Page 94 of Deputy Brand Gets Her Man
Willow stayed until the last bit of paperwork was done. Stu Barker was in a cell in the back. He was the only prisoner in the place. The judge had released his brothers on their own recognizance. They could be charged for leaving the scene of an accident with injury. They should’ve called it in. And of course, for the smashed windows around town. But with their testimony against their brother, they could plead down to a misdemeanor, maybe serve a few months and move on.
Stu was bein’ charged for attempted murder.
Richard Montrose had escaped the custody of the Texas Rangers and was currently on the lam. When they caught him, he would be charged with attempted murder, soliciting a murder, conspiracy, filing false police reports, and an ever-growing stack of fraud counts. His lover would be happy to testify against him to save her own backside. And they had him dead to rights on every bit of it. Turned out he’d lost his job with a high paying law firm when they caught him over-billing and stealing from clients. His law license was suspended while the Texas Bar reviewed his case, and he had no income. That was when he’d decided to investigate his wife’s parentage, in case her unnamed father was someone with money. And he thought he’d hit the jackpot.
Montrose had figured if Jeremiah were sent back to prison, the judge would award the entire inheritance to Elena. And if he killed Elena, he’d get it all. That part of the plan still applied, even though she’d only been awarded half.
Nobody thought Elena was in danger. Richard would have nothing to gain by her death now, but the poor woman was scared all the same.
Willow logged out of the computer and got up. Her muscles begged for mercy.
“I thought I told you to get home,” Uncle Garrett said.
“It was my bust. Mostly.”
Her uncle smiled, but there was something else in his eyes. She said, “What’s goin’ on with you, Uncle Garrett? I know there’s somethin’.”
“Well, I died and then I came back. And that’s…kind of big.”
“It kind of is. Are you okay?”
He actually considered his answer. “I think so.”
“You talkin’ to Aunt Chelsea about it?”
“Wouldn’t know what to say just yet. I’m…ponderin’ I guess.” He shook off the distant expression in his eyes and said, “You need to go home and go to bed, and stay there for at least three days. You hear?”
“I hear.”
“I do need a favor from you, but later, when you’re up to it.”
“Yeah?”
“Your mom was fixin’ to get out your baby cradle as a gift for Ethan and Lily’s baby. She never got it out for me before they left, and I was supposed to do some work on it before the shower. You think you could find it for me? I got no idea where, and that house is?—”
“I’m sure it’s in the attic,” she said. “No worries, I’ll take a peek.”
“When you’ve rested,” he said. He opened his arms, then, and she went in for the hug. “You did great, Willow. Your instincts are dead on. I’d just like you to take a little more care from now on. Wait for backup—it’s not a one-woman department. All right?”
“All right.”
“Now get on home.”
She got on home, leaning back against the door and closing her eyes once inside.
Poor Elena, to be so betrayed by someone she loved. It kind of put things into perspective. Still, Jeremiah had been furious, and even if he’d seemed rather over it, she wasn’t.
She lowered her head. There was no point thinking about it now. She was exhausted. Uncle Garrett was right. She needed to rest and recover. She hadn’t had time. She dragged herself into the shower, and fell into bed, and she didn’t wake until the scratching sounds interfered with her dreams.
She opened her eyes.
The scratching sounds came again, from the front door.
Okay, fine. She rolled and got out of bed, shocked when she saw the clock. She’d slept twelve straight hours.
Sitting up, she pulled on a bathrobe, walked barefoot to the front door, and pulled it open.
Beans stood in the doorway, smiling up at her. She bent to pet him—she didn’t have to bend far. He gave a happy woof and wiggled in joy. He had an envelope dangling from his collar. It had her name on it.
