Chapter 29
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
“Where is Charley?” Sully asked his dad while sitting in the hospital bed, fully dressed.
“Was she driving from Triple C-West?” Owen replied, having just returned from the country with a change of clothes for Sully.
Sully’s boots had survived the car crash, but the torn and bloody clothes he’d had on in the ER had been thrown out.
“It’s Tuesday, a workday, and the traffic could be slowing her down. ”
“I assumed she was with Chloe on Triple C-West or maybe at her log cabin.” Sully rubbed his forehead. “I told her I didn’t want her in Old Colorado City without me.”
“I fully understand your concern.” Owen nodded. “So far, Burt Groves has no solid leads on the person who attacked Charley and shot her mother.”
“Talk about kicking yourself a hundred times,” Sully said. “I wish we’d bought Vaughn’s gun when given the chance.”
“And maybe you would have if it had been you in the gun store when Vaughn came in that day instead of Roy.”
“Maybe.”
“Burt told me CSPD has DNA on the guy who is strangling and stabbing women, but none of the suspects they have interrogated so far have been a match,” Owen said and rubbed the crease in his brow. “The cops need a break in the Cave Killer case. Right now.”
“Yeah,” Sully grumbled. “Anything new that might suggest the Cave Killer also murdered Charley’s mother and attacked Charley?”
“The police haven’t ruled that out. But personally, I don’t think it’s the same guy because the MOs don’t match,” he said, referring to the method of operations: one involving a gun and an attack versus a knife and strangling.
“I agree about the MOs. Dammit.” Sully nodded and repeated, “Where is Charley?”
“Charley is an independent and brave young woman, Sully,” Owen said, taking a seat beside Sully’s bed. “She’s been through a hell of a lot in a short time. Don’t underestimate her capabilities. And she has that SIG Sauer P365 you gave her.”
“Yeah, she does,” Sully said. “But if I knew she was at her apartment right now, I’d leave the hospital, discharged or not and go get her.”
“Since you’re not officially discharged yet, give Charley a few more minutes.”
“I’m going to call her again.”
Sully picked up his cell, just as the nurse entered the room with his discharge paperwork.
He placed his cell on the bed and tried to pay attention to the instructions.
The hospital had already made an outpatient follow-up appointment for him with Dr. Sankari.
He was told the external stitches would dissolve.
Sully was informed to immediately call the doctor or return to the ER with any pain, dizziness, shortness of breath, passing out, or bleeding.
Sully signed the paperwork indicating he understood and swung his legs off the bed.
“Mr. Custis, you’re discharged and good to go,” the nurse told him.
“I’m expecting someone to meet me here, so may I wait for a few more minutes?”
“Of course. Take your time,” the nurse said.
“Thanks.” Sully picked up his cell again and scrolled for Charley’s number.
“Hi,” Charley said, passing the nurse and bopping into his room.
“Charley, where have you been?” Sully all but barked.
“Hi, Charley,” Owen said with a fatherly frown at Sully. “Great to see you.”
“Great to see you guys too!” Charley hurried across the room to Sully. Still sitting on the side of the bed, he pulled her into his arms and tucked her between his knees. As he held her to him, she asked, “Are you discharged?”
“Yes,” he replied. Charley’s smile warmed his heart. “What took you so long to get here? I was worried. Where have you been?”
“I’ll tell you all about it,” Charley said and eased back. “I have something in my purse that you won’t believe.”
“What?”
“I can’t show you here,” she whispered, her beautiful blue eyes sparkling. “I’m probably lucky hospital security didn’t detect it and confiscate it from me. But I couldn’t take a chance of leaving it in my car.”
“Is it your new puppy I heard about from Sully?” Owen teased.
“No, but Wyatt’s in my car.”
“I can’t wait to hear all about it.” Sully gathered his discharge instructions, stood up, and grabbed her hand. Mere minutes ago, he’d been filled with dread, and now that her dainty hand was securely locked in his, he was on top of the world. He grinned. “Let’s go, city slicker.”
Owen was already heading out of the room.
Sully and Charley followed him to the nearest elevator.
