Twelve #2
“Yeah, it’s not the first time.” Creed shrugged. “I just hope Owens doesn’t yank me off the case.”
Per Texas Rangers protocol, an officer-involved shooting required that officer to be placed on administrative leave.
Jackson knew their captain had stretched the rules in the past. And since today was Saturday—well, technically Sunday as it was past midnight—he was sure the administrative leave wouldn’t start until Monday.
Maybe that was splitting hairs, but at this point he needed Creed’s help to keep Nina safe.
The goons had gotten way too close. First finding them at the rental house, then following them across the lake to continue the job.
The canoe they’d used to escape was gone. There was nothing left but the wooden paddles, floating on the surface. One was near the spot where the canoe had gone down. The other was drifting along the lakeshore.
“We need to get out of here,” Jackson said in a low voice. “I’m not sure the rental car is safe to use moving forward.”
“It’s still in the garage. I don’t think any of the guys outside saw it up close.” Creed pursed his lips. “Yet I don’t know how they identified the rental property. If they somehow discovered the name of the company Nina used to obtain the house and car, then yeah, we shouldn’t use the car.”
“How else?” Jackson battled a wave of frustration. “I think we need to start over. Get a different car and a different place to stay.”
“For now, a motel that only takes cash might be a better option,” Creed said. “At least for what’s left of the night.”
“Y’all need a ride?” The officer who’d given Nina the blanket crossed over to join them. “Looks like you need to change your clothes.”
They didn’t have a change of clothes, but Jackson didn’t mention it. “We could use a ride to the rental house where this all started.”
“Jump in.” The officer waved at his squad. “One of you can ride up front with me.”
“Are you sure about going back?” Nina grasped his arm. “I don’t think it’s safe.”
“There are still cops at the scene.” He glanced at Creed. “At least, I assume so.”
“There are,” Creed agreed. “They weren’t happy when I left to find you guys.”
“Okay.” Nina released his arm. “It’s just…”
“I understand.” He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, giving her a quick hug. “It’s been a rough couple of hours.”
“Yeah.” She shivered, but he didn’t think this time it was from the cold. He understood she was still scared to death these guys were going to pop out and finish them off.
A very real possibility, since they were no closer to figuring out who had hired them. Douglas Tillman? Someone associated with the Tillman Oil Company? Diego Sanchez?
Someone else?
“Here, Nina, take the front.” He held the squad car door open for her. “Officer Ripon, would you mind putting the heat on for her?”
“Don’t mind at all.” Ripon slid behind the wheel as he and Creed crawled into the back seat. The trip around the lake back to the rental house didn’t take long. There was a road that appeared to encircle the entire lake.
Which explained how the bad guys had gotten there so quickly. He was glad Creed had insisted on coming out to look for them, too.
Two squad cars were still in the driveway when Officer Ripon pulled in. They blocked the garage door, so getting the rental car out wouldn’t be happening anytime soon.
Jackson desperately wanted to get Nina far away from here, but the reality was that this place was probably safer than a motel with this many cops milling about.
Nina released the blanket as they headed inside. “Thanks for this.” She pushed it at Ripon.
“Anytime.” The officer’s expression was sympathetic.
“I’ll see if they have an ID on our perp yet.” Creed nodded to the side of the house where two officers were standing next to a figure lying on the ground.
“Good idea. We can use one of the laptops.” Jackson followed Nina inside, then stood in the front hallway, conscious of his clothes dripping water.
Nina’s were, too. He glanced at her. “Maybe we throw our wet clothes in the dryer. We can wrap up in sheets and blankets while waiting for them to dry.”
“I like that idea.” Her cheeks were slightly pink, but in this case, practicality won out over modesty.
She hurried down the hall to the master suite.
When she emerged a few minutes later, she was wrapped like a mummy.
He tagged along as she went to the laundry room, dumping her clothes in the washer.
“They’re too wet and a little smelly. May as well wash them. ”
He nodded and disappeared into the second bedroom to change. Following her lead, he wrapped himself in a toga and added his wet clothes to hers. He added detergent and then headed into the kitchen.
Nina was making coffee. Her hair was still damp, but she looked better. “Thank you for saving my life.”
“You did your part.” He had to stop himself from leaning in for a kiss. “I’m just glad I saw them approaching the property in time.”
“Creed shot one of them, huh?” Her brow furrowed. “That must be hard for you. As rangers, I mean.”
“It’s never something to take lightly.” He leaned against the counter. “We would much rather take the bad guys in alive. Impossible to interrogate a dead man.”
“Yeah.” She stared morosely at the dripping coffee. “I wish there was a way to convince my father I’m not a threat. I could care less about his oil company, or anything else for that matter.”
“That won’t work, Nina.” He kept his tone gentle. “Especially if he killed your mother. He’s facing life in prison if he pulled the trigger.”
She lifted a shoulder. “He’s not pulling the trigger now. He’s hired someone else to do his dirty work.”
“I know.” He refrained from pointing out that Douglas Tillman was rich and powerful now in a way he hadn’t been twenty-eight years ago. “We’ll figure out how to connect him to these attacks.”
Her expression held doubt, but the coffee had finished brewing, so she filled two mugs, handing him one. “Do you want me to find a new rental property?”
“Not yet.” He was leaning toward Creed’s suggestion to pay cash at a motel.
She leaned against the counter beside him. “That was my first canoe ride.”
A reluctant chuckle erupted from his chest. “Oh yeah? How did you like it?”
“It was okay until you dumped me over.” She eyed him over the rim of her mug. “That was mean.”
“I only did that to avoid getting shot.” He wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “I’m sorry you’ve been through so much since this started.”
To his surprise, she leaned her head against his chest. “I’m safe with you.”
He hugged her tight, pressing a kiss to her still wet hair. She lifted her head, then leaned in for a kiss.
He barely had time to enjoy it, when the door opened. “Jackson? We have an ID.”
Nina quickly pulled away, her cheeks going adorably pink. He reluctantly turned toward Creed. “Let’s have it.”
“Guy by the name of Kirk Fletcher.” Creed was staring down at his phone as he crossed over to join them. “Doesn’t ring a bell for me, though. What about you?”
“Nope.” Jackson eyed Nina. “What do you think?”
“I only found about ten of the Tillman Oil employees.” She frowned. “That’s not one of them.”
“Rats, that doesn’t help.” He tried not to sound as discouraged as he felt.
“His name popped in the system because he has a criminal record.” Creed lifted his gaze to his. “For possession of fentanyl with intent to sell.”
“Drugs?” He narrowed his gaze. “You think he’s connected to Diego Sanchez?”
Creed shrugged. “I suppose it’s possible that one of Tillman’s employees does a little drug dealing on the side, but if you ask me, it’s more likely our dead guy was sent by Sanchez.”
“That doesn’t make any sense,” Nina protested. “This can’t be about your drug kingpin. It must be connected to my biological father.”
“We’re keeping an open mind about that, remember?” But even as Jackson said the words, he was just as confused by the identity of their perp as Nina.
Was this about drugs or covering up a twenty-eight-year-old murder?
They needed more to go on, and fast. Before Sanchez’s criminal trial kicked off on Monday.