.”

“Now, that’s enough out of you, girl.” Harvey jerked the girl’s upper body and settled her entire body in the hole. She lay flat on her back, the moonlight glistening on pale, bruised skin.

“Please, let me go!” She sat up.

Harvey pushed her down hard. “Pick up the shovel, boy.”

“No.”

“You don’t have to do this, Robbie.” The girl struggled to sit up again.

“Get up again, and I’ll hit you with the shovel.” Harvey didn’t raise his voice, but his words carried more weight than a madman’s rant. He shoved her back with his booted foot.

Gritting her teeth, she ignored him, screamed and again tried to sit up. Without muttering a word, Harvey picked up the shovel and hit her across the side of the head. The blow was enough to send her back, stunned, but not enough to knock her out.

Robbie winced and took a step back. He

dug the shovel’s blade into soft dirt. “See what you made me do, boy? If you’d taken care of business then she’d not be half conscious.” He shoveled dirt on her midsection. The hard thump sent a lungful of air woofing from her. He hefted more dirt. “Get over here, boy.”

Robbie took another step back. “No.”

“Don’t disappoint me, boy.”

“I’m sorry, Harvey.” His hands shook. “I know I said I could, but I can’t. Not now.”

Harvey cocked his head. “I don’t think I’m hearing you correctly.”

Tears welled in the boy’s eyes. “I can’t do this now.”

“Time for waiting is over, boy.” He held out the shovel. “Now or never. You a man or not?”

Robbie shook his head no.

“You gonna fail me again?”

“I’m sorry.”

Harvey was silent for long, tense seconds and then calmly said, “You don’t follow through tonight then we are done.”

Robbie flinched. “Harvey, I can try again.”

“If you don’t take care of business now, I don’t ever want to see you again.”

Tears welled in Robbie’s eyes as he stepped back. He loved his father. The man who’d saved him from a miserable life. But he couldn’t do this now.

Harvey tossed more dirt on the girl. She screamed loud and clear. He tossed dirt on her face. She struggled to clear her eyes, as he ladled more and more dirt on her. She blinked, tried to turn her head, but she was trapped.

Robbie hesitated, stole one more peek at her pale flesh. Lord help him, but he couldn’t do it.

Tears spilling, he turned and ran.

Chapter 1

Austin, Texas

Saturday, April 6, 11 AM

If Texas Ranger Brody Winchester had come to see Dr. Jolene Granger on personal business, he’d have come with hat in hand. He’d have been ready to eat a heaping helping of humble pie, or better crow.

But this visit wasn’t personal. He’d not come to apologize or to make amends. He had no intentions of digging up the past or rubbing salt in old wounds. This. Was. Business.