Chapter 25
Twenty-Five
Saturday
Over the years Rhett had achieved the ability to read people really well.
As he waited for Julie to collect her things to leave to go and view the ranch, he chatted with Carter, who’d arrived in the sheriff’s marked truck.
He purchased his own Ram truck the previous day, and they would use it to travel to the ranch.
The last thing he wanted was the people working at the ranch to know he had law enforcement with him.
He took in the relaxed cowboy sitting on the sofa in Wolfe’s family room warming his hands on the fire, his Doberman, Zorro, sitting like a statue beside him.
Carter had a very intimidating side to him, although his height and impressive physique were very different than Kane’s.
That man was massive, but Carter had a lethal edge about him and the judging way he regarded him when they first met had put him on his guard from the get-go.
The easygoing cowboy image covered a very intelligent and observant FBI agent.
After listening to him talk for only a short while, he discovered how close he was to Wolfe’s family.
The reason why he’d offered to escort them to the ranch wasn’t to seek out justice for his parents but to make sure that Julie would be protected.
He hadn’t missed the approving nod from Wolfe when Carter arrived.
Not that Wolfe or his wife and daughter Emily had remained in the house for long.
They had all hurried out earlier, braving the weather and floods for the morgue.
He looked at Carter. “Julie mentioned this town was called Serial Killer Central. I’m assuming all the activity at the moment is centered around two new cases. Do they have any suspects?”
“That’s not for me to say.” Carter popped a toothpick into his mouth and moved it across his lips.
“During an ongoing investigation we hold our cards close to the vest. I’m not saying that you would give the information to the media, but as we say, loose lips might sink ships.
” He gave him an appraising look. “Another thing is that as we’re often dealing with psychopaths, we’re aware many of them like to insert themselves into a police investigation—it’s a way of reliving the kill.
So people who ask questions about ongoing cases are usually added to our list of suspects. ” He grinned at him.
Stymied, Rhett stared at him. “I know you’re an FBI agent, so I was just looking for something to talk to you about. I know nothing about you whatsoever but I’m guessing you know everything about me.”
“Yeah, if anyone gets involved with Wolfe’s daughters, we do a full background check.
” Carter leaned back in the chair and rested his boot on his opposite knee.
“We do have at least one thing in common: I rebuilt a Harley as well. In fact, everyone at the office has one—except Maggie and Jenna. We spend all our downtime at Dave’s ranch working in his garage.
If we ever get a vacation and can spend it around the same time, we always save a week or so to go hunting down parts.
In this area, we’ve discovered many barn finds and dug out frames from way back.
You’d be surprised how many people keep old motorcycle parts hidden away for years in their chicken coops and the like.
Raven purchased a number of old cabins in Stanton Forest and we discovered a wealth of parts and a complete Indian motorcycle. ”
Interested, Rhett barked a laugh. “And I figured that riding a motorcycle would be a problem to Dr. Wolfe. He doesn’t seem like the type to be flying around on an old Harley.”
“I might have guessed you two would be talking about motorcycles.” Julie walked into the room zipping up her raincoat.
“I suggest we slip into our rubber boots and head out to the ranch before the weather gets any worse.” She smiled at Carter.
“Dad left his spare pair in the mudroom for you. He figures you’re the same size.
Rhett purchased his yesterday.” She headed for the door.
“The new Ram is amazing. We took it for a run yesterday in the pouring rain. It stuck to the road like glue.”
“That’s good to know but fast-flowing water is stronger than most vehicles. It can move a bus.” Carter followed her out into the hallway and along to the mudroom. He glanced over his shoulder at Rhett. “You know that, right?”
Feeling like an inexperienced kid, Rhett just nodded.
He adjusted his shoulder holster before pulling on a jacket.
He took a slicker from a peg in the mudroom and pulled it on, watching as the others did the same.
They would be dry on the way to the ranch as he had parked in the attached garage beside Wolfe’s large home.
He entered the address into the vehicle’s GPS and they headed out into the miserable morning.
Storms had been intermittent throughout the night, but the rain had never stopped.
“I had some time on my hands last night and took the liberty of looking into the manager of your ranch.” Carter relaxed in the seat behind him.
“Ed Bowman was a leading hand during the time of your parents. His ambition has always been to oversee the running of a ranch and he has the business degrees to back him up. I did a background check on him and on paper he is squeaky clean.”
Rhett peered at him in the rearview mirror. “That’s good to know. Did you dig up anything else about the hands working there?”
“Only about the two leading hands.” Carter met his gaze in the mirror.
“Josh Greenwood and Dirk Lovall. Both have been there for over twenty years. All three men are in their mid to late forties and apart from bar fights and traffic tickets, I couldn’t discover anything sinister about them or any links to organized crime.
” He cleared his throat. “When someone suggests they are being murdered for whatever reason, the first thing we look at is organized crime as most times threats come from that area. For instance, if your father had discovered someone adding a few extra items to his consignments of cattle, it would be reason enough to remove him. You have to remember that anyone in the illegal drug trade, for instance, or sex slavery is making a ton of cash—and they don’t want any problems.”
Rhett ground his back teeth as he turned into the road leading to the ranch.
Water pelted against the windshield and suddenly the back and forth of the wipers was the only sound inside the cabin.
“The problem is this is my ranch and my father wanted me to run it. I don’t want to be a rancher and would be happy to allow the manager to continue, but I do need a place to live and it seems rather stupid not to take up the opportunity of moving into a good home.
What would you suggest I do to stay safe, if whatever happened during my father’s time there is still a threat? ”
“The chances of whoever killed your parents sticking around for twenty years is remote, but you’ll need to watch your back until, you’re sure.
I suggest you make like you’re stupid.” Carter smiled around his toothpick.
“Keep your sidearm on you at all times, or in reach when you’re sleeping.
I would suggest you bring in someone to update the security alarm system on the house.
” He blew out a long sigh. “Go and meet with the manager and tell him that you’re happy for him to continue running the place and that you have no interest in being a cattle rancher.
Maybe throw in the fact that you’ll only be living in the house and heading off to work each day like a normal Joe.
Make like you don’t intend to interfere in anything they’re doing and you should be okay, but all the time, watch what’s going on.
It would be normal for someone like you to take a ride around your property.
I would guess there are horses there, but you could buy your own.
Maybe take Julie with you for a ride. She is very observant and will likely spot anything that’s not right.
If you find a potential problem, call one of us right away.
Don’t even bother to go back to the ranch house.
Take a satellite phone with you at all times and call. ”
Nodding, Rhett drove through the gates with the lawson’s ridge sign out front, surprised to find a blacktop road leading toward a grand old house in the distance.
The red roofs of many buildings peeked through the sheet of rain.
White painted fences lined the driveway and beyond that acres and acres of lush green pasture spread out over rolling hills and onto the forest, the grass glossy and dense after the drenching.
His stomach clenched as he got closer to the house.
Finally, after all these years he’d discovered where he had originated from.
This was the home he remembered through the fractured memories of a child.
The windows made up of small panes of glass slotted into place, as did the massive green expanse.
Somewhere inside his memory he recognized the windows and remembered sitting on the swing on the long front porch.
He should have spent his entire life here with a loving family.
Someone had cut that short and no matter what happened from this moment forward, he would discover the truth.