“Cy, what’s going on?” The Ranger wouldn’t be calling him at one in the morning without a good reason.
Natalie felt Kit’s body tense and knew he’d just been given some important news. When he ended the call, he wasn’t the same amorous man who’d been kissing the daylights out of her. In an instant he’d turned back into the Ranger.
“I have to go to headquarters,” he stated. “A surveillance team will be here in a few minutes.”
Natalie got to her feet, knowing better than to badger him with questions. While he got ready, she went into the kitchen and packed up a couple of sandwiches for him to take. They met at the door leading into the garage. He’d put on his tan shirt and badge. “The guys are out in front, so you’re in good hands.”
She nodded and handed him the sack. “You need food to keep you going.”
“Thank you, but I hope you know I need this more.” He put his hand behind her head and kissed her until she was swaying. “I’ll be in touch with you tomorrow.”
“Whatever is going on, good luck, Kit.”
Natalie locked up behind him and hurried through the house to the front window to watch him drive away, taking her heart with him.
Chapter Eight
Kit had told Natalie he was going into headquarters, but he planned to meet Cy at the jail.
Thanks to some fine investigating by the Colorado police after Kit had told them about Julia Varoz, they’d gotten a tip from the secretary working for Dr. Nyman. She’d met Ms. Varoz when she’d come into the doctor’s office on Friday morning wanting an appointment.
When told he was on vacation, she’d left the office and said she’d be back. The secretary had followed her out to get something from her own car and noticed the woman drive off in a new black Lexus.
When the APB went out, some Texas patrolmen had spotted her Lexus and stopped her on the highway inside the Texas border. They’d arrested her on multiple counts of impersonating a doctor, fleeing arrest on the mortgage fraud scheme, murdering Harold Park and possession of fake IDs.
Overjoyed there was only one killer left at large before Natalie’s case could be closed, Kit drove to the jail munching one of the ham sandwiches she’d made for him. Cy was waiting for him in the parking lot. He got out of the car.
“You did it, bud. You found her.”
They walked inside. “Not me. Natalie. She was inspired to ask if there were pictures taken at the service for Gladys. In fact she’s been inspired all the way along.”
“But you were the one who flew her to Denver in the first place and got that information on Salter.”
“Either way, we still have to find Alonzo.”
“Maybe if we interrogate Juanita together, she’ll crack.”
“It’s worth a try. This is a big win.”
“I bet the boss even smiled when he heard about her arrest.”
They passed through the checkpoint and walked down a corridor to the interrogation room. The guard at the door nodded to them.
“We’re here to question the prisoner.” They showed their IDs.
“You’re on the list.” He opened the door. Another guard stood inside.
Juanita, in striped prison garb, sat on the far side of the table. Her hands and ankles were shackled. She was thirty-two years of age but looked older, harder, than the mug shot taken eight years ago. The blond wig was missing. Her black hair hung loose to her shoulders and Kit noticed she’d had a recent manicure. Purple nails.
&nb
sp; She sat back in the chair with her chin held high. “Ooh—two Texas Rangers.” Her dark eyes flashed and she said something vulgar.
Kit went first. “Your bad mouth won’t get you anywhere, Juanita.”
“I’m not talking!”
His brows lifted. “You might care if you cooperate. You and your brother, Alonzo, are wanted for the murder of Harold Park. If Alonzo pulled the trigger instead of you, it could shorten the length of your prison sentence.”