Chapter Twenty-Five
Sharp entered the ranch office looking bitter. “Forcing me out of bed better be for a good cause,” he grumbled as he dropped down into the chair behind the cluttered desk.
“It’s important,” Hawkeye said. He’d spent hours searching through the camera footage that recorded the activity around the barns. What he’d found out, Sharp needed to hear. Immediately.
Hawkeye gave a quick explanation of what happened to Margo—from the barn experience to someone looking through the window. Even the picture that Carsen had drawn.
Sharp sat quietly, listening intently.
“You looked at the camera footage?” Sharp asked, showing concern in his expression.
“I have the footage pulled up on the computer.”
Sharp woke the computer by clicking a key. His eyes widened and his mouth turned into a scowl. He fell back into his chair, staring at the screen, thrumming his fingers on the desk. “Shut the door, Hawkeye.”
He leaned the chair back onto two legs and pushed the door closed.
“Sorry, man.” What more could he say? When he saw the footage of Bradley Creed going into the barn, the lights going out, and then him coming out and throwing the board into the slot, Hawkeye had been sick.
There was footage after footage of the elderly man walking around the land at night. Roaming like a lost child.
“There’s an explanation,” Sharp said, clasping his hands together.
“Okay.”
“Pa was diagnosed with rapid onset dementia last year. I just found out when I noticed a significant decline in his memory and problem-solving skills. I’ve noticed a drastic change in his behavior.
He’s even experiencing some delusions.” Sharp suddenly looked aged and exhausted.
His broad shoulders slumped. “He started wandering around the ranch after dark, and up until now, he wasn’t doing anything but just walking. It's progressing fast.”
“Damn, Sharp. I’m sorry.” Hawkeye hated this not only for his buddy, but for Bradley who Hawkeye admired and respected. Yet, he owed Margo a big apology. She’d been right and he’d shot her concerns down.
“CaDee and I had hoped to wait and make any decisions until after the baby was born. I might have to make them now. I’m sure Pa didn’t mean any harm to Margo. He does the same thing at the farmhouse. He turns off all the lights and sits in the dark. For some reason he wants it dark.”
“I had no clue.” Hawkeye felt more like a shit for bringing it to Sharp’s attention. “Does anyone else know? Besides you and CaDee?”
“No one knows. The changes are occurring so fast.” He blew out a long breath.
“I have nothing but the utmost respect for Bradley. If you need anything…or if there is anything I can do to help, I will.”
Sharp scratched his temple. “Doc says once he declines to a certain stage, we’ll have no choice but to seek twenty-four-hour care.
I guess that time is here. It’s unsafe for him to be wandering around outside at all hours of the night.
” He clenched his fists and hit the top of the desk, upsetting a cup of pens.
“I feel like I’ve let him down. If we had caught it earlier, we could have slowed the progression.
The old mule didn’t want to worry anyone, so he kept it a secret. ”
There was a moment of silence.
“I’d appreciate you keeping this between us,” Sharp said. “I’m not ready to tell everyone although it’s getting close. Will you please speak to Margo and tell her that I’m sorry.”
Hawkeye nodded. “Remember, anything you need just let me know.”
“Thanks, buddy, but what I need now is some time with CaDee so we can discuss where we go from here.”
Hawkeye left feeling like he’d been kicked in his chest.
He hated that something like this was happening to a man like Bradley. He’d worked hard, never depended on anyone, always treated people how he wanted to be treated.
Hawkeye’s shoulders were still slumped when he walked into the bunkhouse, grateful that the crew was still asleep. He didn’t feel up to facing anyone except for Margo.
He expected to find her curled up under the blanket sound asleep but instead she was sitting up, her back against the headboard. She looked tired. Fatigued.
“Sorry it took so long.” He toed off his boots and hooked his hat on a bracket next to the door. “What a night it’s been.”
“Did you find anything out?” she asked.
“It was Bradley Creed. I found camera footage of him at the barn.”
“Oh no. Does Sharp know?”
Rubbing his shoulder that was aching, Hawkeye nodded.
“Yes, and he wants to keep it quiet but under the circumstances you should know that Bradley has rapid onset dementia. Sharp had hoped he didn’t have to face making decisions for care until after the baby is born, but seeing the camera footage I think he realizes the time has come. ”
“What will he do?”
“No clue.” Hawkeye yawned. “Sometimes it’s hard to decipher right and wrong when it comes to someone you care about.”
“Ironic that you say that.”
He narrowed his gaze. He was dog tired, but her statement struck him the wrong way. “Yeah?”
She reached over, opened the drawer, and took out something. It took him less than a heartbeat to realize what she’d found.
