Page 36 of Outlaw Ridge: Hayes

Jemma’s first reaction wasOh, God, but then she remembered that Royce was a suspect. “You believe that actually happened?”

“I’m not sure,” Owen said after another pause. “But I’m having one of my crime scene guys take a look at the place to see if there are any inconsistencies. It’s a cabin on Outlaw Creek about ten miles outside of town. FYI, Reed’s checking, but with Cordelia missing, she has no known alibi. Duane doesn’t have one, either. Says he was asleep. And Brooks claims he was out looking for his mother.”

All of that could be true. Or not. It was possible that one of them or a henchman they’d hired had fired those shots.

“Anyway, I need Hayes and you to take Royce’s statement while I deal your father,” Owen added.

“My father?” she repeated on a rise of breath. That prompted her to start getting dressed, and Hayes turned away, no doubt to give her some privacy.

“Yeah, I need to question him about Cordelia’s disappearance,” Owen explained. “FYI, there’s still no sign of her, and Brooks is pressing for us to help. He’s called here a couple of times insisting someone has murdered her.”

“Maybe he did it,” Hayes grumbled.

“I’m checking that, too,” Owen said, not at all surprised with Hayes’ suggestion of Brooks’ guilt. “Duane’s coming in for an interview in an hour, so obviously we’ve got our hands full this morning.”

“Hayes and I will be downstairs in five minutes,” Jemma assured him, ending the call.

Hayes didn’t waste any time hurrying to his bedroom, and Jemma dressed as fast as she could, putting on a clean uniform. Fast though didn’t beat Hayes because by the time she raced out of the bathroom, he was already dressed and waiting for her in the hall outside her door. He was also scrolling throughsomething on his phone, a reminder that reports had likely come in while she’d been in the shower.

And kissing Hayes.

Yeah, her body wasn’t going to let her forget that anytime soon.

“Any important updates?” Jemma asked as they made their way toward the stairs.

“DNA confirmation on the body,” he said. “It’s definitely Hailey. Declan’s on the way to notify her next of kin. A cousin,” he clarified. “And Reed will start piecing together Hailey’s last movements before she disappeared.”

That would no doubt be harder to do with her parents out of the picture and the eighteen months of time that had passed. Still, they might get lucky.

Before Hayes and she made it downstairs, Jemma heard the activity going on. Lots of voices and conversations. Outside, there was also some hammering, which let her know that the security people were likely still installing equipment or else repairs were being done on the building from the gunshots.

When they reached the reception area, she immediately spotted her father, and he seemed to be waiting for her. He went straight to her and pulled her into his arms for a hug.

“How are you holding up?” he asked, whispering the question.

“I’m solid,” she lied, easing back to study his expression. As usual, he seemed to be solid, too, but she knew her father rarely looked otherwise.

“I’m about to have a formal chat with Owen Striker,” he let her know. “But I’ll tell you what I’ll tell him, that I have no idea where Cordelia is. Both her new phone and her purse are still in her office at the estate, but her car isn’t there. I didn’t see her leave,” he tacked on to that.

“Do you think she ran because she’s guilty of something?” Jemma came out and asked.

Her father shrugged. “Cordelia can be a private woman, so I don’t always know what’s on her mind.” He paused. “But I don’t think she tried to kill you, and I also don’t believe she killed you mother. If I believed either of those things, I wouldn’t be with her.” His eyes went dark. “And she would be punished,” he added.

Jemma sighed and was about to launch into her spiel about him not taking the law into his own hands, but Owen stepped out from the dining room. He had Royce with him.

A very pissed-off-looking Royce.

Every muscle in the man’s face was tight, and the agitation was coming off him in hot waves. In contrast, Owen looked completely unruffled despite his arm being in that sling. However, Royce’s expression shifted considerably when his attention landed on Jemma.

“This way,” Owen said, motioning for Hayes, her father, and her to follow him.

He led them to the office that had obviously been cleared of the inn’s stuff and had been turned into an interview room. The supply room next to it had been set up the same way.

“I’ll take this one,” Owen instructed, leading her father into the office. “You two can get Royce’s statement there.” He motioned toward the other room.

Royce was quick to go in, quick to sit down in one of the folding chairs that had been positioned on one side of the metal table. Hayes and she took the seats across from him.

“Have you arrested Duane?” Royce snapped. “Because I’m certain he’s the one who tried to kill me.”

---