Page 20 of Romeo

Our other ranch hand moved away last month, leaving just Leon, the five of us, and Dad to run things.Which is doable, but with the search and rescue business too, things have been a bit stressful.

“I’m heading back to the hospital after I talk to him.I’m hoping Nova has warmed her up a bit so she’ll be more open.”

Dylan gets up and trades his weights out for heavier ones.“Is she immune to the Riley charm?”he asks with a grin.

“Let’s just say she’s not a fan.Honestly, I’m not too crazy about her either.”

Dylan lies back on the bench.“How fascinating.”

“Why is that fascinating?”

“I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who didn’t crack for you.You must be losing your edge.”

“That, or she’s just a bit more closed off than most.Either way, I’ll get it figured out.”I wipe the sweat from my forehead and grab my water.“You good, or do you need a spot?”

“I’m good.Thanks.”

“See you later.”I step out of the gym and into the bright sunlight overhead.It’s nearly the end of June, so summer is just starting to ramp up here in Texas.And by that, I mean it hasn’t quite broken a hundred degrees yet.

It’s been plenty hot since May.

My cell rings, so I raise it to check the readout.Fantastic.Guess we’re doing this sooner rather than later.“Mr.Landers, I was just about to call you.”

“Have you found her?”

“I told you that I would call with an update when I had one.”

“And you just said you were about to call me.Does that mean you found her?”

“It means I have an update.I know who killed your grandfather.”

He’s silent a moment.“You don’t think it was Jules?”

“I know it wasn’t.There were boot prints at the crime scene—I saw them in the photos—and I managed to find the identity of his killer.A man who, I believe, is still after your sister because she managed to get away.”

“She saw him?”

“That’s my guess.”

“Who is it?”

“Ian Fletcher.Does the name ring a bell?”

He’s quiet a moment.“No.Could be someone Jules knows.An addict who used to run in her circle.She didn’t have the highest quality of friends, and she’d been staying with our grandfather.”

Anger eats away at the good mood my workout put me in.For someone who claims to love his sister and want her back, he’s sure quick to throw her under the bus.“Is there any chance your grandfather was into something he shouldn’t have been?Something that could have brought this type of attention to the family?”

“Absolutely not.My grandfather was a great man.”

“I’m not trying to insult him,” I reply as I unlock the front door of my house and step inside.Romeo rushes forward and greets me.“But I need all of the facts, Mr.Landers, or my likelihood of success is not nearly as high as both of us want.”

“I hired you to find my sister.Not my grandfather’s killer.”

“Until two minutes ago, you thought that person was one and the same.”

He sighs into the phone.“I’ll look through our phone records and my grandfather’s emails.See if there’s any Ian Fletcher that pops.I can check Jules’s phone, too, since she left it behind.”

“Perfect.I’ll let you know if I have anything to share.”

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