Chapter 41
Claudia pulled into the drive that led the quarter of a mile to Auggie’s ranch, nine hours after she had left the night before. She pulled her Tahoe up next to the matching one that had been waiting. So…that’s where he was.
She’d just gotten a text message from him that he was running a bit late today—and he would talk to her when he got to the station. Well, she didn’t have to be there for at least another three hours.
And this was technically working right now.
At least, that was what she’d tell Joel if he asked. She just wanted to check on them now. She had not known that one Deputy Zach Lowell would already be there. She rolled down her window, as she pulled up next to his. “Well…anything happen tonight?”
“Stopped one of your brothers at the entrance. Around one a.m. Said he received a ‘get-your-ass-here-mayday’ from the other one. I razzed him a little—on principle alone. But finally let him through. Other than that, quiet.”
He’d guarded the only road into the Nine Sisters Ranch—off the clock.
Of course he had. Zach was built like that.
He could be a real sweetheart under that dweeb exterior.
Most people could see that. Junie was one of the few exceptions.
“I’m going to spend a few hours with the girls—and apparently my brothers—if you want to take off.
Or…you can come up to the house with me.
We can ask Cal more questions about that truck that ran him off the road.
It very well could have been Bruce Tyler.
They will probably feed you. If you don’t tick Junie off, or anything. ”
Zach and Junie were some of her favorite entertainment lately. Those two were so much fun to watch. They practically vibrated when they were in the same range. She suspected what would happen between them eventually. It was just a matter of time.
“I…may do that. Or at least borrow the bathroom for a minute. And…pestering Junie is always so much fun.” He shot her a wicked grin.
At one time, that grin would heat her right up. But time…and maturity…had ended that stage of their relationship years ago. Now, he was as dear to her as her brothers. And sometimes just as annoying. “Behave yourself. Promise?”
“Only if you promise to cuff me later? Or just in my dreams, maybe?”
“Dork.” She rolled up the window and headed up the drive, as he turned his Tahoe and followed her.
Junie might not be too happy, but Claudia wanted to talk to Auggie and Cal now that the adrenaline had worn off a little. See if anything else would pop up.
Something didn’t add up. Surely Bruce didn’t think that all that money would have still been there after all these years? It had been at least a decade since he had abandoned his daughters for the last time.
But then again…one thing her brother and Auggie had both agreed on—something wasn’t right with Bruce Tyler.
Dylan Talley had said very similar in her statement after Bruce had dragged her into a barn before setting it on fire just weeks ago.
That guy was a total looney bird—Dylan had said that very clearly.
Claudia definitely agreed.
Her scars twitched a little. She’d run into that man too many times herself.
She had more than enough scars to prove it.