Chapter Nine
Blair sat on the sofa with the TV on and had no idea what was playing. Her mind had been elsewhere since Saturday night.
He hadn’t called. She wasn’t going to call him. That much she’d decided.
But the whole thing kept circling back around.
How angry she’d been. How he’d left without a fight, just closed the door quietly behind him like he was being considerate, which somehow made it worse.
She’d had time to cool down since then and could admit, at least to herself, that he hadn’t lied to her.
He said he never stayed and that was exactly why he’d walked out.
It didn’t make it feel better, but at least she knew it wasn’t just her.
And then there was Gina. Was he being straight with her about that, or was there someone else in the picture she didn’t know about yet?
She sighed and stared at the screen. The thought of never seeing him again sat heavier than she wanted it to.
Her phone buzzed on the arm of the sofa. She reached for it without looking, then smiled when she saw Celine’s face on the screen.
“Hey.”
“Have you heard from him?” Leave it to Celine to skip straight past hello.
“Not a word.”
“He went to Shelby this morning. Killian mentioned it.”
“I forgot about that.” Blair pulled her feet up under her.
“That still doesn’t explain Sunday or yesterday.
He could have sent a text. Two sentences.
That’s all it would have taken.” She leaned her head back against the cushion.
“Celine, I felt cheap. I felt used. He left and I just lay there thinking, what was any of that even about?”
“I don’t think that’s how he meant it.”
“Then he needs to say so. He told me he never stays, like that was supposed to make it better. Like knowing I’m just like every other woman he’s been with was supposed to help.”
“There has to be a reason behind it. Something deeper.”
“Maybe. Who knows.” She shook her head. “Men say we’re hard to understand.”
“I know. But I think you two need to talk it out.”
“I’m not calling him. If he doesn’t reach out when he gets back, that tells me everything I need to know.”
“Give it until Saturday. Killian says this case is serious. The department almost lost Rawley over it and they want the man responsible. They’re not going to rest until they get him.”
“I know.” Blair was quiet for a moment. “If I don’t hear from him by Saturday, it’s over. Over before it even really started.” She laughed softly, more tired than amused. “I really know how to pick them.”
“You’re going to find someone.”
“That’s just it.” Blair stared at the ceiling. “I was hoping it would be him. I am so drawn to that man, Celine, and the sex.” She closed her eyes. “He’s ruined me. I hope he knows that.”
Celine laughed. “I know that feeling well. When I thought things were finished with Killian that was exactly what I thought.”
“But you two figured it out and now you’re disgustingly happy and I hate you for it.”
“You could never hate me.”
“You’re right. I couldn’t.” Blair smiled despite herself. “Did you call just to torture me or was there a reason?”
“Lunch tomorrow. Come by the shop.”
“I’ll be there.” She exhaled. “I love you, Celine.”
“I love you too. Hang in there.”
The call ended and Blair set the phone back on the arm of the sofa. She sat with the quiet for a while, turning it all over, trying to figure out what she would do if Saturday came and went without a word from him.
She didn’t have a good answer.
****
Hud pulled the truck up to the house and took a moment to look the place over. A solid, well-kept ranch with cattle grazing across the pastures as far as he could see.
“Damn nice place,” Luke said from the back seat.
“Yeah.” Hud opened his door. “Let’s find Mr. White.”
They climbed out and walked up the porch steps. Hud knocked. After a moment the door opened to reveal a woman in her mid-fifties who took one look at their Kevlar vests and went still.
“Hello. May I help you?”
“Ma’am, I’m Agent Hud Anderson with MDOL. These are Agents Creed McBride and Luke McCallister. We’re looking for Amos White.”
“He’s in the center barn.” Her eyes moved across the three of them. “Is there a problem?”
“Just some questions. Thank you, ma’am.”
He touched the brim of his hat, and they crossed the yard. Inside the barn a ranch hand directed them to an office at the far end of the aisle. Hud knocked once and pushed the door open. The man behind the desk looked up, then stood when he registered the vests.
“Agents. What can I do for you?”
Hud made the introductions. “Mr. White, we’d like to ask you some questions about your brother.”
The man’s expression closed off immediately. “My brother is dead to me. We haven’t spoken in years, and I have no plans to change that.”
Hud glanced at Creed and Luke, then back. “May I ask why?”
“He tried to steal my cattle about five years back. When I found out it was him I told him to stay the hell off my property and out of my life.” He crossed his arms. “What did he do?”
“Stole cattle down in Clifton,” Hud said. “Among other things.”
