Page 25 of In Her Shadow

As they parked in the driveway, Ethan Holbrook emerged from the front door, his presence commanding even at this distance.His dark hair with touches of gray at the temples was neatly combed.His shirt, a crisp blue button-down, was rolled up to the elbows, revealing muscular and tanned forearms—a contrast to the softness of his attire.

“Morning, Sheriff Graves, Deputy Hawkins,” he called out, his voice smooth as he waved an arm in the direction of the Bates ranch.“I’ve heard sirens.Something happening over there I should know about?”

Jenna stepped out of the car and met his gaze squarely.She was careful to keep her face neutral.“Good morning, Mr.Holbrook,” she said.

“Good morning, Sheriff,” Holbrook replied.Pointing toward the neighboring ranch, he said, “I see there’s a lot of activity over there on the Bates property.What’s going on?”

“We’re afraid there’s bad news,” Jenna said.“Roger Bates was found dead this morning.”

Ethan straightened, the casual demeanor slipping momentarily to reveal a flicker of genuine surprise—or an expertly feigned one.“Roger?That’s unsettling news indeed.Was it some sort of accident?”

“No,” Jenna told him.“He was killed by an intruder on his property.”

“Killed?First Clyde Simmons, now Roger...You don’t think it’s the work of the same killer, do you?”

“We’re still piecing things together, Mr.Holbrook.It wouldn’t be prudent to speculate at this juncture,” she said.

Ethan just shook his head as if at a loss what to say.

“Speaking of piecing things together,” Jenna shifted the topic, “I noticed you weren’t at the town meeting last night.”

“Yes, about that,” he sighed.“I figured my...reputation around these parts might be more of a distraction than help.I’m aware I’m not exactly the town’s favorite son right now, but I’m hoping that will change.”His eyes met Jenna’s, an unspoken challenge there.“I have plans for Verdigris Ranch, and I believe in time people will see the benefits.”

Before Jenna could delve deeper, Ethan pre-empted her next line of inquiry with an ease that was almost disarming.“If you’re wondering where I was during the unfortunate times of Clyde’s and Roger’s deaths...”

He paused, glancing toward the horizon as if gathering his alibis from the very air itself.“I was down at the cattle auction in Colstock for the first, stayed in a motel overnight.For the second—well, I assume the murder must have been sometime after the town hall meeting.Late last night I had a long conversation with two of my ranch hands about making some repairs on the outer fences.My men can confirm that.”

There was no hesitation in his voice, no shiftiness in his eyes; he was either telling the truth or he was exceptionally good at lying.

“Roger Bates...”Ethan continued.“I can’t fathom who would want to harm the man.”

“Did you have an issue with Clyde Simmons?”Jenna asked.

“Clyde and I had a spat over my cattle.He thought a couple might be infected with TB.But there’s no way my stock could’ve contracted it.Still, I complied—had to put them down.A regrettable loss, but necessary, I suppose.”

Jenna pondered if Ethan’s nonchalance was a mask for something darker.Could his disagreement with Clyde have been motive enough for a man who seemed to prize control above all else?

“Wasn’t happy about it,” Ethan continued.“But Clyde was just doing his job.Bovine tuberculosis is no joke—it could spread to people, you know.”

“Of course,” Jenna replied evenly.As they conversed, her eyes roamed over Ethan’s stature—the set of his shoulders, the casual fold of his arms.There was an arrogance there, she noted, but it wasn’t necessarily the arrogance of guilt.It was the same confidence she had seen in countless successful individuals who believed they were untouchable.

When the conversation wound to a halt, Jake said, his tone deliberately light.“We were hoping you could show us some of what you’re doing here at Verdigris Ranch.”

“Of course,” Ethan replied, a hint of pride in his voice.He led them away from the main house toward a series of low-lying buildings with solar panels glistening on their roofs.

“Here’s one of our projects,” he said, “These are our energy-efficient cattle sheds.”

Jenna noted the sleek design, the way the structures seemed to merge with their surroundings rather than imposing upon them.She walked closer, inspecting a shed’s entrance, lined with an assortment of brushes—natural pest control, as Ethan explained, minimizing the need for chemical treatments.

“Over there,” Ethan stood in the doorway and pointed to a cluster of wind turbines in the distance, “we generate most of our own power.And we’re experimenting with hydroponics in that greenhouse.Trying to grow feed without soil erosion or excessive water use.”

Jake whistled softly, clearly impressed despite himself.Jenna took it all in—the ingenuity, the investment.It was hard not to admire the vision, but she reminded herself that a shiny surface could easily distract from rust beneath.

“Very innovative,” she acknowledged.“Not the kind of things you see on every ranch.”

“It’s the future,” Ethan said confidently.“The way I see it, we have to evolve if we’re going to survive.I’m talking about the whole species, not just folks around these parts.”

Jenna thought the man knew how to talk a good game, but whether it was all a facade for darker dealings remained to be seen.

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