Renegade (Tin Star K9 Series Book 1) by Jodi Burnett (literature books to read .txt) 📗

Caitlyn shrugged. “I haven’t seen Wendy for months.” She watched Dylan from the corner of her eye, her gut telling her he’d seen Wendy much more recently than that. He’d acted funny when their mom asked them about her. He hadn’t wanted to talk about the fact that he had dated Wendy before. But none of that made him a suspect for murder. She turned to stare at her brother full on, but Dylan wouldn’t meet her eye.

“Let’s go on down the hill, there’s nothing more we can do here, besides contaminate the crime scene. We’ll head back to the ranch. Then Dylan, I’d appreciate you coming to the Sheriff’s Office with me.” Tackett trudged to his ATV.

Colt’s sandy brows knitted together, and he called out to his superior. “Are you arresting him, Sheriff?”

“No. Not yet, anyway. At this point, I just have a list of questions I want to ask.” Sheriff Tackett swung his leg over the ATV seat. “As long as he comes willingly, that is.” The lawman peered at Dylan. “If not, I can hold you at the jail for questioning for up to seventy-two hours.”

“I’ll come,” Dylan murmured.

The sheriff nodded at the group and started his engine. “Deputy, you stay here and guard the crime scene until Doc Kennedy and a CSI from Gillette can get here.”

“Yes, sir.” Colt approached Caitlyn. “Are you okay?”

“I don’t understand.” Caitlyn pressed down on her rising panic. “The sheriff has no good reason to take Dylan into the jail. Why can’t he just talk to him here at the ranch? I’m going to go to town with them.”

“I don’t need you to babysit me, Caitlyn.” Dylan turned his horse toward the trail.

Colt ran his fingers down her arm and gave her elbow a gentle squeeze, causing goose bumps to rise on her skin. “Don’t worry, you don’t have to go with them. I’ve got this. As soon as I’m done here, I’ll go back to the Sheriff’s Office.”

Her gaze moved from his hazel eyes to his mouth, and down to his square chin. When Colt was this close, it was hard to remember why she was angry with him. Her fingers still itched to comb through his sandy blond hair, even after all these years. “Well, you better do your job. I want Dylan home as soon as possible.” Her tone was sharper than she intended. Probably due to the way he made her feel—all soppy and weak-kneed.

Colt stuffed his hands into his pants pockets and gave her a crooked grin. “It’ll be okay, Catie. I promise to keep an eye on your brother when I get there and make sure he’s treated fairly.”

Caitlyn’s cheeks prickled. “Sorry for snapping at you. I really do appreciate your help.”

“No problem.”

Renegade barked at the sheriff’s retreating ATV. “Quiet, Ren.” Caitlyn waited for Dylan to look at her, and when he finally did, she asked, “What do you make of all this?”

Dylan reached up for his saddle horn and stuck the toe of his boot in the stirrup. “I don’t know, but it pisses me off. I guess I’ll go answer the sheriff’s questions. I have nothing to hide.” He pulled himself up into the saddle and urged Sampson forward.

“Dylan,” Caitlyn called out. He looked over his shoulder at her. “I don’t know what’s going on, but I’m here for you.”

Dylan nodded at her and touched the brim of his hat before he rode off.

Caitlyn turned back, her eyes riveted on at the gray, lifeless fingers resting in the dirt. None of this makes any sense. Caitlyn tugged at the corner of her lip with her teeth and ran through the facts that she knew—but she couldn’t make anything fit together. At this point, they didn’t know for certain who the dead body belonged to, or even if there was a full body. Maybe it was just a hand. She shuddered at the thought. They were all assuming it was Wendy, but it could be someone else. Too many unanswered questions.

Caitlyn reached for Whiskey’s reins and climbed up into the saddle. “Let’s go, Ren.” She glanced back at Colt, who was stringing up yellow plastic tape that read, “Sheriff’s Line. Do Not Cross.” She waved at him before she turned toward the trail and urged her horse to catch up with Sampson.

By the time she rode into the barnyard, Sampson stood tied to the rail, still fully tacked, and the sheriff was helping Dylan into the backseat of his SUV. Her brother averted his gaze as he ducked into the dark interior of the car. Caitlyn jumped off Whiskey and ran to the sheriff’s Jeep. Renegade followed her, letting loose several growling barks.

Tackett spun toward Caitlyn. “Get that dog under control, Ms. Reed. If he continues to be aggressive, there could be serious consequences.”

“He’s never bit anyone.” Caitlyn choked on the sudden rage that inflamed her throat. “Taking Dylan in for questioning seems wrong, Sheriff. Does he need a lawyer?”

“That’s his prerogative.” The sheriff closed the door and made his way around to the driver’s seat.

“You don’t even know who that hand belongs to.” Caitlyn glanced over her shoulder at Dylan and offered him what she hoped was an encouraging smile, before aiming her anger at Sheriff Tackett. “When is Doctor Kennedy going to be here?”

“That hand belongs to someone, Ms. Reed, Wendy or not. I’ll call the doctor and the CSI office from my car. Don’t let anyone go up there. If anything’s disturbed, I’ll hold you personally responsible.”

“I think you’d do better to lay any blame for that at your Deputy’s feet. You certainly won’t be able to accuse Dylan because he’ll be with you.”

“No one is accusing him of anything. Yet.” The Sheriff slid into his car and started his engine. Fuming, Caitlyn marched toward the house. The first thing she planned to do was to call an attorney. Tackett backed his Jeep into a two-point turn and drove out of the barnyard, kicking up rocks. Renegade’s