White shook his head slowly. “Doesn’t surprise me. He’s been in trouble his whole life. Then he pulled his boy into it.”
“You know about his son?” Luke asked.
“What about Junior?”
Hud kept his eyes steady on the man’s face. “He was killed during a stakeout, along with two other young men.”
The color drained out of Amos White’s face. He sat down heavily and was quiet for a moment. “I didn’t know that.” He looked at the desk. “Damn you, Harold.”
“I’m sorry for your loss,” Hud said. “But one of our agents was nearly killed that same night. We need to find your brother.”
White looked up at him. “I understand. And I want you to know I have nothing to hide. I’ve spent thirty-five years building this ranch. The last thing I’d ever do is steal someone else’s cattle. I know what it would mean to lose them.”
Hud nodded. He believed him.
“We think he may be heading for Canada. Given how close you are to the border we thought he might come here first.” He paused. “I’m not so sure about that now. Do you have any idea where else he might go?”
White thought for a moment. “We’ve got cousins in Sunburst. Luther and his boys. They’re cut from the same cloth as Harold, those ones. Steal anything that wasn’t nailed down.” He looked at Hud. “Is the agent going to be alright?”
“Yes. Touch and go for a while, but he’s going to make it.”
“I’m glad to hear it.” White stood. “Come into the house. I may have their address, or my wife will. She keeps better track of the family than I do.”
“We appreciate it.”
White led them across the yard and into the house. “Make yourselves comfortable in the living room while I check my office.”
“Luke will go with you,” Hud said.
White stopped and turned. “I’m not going to warn them. If they’re running stolen cattle they deserve whatever’s coming.”
“I understand that. We still have to follow protocol.”
White studied him for a moment, then gave a short nod. “Alright.”
Hud and Creed settled into the living room. A minute later Mrs. White appeared in the doorway and both men stood.
“Can I get you anything?”
Both declined. She looked between them. “What’s all this about?”
“We’re looking for Harold White.”
She closed her eyes briefly. “Lord. What did he do this time?”
“Got his son killed,” Amos said from the hallway as he came back into the room.
Mrs. White went pale, her hand pressing to her chest. “That poor boy.” She shook her head slowly. “To call Harold the black sheep would be letting him off easy.”
“Honey, do you know how to reach Luther? Address, phone number, anything?” Amos glanced at Hud. “We’re not close, but we stay in touch enough that my wife might have something.”
“What’s Luther’s surname?” Creed asked.
“Conroy. His mother and mine were sisters.” Amos looked at his wife. “See what you can find, hon.”
“It’ll be in my email.” She straightened. “I’ll find it.” She turned down the hall with Luke falling into step behind her.
When they returned Luke had a small sheet of paper in his hand. He passed it to Hud.
“Luther’s address. He’s in Sunburst.”
Hud looked at Amos. “We appreciate your help, Mr. White.”
“You’re welcome. I doubt Luther’s involved directly, but those boys of his have always been trouble. Wouldn’t surprise me if they’re caught up in this.”
“What are their names?” Luke asked.
“Barry and Hayden.”
“We’ll check them out.” Hud put his hand out and White shook it firmly.
“Thank you for what you all do. Looking out for ranchers and farmers, it matters.”
“Yes, sir. You have a good day.” Hud nodded to Mrs. White and the three of them walked out.
They climbed into the truck. Hud looked at Creed and Luke. “You both good with heading to Sunburst now? Save us a trip tomorrow.”
“Fine by me,” Creed said.
Luke nodded. “Can we stop somewhere first? I’m starving.”
Hud looked at Creed and tried not to smile. “Remind you of anyone?”
Creed laughed. “Rawley. Every single day.”
“I am nowhere near that bad,” Luke said from the back seat.
After hitting a drive-thru, they got back on the road. Sunburst was close enough to Shelby that they pulled into town in under thirty minutes.
“Population around three hundred,” Luke said, scrolling his phone. “Less than ten miles from the border.”
“How convenient,” Creed said.
“Yeah.” Hud watched the town slide past the windshield. Small and quiet, the kind of place where everybody knew everybody, and a strange truck got noticed. “I just hope he hasn’t already crossed.”
“Getting him and getting him to talk are two different things,” Luke said.
Hud glanced at him in the rearview mirror. “He’s going to feed us every line he’s got, but with Roby and Hill already placing him in the middle of this operation he won’t have much room to maneuver.”
“He’ll want a deal,” Creed said.
“Everybody does,” Luke said.