Chapter 12 #2
Then again, Peters had admitted he was only there because Captain Redding ordered him to come.
Peters took another moment to finish his coffee before slowly rising to his feet. He hitched his belt and held her gaze. “By the way, I brought the crime scene techs out to look at your SUV. They’ll take samples from the paint on your bumper, see what they can come up with.”
“Thanks.” At least that was something constructive.
“I guess I’ll head back to the precinct. If you think of anything that will help us find this guy, let me know.”
She offered a tight smile and followed him to the door. Bear and Cutie had remained unusually quiet while he’d been there. Almost as if the dogs could tell he wasn’t welcome. Even Cutie, who loved everyone, hadn’t approached him.
As Peters was about to leave, she asked, “By the way, did the crime scene techs get anything off the minibike?”
“No prints, if that’s what you were hoping for.” Peters scowled. “They think the perp wiped it down with a towel or something before ditching it.”
That meant there likely wouldn’t be any DNA, either. She hid her frustration with a curt nod. “Okay, thanks again for driving out.”
Peters shrugged and left without saying anything more. Jordan sighed loudly. “I told you that guy is useless.”
“I don’t disagree.” She wasn’t sure why Redding had sent him, other than maybe to force Peters into doing something more than having conversations with her over the phone.
Peters was close enough to retirement age that her boss probably didn’t want to force him out, which would result in him losing his pension.
Peters’s talk about retiring was one of the reasons she had taken the Detective exam.
She’d scored top of the list, but there wasn’t a position open.
At least, not yet. “But it doesn’t matter.
At least now we know the minibike won’t help us find him.
That leaves me with the dagger tattoo as my only lead. ”
“Yeah, okay.” Jordan still looked disgruntled. “Although that so-called interview with Peters was pretty much a giant waste of time.”
Bear came over and nudged her. She realized he was giving her a gentle reminder about needing his breakfast. Hounds were all about their food.
“Let’s feed the dogs, then I’ll get back to work.” She felt a renewed sense of determination. Jordan was right—Peters wouldn’t be any help.
She knew full well that hard work and thorough police work would ultimately crack this case. But they needed to catch this guy fast—she wasn’t sure she or Jordan could afford any more close calls.
* * *
Once the dogs were fed, Jordan rummaged through the freezer for a pot roast to make for dinner. Autumn would likely head home that evening, especially if her security system was installed as promised.
He defrosted the roast in the microwave, rubbed it with seasoning, threw it in a slow cooker with carrots and potatoes, then set the dial on Low. The meat would be tender and juicy by dinnertime.
When that was finished, he reached for his jacket. Since discovering Jenny had been murdered, he’d put off some of the larger ranch chores, like moving the cattle out to pasture. It could still snow in April, but the cattle needed space to roam and he’d spread out enough hay for them to graze.
Besides, snow this time of the year didn’t last long. And the recent thunderstorm gave him hope that spring was on the way.
Spring equated to new life on a ranch. It made him think of his sister’s baby girl. He prayed the baby was being well cared for.
“Are you leaving?” Autumn asked as he shrugged into his jacket.
“For a few hours.” He reached for his cowboy hat and settled it on his head. “I’m heading out to move the cattle. If you need something, call. I’ll have my phone with me. I can be back here in fifteen minutes if needed.”
“Okay, I’m sure I’ll be fine.” She sighed. “Hopefully, I’ll have an ID on this guy by then.”
“You will.” He was confident in her abilities. She was the opposite of Peters with her dedication and determination.
Yet, holding a grudge against the guy wasn’t helpful.
He told himself to get over it and nodded at the puppy.
“I hope you don’t mind, but I need to leave Cutie here.
Someday, she’ll be a good cattle dog, but not yet.
She needs more training and less enthusiasm.
At this age, I’m worried she’ll end up being kicked or trampled. ”
“That’s fine. I’ll watch her. Bear won’t appreciate it, but he’ll help keep her entertained.” She rose and reached for her own coat. “I may as well take both dogs out, though. Then I can work for a while without being interrupted.”
“Sounds good.” He followed her outside, watching as both dogs headed off in different directions. For once, Cutie wasn’t hounding Bear. He chuckled when the puppy found a stick and proudly carried it back, dropping it near Bear as some sort of gift.
Bear looked from the stick to Cutie and up at Autumn, as if to ask Now what?
Cutie would miss Bear when they left.
