Chapter 43
Chapter Forty-Three
Vance
Claire went back for her packs and found my radio a few feet away.
She used it to call in an update while I restrained Trey with the zip ties she carried in her kit.
Then I called one of my DCI contacts in Casper and asked for someone to meet Robin at the hospital, both for security and to get an official statement.
After a moment to catch our breaths, we started the long haul back to the trailhead, dragging our sullen prisoner with us.
When we emerged at base camp, the entire SAR team was waiting for us—along with a red-eyed Sheriff McGrath, who wordlessly took custody of Collins and hauled him to the back of an official vehicle
“Great work,” Hank said, shaking my hand and throwing his arm around Claire.
“You guys had a tough assignment this time—and that’s before you had to deal with that one.
” He shot a disgusted look toward Collins.
But he turned back to us with a smile. “You persevered and got another rescue on the books. ”
“Claire deserves all the credit,” I said, grinning. “She was amazing. I was just along for the ride.”
Claire’s eyes met mine. She gave me a cocky smirk, but her eyes shone with something deeper.
It made me want to tell her how incredible she was every single day of her life.
Cheyenne pushed past Hank and grabbed Claire in a tight embrace. “I’m so glad you’re okay.” Her voice broke.
“Me too.” Claire gripped her friend, closing her eyes tightly.
“When we heard the shots, Rhett and I started saddling the horses to go after you.” Cheyenne pulled back, her eyes teary. “I was so scared. I love you so much. I don’t know what I would have done if…”
“We’re okay,” Claire said, though her own eyes were teary as well. “Thanks to Vance. He put himself in the line of fire to give me a chance to get away.”
Rhett came over and shook my hand. “Thanks for taking care of my sister,” he said, his voice rough.
“I tried to,” I said, giving Claire a wink. “But instead of getting away, she threw herself down in front of a dagger and saved me instead.”
He grinned. “That’s our Claire. She’s a hell of a woman.”
Claire blushed under his praise.
“Yes, she is,” I murmured, catching her eye.
The rest of the team had held back, giving Claire a few moments with Rhett and Cheyenne.
But with their patience gone, they swarmed us, thrusting hot sandwiches and thermoses of fresh coffee into our hands.
The energy was contagious and gave us a much-needed boost—as did the calories.
The hot ham and cheese sandwich tasted like the best thing I’d ever had in my life.
Maybe the second best thing, I thought, eyeing Claire as she traded stories with her team and laughed at SAR jokes. It was a lot like dinner with the Hawkins family. The SAR team was a family of its own, and I realized how lucky Claire really was.
She wanted more. I understood that. Respected it.
But she had something incredible here, too.
Sheriff McGrath hung back for a few minutes, giving us time to eat and hydrate. When he finally approached the edge of the group, Claire’s laughter faded. She caught my eye and jerked her head toward the sheriff.
The celebration was over. It was time to work.
He was silent until the three of us had walked to the other side of the parking lot beside the car that held Collins, well out of earshot from the SAR team.
When he spoke, his voice was gruff. Weary. “There’s a hell of a lot I want to say to you two,” he said, removing his hat and brushing back his graying hair. He shook his head and gave Claire a look of reproach. “Serena? Really?”
The betrayal in his eyes mirrored the hurt I’d seen in Claire’s the day he’d talked to her in his office.
Claire’s face fell in devastation. “I’m sorr—”
I cut her off before she could apologize for doing her job. “I’m guessing you found out about our warrant request,” I said, bringing Sheriff McGrath’s attention back to me. He could be pissed if he wanted, but he wasn’t going to make Claire feel like shit over this.
He pulled his eyes away from hers and gave me a short nod.
I crossed my arms and gave him a pointed look. “I’ll be happy to have a conversation with you whenever you’re ready about why our investigation pointed in her direction. Clearly, you had some responsibility in that. But right now, we have more important things to talk about.”
He pinched the bridge of his nose, sighing. “Right. When Hank called me, he said Trey had attacked the two of you. Fill me in. What the hell happened out there?”
“He didn’t just attack us,” Claire said, the strength returning to her voice. “He tried to kill us. Took shots at us with a rifle and tried to start a rockslide. Pulled a knife on Vance.”
Shock rippled on Sheriff McGrath’s face. “Why would he…”
“He’s involved in Katelyn Brown’s homicide,” I said flatly. “He helped cover it up, at the very least. Maybe more.”
“ What ?” It was clear this was news to Sheriff McGrath.