“Margo, I can explain—”
“Yeah, I think you should.” She stood and crossed her arms over her chest. “I’d like to hear what your excuse is.”
“I didn’t take the pictures,” he said.
“I realize that because that’s not possible. However, they’re in your belongings. There must be a reasonable explanation but for the life of me I can’t wrap my head around what it could be.”
He blew out a long exhale. “I have no clue where to start.”
“From the beginning would be my suggestion. Don’t leave anything out,” she said smartly.
He realized if he ever wanted to see her again, he’d have to be completely honest. “What I tell you must stay in this room.”
“As embarrassing as it is, I think I’d have to agree.”
“I previously mentioned that I served as a Texas Ranger, which is true. Our unit, Texas Heat, was involved in reconnaissance operations. Silver pursued retribution after our team contributed to his incarceration,” he explained, taking care not to expose the team's covert status. “We believe there’s a mole within the agency who is responsible for orchestrating the attacks against me and my team. I had been surveilling Leo before he was killed.”
“Are you retired from the Texas Rangers?”
“No.”
“The photos…why? How?”
He could see the hurt and distrust in her expression.
“I broke into Leo’s office. He had the envelope of pictures in his safe. I found them and I couldn’t leave them. I put them in my bag with the intention of destroying them, but every time I started to follow through something happened.”
She gave a noticeable shiver. “Leo was more of a jackass than I ever thought possible.”
“I should have told you. I realize this. At one point, the time we were at the creek, I was going to tell you everything.”
“And yet, you didn’t and had many opportunities before and after to be honest.”
“This doesn’t just involve me, Margo. I have a team.”
“Everything we are, everything we have is based upon a lie. You knew who I was when we met. You had information on me. You had been researching me too.” She lowered her eyes as if she couldn’t bear to look at him any longer.
“You weren’t part of this. I didn’t know everything.”
“You should have told me about the pictures,” she said softly, lifting her gaze. Her eyes were red. Had she been crying?
“There are things you shouldn’t know because it only makes all this more dangerous for you. For me too.”
She rubbed her tired eyes. “But that’s the very reason I should know. This case involves me. I’ve been thrust in danger’s way by Leo and by you.”
“I would never let anything happen to you.”
“Really?”
“I wouldn’t.” He forced through thin lips.
“How can I believe anything you say?” Her words held skepticism.
“That’s pushing this all a little far, don’t you think?
Do you honestly believe I wanted to lie to you?
To keep the truth from you. This is my job, just as you authoring books is your career.
Anything I disclose doesn’t just affect me.
It affects my entire team. One wrong move and I put people I care about in danger. ”
She tilted her head. “Is the entire crew here part of the recon team?”
He ran his palms down his face, choosing not to answer.
“Well, that certainly explains a lot.” Her mouth twisted. “Maybe I’m a fool but I do understand the secrecy with the team. Yet, I keep coming back to the photos.” She threw her hands up. “It feels like betrayal. No to mention that you kept my driver’s license.”
He took a step toward her but didn’t touch her. “Margo, everything that has happened between us is real.”
“Oh?” she huffed. “How can it be real when I have no clue who you are?”
“I brought you here to protect you. Make no mistake, everything I’ve done is to help you. This isn’t street crime. This is bigger and far worse than you could ever imagine. Bigger than even I know. This seeps all the way up into government officials.”
“You did this because you want the package,” she said quietly as if she just realized that idea.
“Yes, I want the package because it can help us find out who the fuck wanted the ambush on the team. No one is safe until the bastards are caught.”
She stared at him, the shine in her eyes disappearing.
“I’m exhausted. I want nothing more than for all this to be over.
I will go with you tomorrow to get the package, but understand, I’m walking away after that.
I’m not coming back here and I’m not being near you.
You betrayed me. I can’t trust you. I can’t trust what we’ve shared. ”
“Margo, this is ridiculous—” he then reached out but she removed herself from his reach.
“No. I don’t want to hear what you have to say.
I need time to soak up what I know. You don’t have to worry.
I won’t tell anyone about anything. I don’t want any more danger to come to you or to anyone here.
But you and I…we can’t see each other when I leave here.
” She grabbed the envelope of her photos. “I’m taking this with me.”
“You’re still not safe.”
She laughed but it was raw. “I’m not safe here either.
Not because of an enemy but rather from someone I trusted.
Someone I fell—” she stopped the flow of words.
She placed her hand on the doorknob and looked back at him.
“I’ll meet you at your truck at eight sharp.
Then after we leave the pickup location, I want you to take me back to the city.
I’ll stay with Mario. Your services are no longer needed. ”
Then she walked out.