Taking it down to the main level, they exited the hospital and started toward the parking garage.
What a difference a day and a half could make.
And if he could help it, Sully didn’t intend to let Charley out of his sight again.
“I got here shortly before you did, Charley,” Owen said as they reached the elevators to the parking garage. “I’m on the fourth level of the parking garage.”
“Me too,” she replied as they entered the elevator.
“So, what’s in your purse?” Sully asked as Owen pushed button four.
Before she could answer, a middle-aged couple joined them on the elevator.
Charley kept quiet but grinned up at Sully as though she had the best secret in the world.
He couldn’t imagine what it was. He narrowed his eyes in question and then he winked at her.
When the couple exited the elevator on level three, they were alone again.
“A gun,” Charley said as soon as the elevator door closed.
“Yeah, Dad and I were just talking about your new gun,” Sully said and smiled down at her. “I’m glad you have it with you.”
“Actually, my gun is locked in the glove compartment of my car.”
“There’s my truck,” Owen said as the elevator door opened on four.
“What gun are you talking about?” Sully asked as they exited.
“Just you wait and see,” Charley said.
Owen led the way to his truck. They stopped on the driver’s side with Charley’s back to the truck door.
When Sully and Owen stood in front of her, she was blocked from the vision of any passersby.
Sully and his dad watched as she removed something wrapped in a dish towel from her purse.
When Sully stuffed his hospital papers in his back pocket, she carefully placed the parcel in his hand.
Being an El Paso County Sheriff’s son, he knew how to unwrap it.
Without touching his fingers to the item, he revealed a gun.
When it lay on top of the towel in full view, Sully looked at Charley. Eyes wide, she nodded.
“I know I’m not gonna like the story that goes with how you have this gun,” Sully said. “But this is Rod Vaughn’s poor excuse for a gun, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” Charley said enthusiastically.
“Detective Groves and CSPD may have just caught the break we said they needed, Sully,” Owen said with a gleam in his eye.
“Yeah, just like when a suspect leaves a glass with fingerprints behind, the cops can use this gun which Vaughn left behind,” Sully said.
“And he left the gun behind in Charley’s house, no less. She has every right to turn it over to the police,” Owen said and smiled at Charley. “Excellent work.”
“Yay,” Charley said softly. “The bullets may not match, but at least we can find out one way or the other now.”
“About damn time,” Sully growled.
“If this Vaughn guy figures out where he lost his gun, he will come looking for Charley, Sully,” Owen said. “Speaking of which, I brought your gun, which was still in your holster when you reached the ER.”
“Yep, I’m thinking Vaughn will be looking for Charley.” Sully took his gun from Owen.
“Don’t let her out of your sight,” Owen said.
“Damn straight,” Sully agreed and gave Charley a stern look. She smiled at him, and his heart beat faster with love and concern.
Hearing a tiny bark a few vehicles away, Charley saw the puppy’s nose in the window of her Mini Cooper and said, “There’s Wyatt Earp.”
“Sully, you go with Charley,” Owen suggested.
“If you give me that gun she found, I’ll take it straight to Burt Groves at the police department.
” Sully handed the gun over to his dad, and then turning to Charley, Owen added, “Groves may give you a call because I’ll have to tell him how I came to be in possession of the weapon. ”
“Of course,” Charley said. “No problem.”
“Take care of our boy,” Owen said to Charley with a nod of his head at Sully.
“I intend to,” Charley replied and looped her arm through Sully’s.
Owen got into his truck, and Sully slid his hand into Charley’s. With a wave, Owen was already gone as they reached Charley’s car a few spaces away. She carefully unlocked the driver’s door and scooped up the puppy. She held him, and Sully petted his head.
“I think you’re right about him being a Labrador retriever,” Sully said as he took the little puppy from her and scratched his furry head.
“He looks exactly like the black Lab I had when he was a puppy.” The puppy licked Sully’s hand, and he gave him back to Charley.
As she juggled the puppy into her arms, Sully suggested, “Let’s go home. ”
“Good idea.”
Sully offered to drive. Though he fully trusted Charley to get them home safely, after his recent accident, he preferred to be the one behind the wheel.
