Chapter 17 Making The Rounds
MAKING THE ROUNDS
Rory opened the door to two angry Ridgeway men and an annoyed Gale.
“Come in,” he said. “Gale, you look ready to throttle your brothers.”
“Because they are being unrealistic,” she said.
“You don’t want her to stay alone?” he asked Ford.
“It’s not our preference, but she’ll do what she wants.”
He could offer for her to stay here, but he didn’t think either of the men in this room would like hearing that.
Nor did he have a weapon to defend himself. Something he’d have to talk to Ford about.
Did he think he’d need it? Probably not, but didn’t like not having the option either.
“She can stay on the farm where I can watch her,” Clay said. “If you don’t like the cabin, stay at the ranch with Meredith and me then.”
“No,” she said, shaking her head. “I’m not Reenie who had an abusive ex after her, nor Meredith, with a creepy ex and neighbor causing problems. I know how to take care of myself.
Everyone knows me around here. I’ve got eyes on me all the time.
I’m good. You know it. And if I’m not, my little friend Colt can make an appearance. ”
Rory lifted his eyebrow at her sarcastic tone about the gun in her purse that he hadn’t been aware she’d carried before today.
“I’m not going to get into the middle of a family fight. It’s on the table on a paper towel.”
He wasn’t leaving it on the floor where it could move around and pick up dust or be stepped on by anyone. He’d lifted it in the corner with a tissue, then laid it on fresh paper towels.
Ford and Clay walked toward the kitchen table, read the message and both swore.
The two of them coming at you in daylight would have most scared, in the dark after threatening their sister... whoever this was better take cover because Rory was going to be right next to them.
“Gale said someone broke into your car?” Ford asked, lifting the paper and bagging it.
He wasn’t so sure he wanted this to be officially on record. He didn’t trust many in this area. Not even the Ridgeway brothers as much as their sister.
“It was a couple of nights ago. I thought it was kids looking for loose change. I’m pretty sure I locked my doors, but the back door wasn’t shut all the way.
I don’t know. My mind has been on a lot.
Inside, things were moved around in the console.
I had some change in there that is gone, which is why I thought that. Nothing else is missing.”
Ford handed the bag to Clay.
“My brother is having that sent out off the record,” Gale said.
“It’s not that I don’t trust my department,” Ford said.
“But you don’t,” Rory said, crossing his arms.
“I don’t know and that is all I’m saying,” Ford said. “I’d rather not worry about people running their mouths. This was big news for years and it’s already making the rounds again. It’s best not to feed the ugly beast.”
“Someone wants to shut us up,” he said. “I’m not going to be silenced. This shit just tells me someone is worried what I’m going to discover. Will it lead to Rene’s murderer? That’s the question. I’m not saying it will.”
“That’s what I said,” Gale said. “My brothers want me to request camera footage around my building to see who could have been in it.”
“I can’t believe that if this is tied to Rene’s murder, and the person has kept whatever knowledge they’ve got secret for years, they would be stupid enough to get caught on camera.”
“See,” she said. “Rory gets it.”
“We get it too,” Ford said. “It’s about pushing buttons and sending whoever it is off track.”
“They must not know Gale enough to realize something like this will fire her up, not cool her off,” Clay said.
“Or they know her well enough that she’s going to dig more and it’s what they want. She’s helping me. She’s going to see if the person is sloppy. We could be looking at this wrong. Maybe it’s a signal for us to keep going. Like calling our bluff.”
It wasn’t unheard of but not a high probability. Just so many things they were guessing at.
“They aren’t sloppy,” she said. “Because they would have been caught long before now.”
“I don’t know,” Rory said. “I just know I’m onto something here and the last thing I’m doing is stopping, but Gale can back off. I told her.”
“No,” she said.
“Yes,” Ford and Clay said at the same time.
“You all suck if you think I’m going to stand down.” She pointed both her fingers at her brothers. “You both know better than to even suggest it, yet you are.”
Clay’s eyes narrowed, and he let out a menacing growl. Ford put his hand on his brother’s shoulder.
