Chapter 16
SIXTEEN
Annie watched as Preston led a handful of people out of the main lodge and into the icy rain.
They’d raided the kitchen for food and had taken a radio for communication, but no one had been willing to listen when she argued that separating the group would only make it easier for the killer to pick them off.
Tate came alongside her. “Preston always was stubborn. Once his mind is made up, there’s no changing it, no matter how foolhardy the decision.”
“And yet, people listen to him.” Preston had been the de facto leader of their group since fifth grade.
His natural athletic ability had made him popular, and his charmed life as the mayor’s son fed his ego.
Even as a kid, he’d commanded a room. Annie had always found his arrogance insufferable.
Tonight, she feared it would get someone killed.
“I should’ve done something to stop them. Said something—”
“You tried. More than once.” Tate’s tone left no room for debate. Then his expression softened. “None of this is your fault. Remember that.”
The tenderness in his voice called to her.
Annie longed to step into his arms, to rest her head against his cable-knit sweater and hear his heartbeat against her ear.
She was so tired. Haven Ranch was supposed to be her fresh start, an escape from the chaos and murder her previous career had exposed her to.
Having James taken from her—so suddenly and violently—had made it impossible to keep a professional distance from her cases.
She’d crossed to the other side of the crime tape, from investigator to grieving family member, and there was no going back.
But she hadn’t escaped. Murder had followed her here, yanking away her hard-won peace. Seeking comfort from Tate would only make things more complicated than they already were. They’d avoided talking about the kiss, and while Annie knew at some point it would come up, she wasn’t sure what to say.
It was a moment of insanity.
I know you apologized and all, but sorry, I don’t fully trust you.
It didn’t mean anything.
That last one wasn’t even true, not that Annie would dare admit that out loud. Because what if the kiss had meant nothing to him? She’d misread Tate Atwood once before, and it had cost her dearly. She didn’t know him. Not really.
Had she ever?
It was all so ridiculous considering the trouble they were facing.
Annie made herself focus. “The text message says he plans to make a move tonight. There’s safety in numbers.
We’ll get air mattresses and lay them out here in the lobby for everyone to sleep on.
It’s not ideal, but it’ll keep us together.
You and I can trade off making rounds to ensure the facility is secure.
The staff will stay at their residence, and Dwayne will keep an eye on them. ”
None of that would keep them safe if the killer was someone from within their circle.
The thought made her sick. She folded her arms tightly across her chest. “It’s impossible to keep an eye on everyone all the time, even if we all sleep here in the lobby.
” People would get up to use the bathroom or for a glass of water.
Someone might decide to sleep in their room instead of on the air mattress.
God, we really need Your help here. I’m doing my best, but it doesn’t feel like enough.
Not even close.
“Who is doing this, Tate?” Annie gripped her elbows.
Voices filtered from the dining room, where Brooke, ever ready with a distracting activity, had the group making their own personal pizzas for dinner.
Warmth rolled from the blaze in the double-sided fireplace, but Annie was chilled anyway.
“Seth’s death was an accident. Tragic, yes, but no one thought he would die.
Or wanted him to. Not even Kayla and Preston, as awful as their actions were that night, are to blame.
And to wait all these years…why now? And how could he have known the storm would trap us here?
” The weather report hadn’t predicted how bad it would get.
If it had, Annie would’ve canceled the reunion.
“Whoever is behind this has been planning it for a long time. Maybe years.” Tate frowned. “The reunion provided an opportunity, but he got lucky with the storm, and he’s using it to his advantage.” He faced her. “I need to question Caleb. He may be involved.”
“How do you figure that? Caleb was at the main lodge during the shooting at his cabin. He can’t be involved.”
He shot her a pointed look. “What if he was working with someone?”
Annie’s breath caught. “Two perpetrators?” She hadn’t even considered the idea. “Do you have any evidence to suggest that two people are working together?”
“Not yet, but Luke—one of my fellow rangers—mentioned it to me on the phone, and as Preston was dividing up the group, I saw Caleb watching everyone. He looked…pleased. It doesn’t sit easy with me.
” Tate tilted his head. “What do you know about Seth’s family?
His dad, for example. Do you know who he murdered or what the details of the crime were? ”
She shook her head. “No. Seth never talked about him. I didn’t even know about the prison part until Preston announced it at the bonfire.”
“What about other people in Seth’s family? Cousins? Siblings?”
“His mom passed away years ago.” She flipped through her memories, things she hadn’t thought about in two decades.
Something niggled at her. “He had an older brother…” Annie had never met him, but she vaguely remembered Seth talking about him.
“He was a lot older than Seth, like thirteen years older, I think. I’m not sure his brother ever came to visit the entire time Seth and his mom lived in Oakwood.
He was in the military, stationed overseas. ”
Tate stiffened. “The military? What branch?”
“I don’t remember. Evan may know. He and Seth were tight.
” She struggled to make sense of Tate’s logic.
“I could see how someone from Seth’s family might want revenge for his death, but there isn’t anyone related to him on the ranch.