“Our SAR victim, Robin, was a close friend of Katelyn’s with valuable information concerning her relationships here in Wildwood. When the identification was made public, Robin came here and reported that information—to Sergeant Collins.”
“He’s been sabotaging the case from the beginning,” Claire added, fury in her eyes. “He withheld Robin’s information from us because he’s in Judge Barrington’s pocket.” Claire’s disgust was evident. “And Robin can prove that Katelyn and Judge Barrington were having an affair.”
Sheriff McGrath’s mouth tightened. “I see.”
“You don’t seem surprised by that,” I said, arms still crossed.
“Serena’s told me that the Barringtons have a unique arrangement,” he explained.
The look on his face changed to disgust. “But I had no idea he’d hooked up with Katelyn.
Good grief, he’s old enough to be her grandfather.
Judge Barrington. Well, that’s going to be complicated.
” He shook his head, crossing his arms tightly.
“Maybe not as complicated as you think,” I said thoughtfully.
“You figured something out,” Claire stated, the brightness sparking in her eyes.
I grinned. “Just a theory. But if it proves true…”
“Well?” Sheriff McGrath prodded. “What is it?”
“I don’t think Judge Barrington killed Katelyn.”
“You think Collins did it?” Sheriff McGrath glanced at the car behind us. Trey’s sullen face stared straight ahead, refusing to make eye contact.
“No. I think we were right about Katelyn being killed by the wife of her affair partner. We just had the wrong wife.” I shrugged.
“Darla.” Claire inhaled sharply.
I nodded. “Robin said Judge Barrington thought of himself as a benefactor to Katelyn. Katelyn had no illusions of a future with him—apparently didn’t want one. She was discreet, willing to play by their rules. His wife already knew about the affair. So, what’s the motive for him to kill her?”
“They could have had a fight,” Sheriff McGrath pointed out. “Katelyn may have changed her mind about what she wanted from him when she got here.”
“Maybe,” I conceded. “But I spoke with Judge Barrington about the investigation. I’ve replayed that conversation ever since we found out about the affair, and my gut still says he genuinely wanted the case to be solved.
I think he delayed the warrants because he knew we were wrong—that there’s no way Katelyn was having an affair with you because she was with him. ”
“Alright.” Sheriff McGrath sighed. “Tell me why you’re thinking Darla.”
“Robin said something that’s been bothering me. She said Darla had given her blessing—as long as Katelyn remembered her place. That’s a mild threat. And Darla is as cold as ice. I could see that as clear as day when I met her.”
“That’s pretty weak. I agree with you that Darla Barrington is a sharp, cutthroat woman. But that doesn’t make her guilty of murder.”
“Think about it,” I said. “We know Darla had a boyfriend. What if Trey wasn’t in the judge’s pocket—what if he was in hers ?”
Sheriff McGrath put his palm over his face. “Serena told me Darla was a cougar. Said her boyfriend was half her age. That fits. But again, what’s the motive? She has a boyfriend of her own and already knew about Katelyn.”
Claire inhaled sharply. “Other than whatever Katelyn might have done that crossed a line? I can think of two.”
Sheriff McGrath looked at her. “How do you figure?”
“Darla’s whole goal is to bring tourists to Wildwood. What happened as soon as the news broke?”
Sheriff McGrath squeezed his eyes shut. “The motel booked up.”
“Exactly,” Claire said, her jaw set. “It’s not an ideal way to bring people in, but it sure gave the town exposure. Second, Trey is her lover. What is the one thing Trey wants most?”
“To work at DCI,” Sheriff McGrath said. He looked sick. “And his lack of homicide investigation experience was the one thing standing in his way.”
“It’s a win-win for both of them,” I agreed.
“We need proof. And that’s going to be tricky, seeing as how we can’t go to Judge Barrington for a warrant.” He shook his head. “This is a mess.”
“I’ll go to the district court judge,” I decided.
“We’ll get a search warrant for their home and guest house.
They’ll have cleaned it, but I bet we’ll get proof Katelyn was there.
We’ll get the DA to offer Sergeant Collins a deal.
He’ll talk—eventually. We’ve got Robin’s testimony, and we’ll get Serena’s, too. ”
“Serena?” Sheriff McGrath’s head jerked back. “Why does she have to get involved in this?”
I leveled a look at him. “Because I’m pretty sure Darla Barrington is the reason Serena thought you were having an affair with Katelyn.
She was whispering in Serena’s ear while Sergeant Collins dropped hints about you and Claire.
It was all part of the plan. Darla was setting you—or Serena—up to take the fall. And we walked right into it.”
“Son of a bitch.”