Just as he’d miss Autumn. In a way he’d never missed Shiloh once she’d brushed him off without so much as a backward glance.
Proof that he hadn’t cared about Shiloh as much as he should have. Oh, he’d thought he loved her and had been hurt when she’d left.
Yet, his feelings for Autumn were deeper and far more complicated than what he’d experienced with Shiloh. And that was a scary realization because he didn’t want to fall for someone, only to lose them.
Been there and done that. Wasn’t interested in taking that trip again.
Still, he let his gaze linger on Autumn for a long moment before heading to the barn. They’d both had trouble with previous relationships, but that didn’t mean they were meant for each other.
Did it?
He shook off the thought and saddled Durango. The stallion was feisty, having been left alone for the past few days. He tried talking soothingly, then gave up and swung up in the saddle. Once they got to work, the horse settled down.
The problem with riding and moving cattle was that it gave him too much time to think.
To avoid reliving Autumn’s kiss, he went back in time to when Jenny went missing.
The medical examiner, Dr. Trina Edwards, had mentioned his sister had been well nourished and otherwise healthy prior to her murder.
No sign of torture or mistreatment. Did that mean Jenny wasn’t aware that she was being held solely for her baby?
Or had she given up all hope of fighting back?
He wished he knew where she’d been staying during the five months prior to delivering her baby. Or where her baby was now, or if the task force would ever find the missing Mia.
It was troubling to know there were likely other young pregnant women being held against their will.
How many? Five? Ten? More than that?
How big of an operation was this, anyway?
Jordan dug his heels into Durango’s side, forcing the horse into a trot to cut off a cow that had bolted away from the herd.
Durango shook his head and whinnied, quickly forcing the stubborn animal to turn around to join the rest. He squeezed his knees tightly in the saddle so Durango wouldn’t try to buck him off.
The horse didn’t like cattle. At times, he couldn’t blame the stallion. This was where having a cattle dog would come in handy. Someday, Cutie would take on the role of chasing wayward cows back to the herd.
He hoped.
The hours passed faster than he’d anticipated. When he had the cattle safely tucked into the south pasture, he secured the gate and watched them for a moment. Hopefully, beef prices would rise and he’d have enough cash flow to last him through the rest of the year.
If they didn’t? Well, he could use Durango as a stud horse again. Thankfully, there were plenty of ranches out there who would pay the stud fee without quibbling. As he’d told Shiloh eighteen months ago, selling the ranch was not an option.
He was determined to make a go of it, no matter what.
He’d work longer hours if needed. Find more sources of income, like getting chickens, maybe selling eggs.
The ranch was his legacy, handed down by his father, and his grandfather before that.
An inheritance he wished he’d been able to share with Jenny.
The thought made him more determined than ever to provide a loving home for Jenny’s daughter.
Heaving a sigh, he climbed back into the saddle, wheeled Durango around and cantered back to the ranch. For the first time in years, he had someone waiting for him.
Autumn hadn’t called, which made him think she hadn’t yet found her guy with the dagger tattoo.
He slowed Durango to a walk, giving the stallion some time to cool off. A car moving down the driveway straight toward his ranch house caught his gaze. He frowned when he realized the car was a black sedan.
The shooter? He was stunned. Had the guy really returned so quickly and without the cover of darkness?
That seemed impossible, but then again, the attacks were escalating.
He used the reins to turn Durango toward the road, reaching back for the shotgun.
Before he could draw the weapon from the pack behind him, the driver abruptly stopped, lowered the window and pointed a gun toward him.
No! Jordan hastily pulled back on the reins, trying desperately to turn Durango away from the threat as a sharp crack of gunfire split the air.
Durango let out a scream, rearing up on his hind legs, front hooves pawing the air. It was all Jordan could do to stay seated, fighting for control of his horse.
Then Durango dropped onto all fours, spun and bolted toward the corral.
Rather than veering off to go around back to the cattle pasture as he’d expected, the stallion gathered himself and jumped the fence, kicking his back legs high as he did so.
It was a move he hadn’t anticipated and was jarring enough to send Jordan flying off the horse.
For long seconds he sailed through the air until he landed on the half-frozen earth hard enough to knock the breath from his lungs.
Dazed, he stared at the cloudy sky, struggling to breathe. In the dim recess of his mind, he heard the car engine fade away.
Then there was nothing but darkness.