Page 27 of Lone Star Showdown

Despite being battered for years, Jason had been reluctant to speak out against his mother. Rachel had seen that plenty of times before. A child’s steadfast love for a parent, even when the parent was abusive as Marla was.

“I wish I could just take it all back,” Jason went on. He stopped at the window, his back to them now. “I wish I could make my mom alive again.”

Rachel stood to go closer to him. “I know,” she repeated. “Are you still seeing the counselor?”.

“No. He was saying the same old bullshit week after week. Not your fault, Jason. You were hurt, Jason. Blah blah blah.” His voice took on an angry tone. “Well, it was my fault. I’m the reason she got arrested, and if I could fix it, I would.”

She reached out to touch his arm and then stopped. “How would you fix it?” she asked.

The moment she heard the words, Rachel wanted to take them back. But more than that, she wanted to erase the thoughts that came with them. Was there enough venom here to spur Jason to commit murder as some warped way of avenging his mother?

No.

Maybe, Rachel had to concede. But she didn’t want that to be true.

“I would just fix it,” Jason said, his voice hoarse low. This time, the anger went up a notch. Not a fiery temper kind of anger. But a slow, dangerous burn.

“Will I be able to stay with you?” Jason asked. Again, his tone had changed, and Rachel hoped she was wrong and wasn’t hearing calculation. “I can’t go back to the foster home. The killer could go after them. Could go after Birdie.”

Rachel looked at Jericho to see if she could figure out his take on this. He seemed to be considering just what she was.

That they might be in the room with the killer.

She had no idea how Jason could have managed it, but the first murders had taken place in San Antonio. And Bodine could have been helping Jason, not Paulie or Manson.

“You can stay here for now,” Jericho said. “We can arrange to have some of your things brought over, and a bodyguard will be assigned to keep you safe.”

“And I can work it out with your school to do some online classes,” Rachel added.

Having him here was much better than at Jericho’s. Because if Jason was behind the murders, then Rachel didn’t want the teenager having easy access to them.

Or to anyone else on the list.

Marco glanced at both Jericho and her before he spoke up. “This house is loaded with security. Cameras to monitor anyone coming and going. No one is going to break in,” Marco assured Jason.

“I’d rather stay with Rachel.” Jason still didn’t turn around, and she wished she could see his expression, to see if he was giving any true emotions away.

“Not a good idea,” Jericho was quick to say. “A killer’s after Rachel, too, and it’s best if we don’t make it easy for him or her to get to both of you. Just stay here until we’re sure it’s safe.”

Jason finally turned, his gaze immediately spearing hers. Her chest tightened and her stomach knotted at the possibility that this boy could kill. But she saw nothing in his expression to indicate that either. She hoped that was because he was truly innocent, but heaven help her, she couldn’t be sure.

“You’ll come back and see me?” Jason asked her.

“Yes, when it’s safe.” That was the truth. It would only be safe when the killer was caught. So, if the killer was indeed Jason, that visit would take place with him behind bars.

“I’ll wait here with him until the bodyguard shows,” Marco said. “I’ve already requested one.

She figured Marco would be briefing the bodyguard that he could be pulling duty with a killer, but she supposed all the Maverick Ops’ operatives would be on guard for that sort of thing.

Jericho and she said their goodbyes to Marco and Jason but didn’t speak to each other until they were back in the van.

“Hell in a sonofabitching handbasket,” Jericho muttered.

Yes, that was her sentiment exactly. “I hope we’re wrong. I don’t want Jason to be the killer.”

Jericho made a sound of agreement and backed out of the garage. “Spike,” he called out. “Do a deep dive on Jason Cantrell. Give me the probability on him being a revenger killer.”

“I thought Spike was just for your house security,” Rachel muttered.

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