“Gale. We aren’t telling you what to do,” Ford said.
“Sounds it to me. Rather than do that, why don’t we come to terms? I know you, Ford. That’s the next step.”
“You let someone know where you are at all times. Meaning when you leave your house, you text someone when you’re at the office. During the day, there are people in your office or you’re at the courthouse most times. When you get home, you do the same,” Ford said.
“Both of us get a text,” Clay said.
She looked at Rory, her eyes on fire. “Do you want it too?”
“Yes,” he said.
She pulled her phone out of her purse and typed. Two vibrations and a beep sounded. “You’re in a group chat. Enjoy the interruptions to your day, gentlemen. See, I can compromise.”
Clay pulled his phone out of his pocket first. “Really, Gale. Talk about juvenile.”
She laughed, causing Rory to look at what the message said. FU with a heart.
He didn’t know why these brothers thought she’d walk away.
As much as he wanted to protect her, the truth was he couldn’t stand the thought of doing this without her anymore.
He was coming to rely on her. The way her smile softened the edges of his anger, the way her laugh chased the ghosts back into the shadows and the way her sharp wit reminded him he was still alive enough to feel something.
For so long he’d carried this alone, convinced no one could understand, and now… now he had her. And it felt like a lifeline he hadn’t known he needed.
With Gale beside him, the fight didn’t feel quite so endless. She didn’t just remind him of what he’d lost, she reminded him of what he still had, of what was worth holding on to. And for the first time in years, he believed he might actually see this through.
He didn’t know if he could risk giving any of that up. Not now, not with the three Ridgeway siblings crowded into his rented ranch.
Two brothers glared at him, their anger simmering just beneath the surface while their sister’s sharp gaze carried its own brand of annoyance.
Still, they were here. Listening. Helping. Standing with him in a way he had expected no one ever would.
He couldn’t let them down. He wouldn’t. Not again.
Not the way he’d let down Rene.
“Is that how you’re going to start all chats?” he asked. “Swearing at us?”
“It wouldn’t be the first time,” Clay said drily.
“No,” she said. “I’m keeping it short and sweet. Where I’m leaving and when I arrived. If you think I’m texting every time I walk out of my condo building, even to go to the gym, you’re all nuts.”
“This works for now,” Ford said.
“Ford,” Clay said. “Go out to your truck.”
“No,” Ford said.
“I’m giving you a warning now. You’re not going to want to see this,” Clay said. “Go.”
Ford ground his teeth and turned to leave. Gale stayed with him and Clay.
The gun came out from behind Clay’s back and Rory wondered what the fuck was going on and was prepared to defend himself.
Was he so wrong about this family?
Gale’s smile was the only thing he saw though, followed by her laugh.
“What’s going on?” he asked.
“Here,” Clay said. “You need to protect yourself. Gale said you didn’t bring a gun with you.”
“Not across state lines. I’m not registered here and need nothing to jam me up.”
“Keep it with you. Gale has hers, that’s one of mine.”
“One of many, I’m sure,” Gale said, looking at her brother.
“You don’t need to know those things. If my sister is harmed in any way, you’re answering to me. Not sure you want to risk that.”
Clay turned and left with the paper, Ford returning inside.
Rory put the gun behind his back quickly while Ford looked at the ceiling. “Are you ready, Gale?”
“No. Rory can bring me back home. I want to talk to him for a bit.”
Ford sighed as if he didn’t want to agree to that, but looked over. “I’ll bring her back,” he said.
“Do I have to text you all when I’m home now since I’ll be with Rory anyway?”
“Your sarcasm isn’t lost on me,” Ford said. “The answer is, yes, you do.”
“Then Clay is going to know I didn’t return with you,” she said sweetly.
He could see Ford processing that statement. “This time only since you’re with Rory. Tomorrow morning, we all expect to get that text. Gale, this is serious.”
“I never thought it wasn’t.” She moved closer to her brother. “Thank you for believing me. You guys all taught me well. Don’t worry.”
“I’ll always worry about everyone in the family and you know it. Don’t ask the impossible.”