And no one in their right mind would be staying outside in this storm. So how does this help us?”
“It’s hard, but not impossible to obtain a fake ID. Seth’s dad, or his brother, may have done so and then taken a job here. How do you contract for temporary workers? And who handles the background checks?”
She inhaled sharply. “We use an agency.” Annie fought against the notion that a killer could’ve slipped onto her ranch under false pretenses. “What you’re suggesting would take planning and research. A fake ID good enough to clear an agency screening isn’t something you buy on a street corner.”
“I agree, but people manage it. Separating us from the staff is a good move until we can get a handle on what we’re dealing with.”
Annie concurred. If there were two killers working together, keeping the groups apart could only help.
“I need to alert Dwayne to the possibility that someone on the staff may be involved, since he’s the one keeping them all safe.
” Her property manager would also tell her ASAP if someone was acting strangely.
“Probably wise, but keep the warning as general as you can to avoid tipping off the killer to our avenue of investigation. Speaking of Dwayne, I ran into him at the mess hall. Someone raided your pantry.”
“At the mess hall? There’s nothing of any interest in there except canned food and some beef jerky.”
“Is there any chance someone could be staying in one of the cabins on the property?”
The question gave her pause. “It’s not impossible, but Dwayne cleared them after the storm began and didn’t think any had been used.
There is the old barn on the west side, but the killer would have to hike a good fifteen minutes to get there from here.
Not easy, given the weather. And the barn has no electricity, so he wouldn’t be able to stay warm. ”
He made a noncommittal sound. “What about if he used a vehicle?”
“There’s a dirt path to the barn from the country road, but it gets washed out when it rains.
He’d need a UTV. But every time we’ve encountered him, he’s escaped on foot.
” Annie had serious doubts the killer was hiding out in the freezing barn.
As much as she hated to admit it, he was probably one of the reunion guests or an employee.
“It’s more likely a hungry staffer went in search of a snack.
I’ve never restricted food, but people can be funny about that kind of thing. They don’t want to look greedy.”
“That’s what Dwayne said.”
Annie could tell he wasn’t entirely convinced, but before she could press him on it, Tate sighed and shoved a hand through his hair. “I need to interview Caleb. I know he’s your friend, and things could get dicey, so I wouldn’t blame you for sitting out—”
“No way. I told you, this is my ranch, my responsibility.” Her tone came out more defensive than she’d intended.
Annie leveled her voice. “Caleb has spent his whole life being steamrolled by people with more power than him, and he won’t appreciate being questioned by a Texas Ranger.
You’re more likely to get something useful if I’m with you. Are you approaching him as a suspect?”
“A person of interest. I may be misreading the situation. Caleb could have valuable information about Kayla’s murder since she was found near his cabin.
But if I get a sense that I need to push him because he’s being evasive, I will.
I’m also going to ask him about the scholarship incident.
It’s possible motive.” Tate met her gaze with a knowing look. “Just so we’re clear.”
Honesty. Clear communication. It’s what she’d asked of him, and Tate was following through. Something loosened in Annie’s chest, close to relief. “Thanks for the warning. I’ll be sure to get out of the way when Caleb starts swinging.”
His dimple flashed. “We’re a team in this, Annie. That means you don’t get to abandon me to Caleb’s right hook.”
“You yelled at me for saving you at the cabin,” she teased. “Now you want me to defend you against Caleb. Make up your mind, Atwood.”
He laughed, the sound warm, and slung an arm around her shoulders, pulling her against his side. “There’s no one I’d rather have watching my back than you.”
The easy affection was something he’d done hundreds of times in high school.
All those familiar emotions—camaraderie, friendship, closeness—rushed back.
She wrapped an arm around his waist. “I have to admit, Tate, this partnership is unexpected. If you’d asked me two days ago to work together on anything with you—let alone a murder investigation—it would’ve been a hard no. And yet, here we are.”
He glanced down at her. “I’m grateful for the second chance. And I hope, in time, to prove your faith in me isn’t misguided.” Tate brushed a sweet kiss across her temple and then stepped back. “Come on. We have work to do.”
He started across the lobby. Cool air rushed in where his warmth had been. She missed the connection instantly. No matter what she did, Tate just kept sneaking past all her barriers. She’d heard the loaded emotion in his words: I hope, in time, to prove your faith in me isn’t misguided.
Whatever was going on between her and Tate, he felt it too. Possibility—something she hadn’t allowed herself to indulge in—rose within her. Could she trust him with her heart? Would she be able to give him an honest chance?
Annie wasn’t sure. There was so much hurt between them.
Yes, it’d happened a long time ago, but the humiliation she’d suffered from Tate’s actions had scarred her.
And while she might have forgiven him, she hadn’t forgotten.
Nor could she. She’d been bracing for the other shoe to drop since this began, searching for mistakes, waiting for him to disappoint her.
It wasn’t fair. But Annie didn’t know how to stop it.
Yet for the first time since Tate walked back into her life…she wanted to.