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

The impact of his answer was like a sledgehammer to Caitlyn’s chest, even though she had suspected it was the truth. “Is that what you and Wendy were talking about at the bar on Friday night?”

“Yeah.” Dylan shoved away from the fence and propped his hands on his hips. “She didn’t know for sure, but with Hague’s test coming back negative, I think she was probably right.”

“What the hell, Dylan? You and Wendy?” Heat flooded Caitlyn’s face. This looked bad.

Air rushed out of Dylan’s lungs, and he shook his head. “The cattle prices had dropped severely in the fall, but I was hopeful they’d pick back up again after the first of the year. The day I saw Wendy, I had just learned that the prices had dropped even farther. That, of course, meant serious repercussions for the ranch, so I went and had a few drinks at the Tipsy Cow. Wendy was there, and we got to talking. She and Jim had had a fight, and I don’t know—we both ended up getting really drunk. It was stupid, I realize.” Dylan faced his father. “I’m sorry, Dad.”

Their dad considered Dylan but said nothing. Caitlyn stepped in. “So, last Friday, at the bar, Wendy told you you were the father of her baby?”

“She wasn’t sure, but with the timing… She thought I ought to know.”

Caitlyn spun away, marched off three paces, turned and stalked back. “And just like that,” she snapped her fingers. “You have a motive for murder.”

“Your brother didn’t kill that girl,” her father murmured.

“I’m not saying he did. All I’m saying is, I’m pretty sure the sheriff has enough to arrest Dylan and keep him in jail this time. And you can bet he’ll do it.” Caitlyn bit down on her lower lip. “What I don’t get is that this same information also gives Jim a solid motive—but it doesn’t seem like the sheriff’s interested in investigating him. Good thing I am.”

“What do you mean, you are?” asked her dad.

Caitlyn looked at her father in earnest. “I’m finally putting your investment in my education to good use, Dad. I don’t trust Sheriff Tackett to handle this investigation. He’s completely blinded by wanting to have a conviction that he’s only paying attention to the evidence that supports his pre-conceived conclusion and discounting everything else. So, I’m running my own investigation, kind of like a private eye.”

“You’re going to prove Dylan didn’t kill Wendy?” Hope floated across her father’s expression.

Caitlyn swallowed hard. “I’m working to find out who killed Wendy Gessler. Whoever it was.”

Dylan looked at her then, his eyes hard. She stared back until he turned and walked into the barn. “As soon as we receive the results of the test, I’ll call the sheriff and tell him he has two solid suspects now, not just one. And Dylan, you need to call Logan. He’s the one who recommended the attorney, and he’s worried about you.”

17

Colt swallowed the last bite of his lunch and was brushing crumbs off his desk, when Sheriff Tackett came through the office door followed by the mayor. He stood as they entered.

“Yes, of course, I’ll be running for Sheriff again next term, Mayor.” Tackett chuckled and patted the mayor on the back.

As round as he was tall, Mayor Sanders bobbled in behind Tackett. “I was concerned you might want to move back down to Nebraska. We’d hate to lose you.”

“Don’t you worry about that.” The sheriff’s smile drooped when he noticed Colt. “I thought I told you to go out to Reed Ranch and confiscate their firearms?”

“Yes, sir. I’m just finishing my lunch break now.” In truth, Colt had been dragging his heels. Sheriff Tackett had asked him earlier that morning to collect the guns, but the last thing he wanted to do was to remove all the rifles from his friend’s ranch.

Tackett showed the mayor to the chair in front of his desk. “Too worried about filling his belly to drum up any ambition.” The sheriff’s raspy laugh skidded across Colt’s nerves. What did his boss know about his ambitions? Now that he had a couple years of experience, Colt was considering running for Sheriff, too. It wouldn’t be hard to do a better job than Tackett, who had only a little more practical experience than he did. Colt lifted his Deputy jacket off the rack and slid it on.

“As soon as you get back here with those guns, I’ll call the crime lab and arrange for ballistics testing.”

“On my way.” Colt left the good ol’ boys in the office and drove out toward Reed Ranch. He’d gone about ten miles outside of town, when he saw Caitlyn’s truck coming toward him on the other side of the highway. He flashed his lights, signaled, and pulled over to the shoulder of the road.

Caitlyn did the same, then rolled down her window and leaned out. “Where you headed?”

“Out to your parents’ place. I thought maybe you’d still be there.”

“Why are you going out there?”

“We got some additional information on the case. The lab confirmed the bullet that killed Wendy was a 9mm round. The Sheriff ordered me to confiscate all the guns out at your ranch.” The look Caitlyn gave him made Colt squirm with what felt like cold oily eels slithering around in his belly.

“You’ve got to be kidding me?” Her cheeks flamed. “Do you have a warrant?”

“I do.” Colt held up the papers.

“Dylan doesn’t even own a 9mm. He has a handgun, but it’s a .45.”

“Do any of the rifles on the ranch fire 9mm rounds?”

“I’m not sure, but I believe I’m the only one in the family who owns a 9mm handgun.”

“That might be good news, then. Why don’t you pull your truck over to the edge a little farther and leave it here? Come with me back to the ranch?”

“Yeah, okay. I’ll come. If only to keep an eye on the situation.” Caitlyn gathered her purse and her dog.