Charley, hugging the puppy, agreed and they got into the car.
Sully backed out of the parking space, and once they had exited the garage, he headed away from the hospital.
Driving east toward the country, he looked at the gorgeous girl and the cute puppy and grinned.
“Your cabin or my house?” he asked.
“I packed some extra clothes along with Wyatt’s food and dog bowls,” Charley said. Sully detected a blush on her cheeks. “Your house?”
“Yeah,” Sully agreed, reached across the console and petted Wyatt’s head before taking Charley’s hand. He cocked a brow and said, “Now, tell me how you happened to be in your apartment to get Vaughn’s gun and pack your clothes.”
Charley made a playful show of swallowing hard and then flashed him an innocent grin. When he fought back a smile and narrowed his eyes, she told him how she’d thought it would be safe to take a quick shower and grab what she needed at her apartment.
“It was broad daylight after all,” she explained.
“And crimes are never committed during daylight hours,” Sully scolded.
“Well anyway—” Charley held up a dainty hand to placate him as the Mini Cooper sped them toward home. “Right after Rod bailed off the sofa, Leon showed up on his scooter.”
“What?” Sully said. “You had to deal with both of them at once?”
“Yes, then Rod took off telling us both to go to hell.”
“Vaughn throws tantrums like a two-year-old,” Sully said. “I can’t wait to hear what CSPD ballistics says about his gun. What did Lerfeld want?”
“First, he told me that he was working on fixing up a car that belonged to his uncle.” Charley tilted her head and said, “He wanted to show it to me at his house, and I said no.”
“You told me you were on your way when I called you, but Lerfeld was still there?”
“Yes,” she said. “Leon said we needed to talk and asked me if I was serious about you. Apparently, he still has the little crush on me.”
“The big crush on you,” Sully corrected and cocked a brow. “What did you say about being serious?”
Charley squared her shoulders, looked him in the eye, and replied, “I told him yes, I am serious about you.”
Sully grinned at her and said, “I feel the same about you, Charley.”
“Really?”
“Hell yes, really.”
With that and a smile, he turned onto the highway that led to the Triple C Ranches.
When they eventually neared Charley’s ranch, Sully spotted the silver Mercedes on the gravel drive.
The vehicle was facing the highway. “Well, well. Looks like Vaughn realized he lost his little gun. He must have returned to your apartment, but luckily you were already gone. So, he’s come looking for you out here. Just like my dad said he would.”
“Sully!” Charley sucked in a breath, her blue eyes wide. “What are we going to do?”
“I’ll handle it,” Sully said. “Call the sheriff.” He gave Charley a private number to the El Paso County Sheriff’s office and she called. “Tell them you’re with me. Tell them Rod Vaughn, a man who’s been stalking you, is at your cabin and you’re afraid to go home.”
“Okay,” Charley said and dialed.
As Charley made the report to the sheriff’s office, Sully knew Vaughn had recognized Charley’s Mini Cooper because the Mercedes appeared in the rearview mirror.
Sully sped up, and Vaughn did as well. Damn.
He’d just been discharged from the hospital after an accident on this highway.
But the roads weren’t slippery today. Sully didn’t head toward his ranch.
Instead, in a clear stretch of road and with no other cars in sight, Sully turned the wheel, screeching the tires and making a lightning-fast 180-degree U-turn.
He stopped exactly in the middle of the highway.
Vaughn came to a skidding, sloppy halt off to one side of the road.
Sully aimed his Ruger out of the window and shot both tires on the driver’s side of Vaughn’s car.
Raising his chin at an astonished Vaughn, Sully pressed on the gas, and they flew back down the highway.
“That seemed fair,” Sully said. “I guarantee you he’s the one who slashed your tires.”
“I agree. But what about the bullets in his tires?” Charley asked with concern. “Will the police be able to trace them to your gun?”
“This gun can never be traced to me,” Sully replied as he placed it on the console. When Charley opened her mouth, certainly to inquire as to why the gun couldn’t be traced, he said, “Don’t ask, city slicker.”