Dom froze in the act of picking up his fork. Then he dropped his hands into his lap. “Okay.”
“Dear Lord Jesus, we ask You to bless this food we are about to eat. We also ask You to keep Dominic safe in Your care. Amen.”
There was a long pause, before Dom echoed, “Amen.”
She smiled, glad he’d participated, then dug into her meal. Dom did the same. They ate in silence for several minutes. The pot roast was better than she remembered.
Or maybe it was just that she was unusually hungry.
“Do you always pray before meals?” Dom arched a brow. “Or was that for my benefit?”
“Sullivans always pray before meals.” She tipped her head to the side, regarding him thoughtfully. “But if you want the truth, the prayer was mostly for your benefit. I am worried that gunman will try to find you. We need the Lord’s protection as much as we need to understand what’s going on, before the gunman strikes again.”
He looked exasperated. “Like I said before, that’s my problem. Not yours.”
She shook her head. “We don’t turn our backs on people in need. Besides, your life being is in danger is no joke.” A sudden thought struck. “Do you think the nurse’s phone call explaining about the confession is the reason why you’ve become a target?”
“I considered that, but I’m not sure why it would. Again, I don’t know anything other than what she told me.” He scowled. “We can reach out to Helen again. I have her contact information, including her email. She caught me at work but then used my personal email to communicate after that. However, she told me that Stuart Ramsey didn’t identify the person who’d hired him. I guess the guy died before he had the chance.”
“Yeah, but maybe the guy who did hire him isn’t aware of that.” She turned that possibility over in her mind. “Maybe he thinks Helen told you his name. Did Helen also report the confession to the police?”
“She did, yes.” He sighed. “I think she called me first, though. Not sure why I was her priority, but she took the time to find me through my employer, Data Intelligence Services. I’m listed on their website as the manager, and I guess my contact information popped up when she searched on my name. She wanted me to know my father was murdered.”
Murdered. Not an accident, but murder. For six years, Kendra had believed the crash was intentional, and now she knew for sure. Her parents hadn’t been the target, but they’d been ruthlessly killed all the same.
“If Helen found you that easily, then there’s no reason the man who hired Stuart Ramsey couldn’t do the same.” She frowned again. “So why now? Why come after you all these years later?”
“I don’t know.” His brow furrowed. “Has to be because of the confession, right?”
“We’ll figure it out.” She forced a reassuring smile on her face. “Your computer skills should make this a piece of cake.”
He didn’t look convinced, but he didn’t argue either. When their server brought their bill, Dom grabbed it. “Dinner is on me. And I really think you need to head back to the ranch.”
She was tired of repeating herself, so she ignored him. She wasn’t leaving, no matter what. But she would have to call her brother Chase. She didn’t want him to worry.
She slid out of the booth, then snagged her pack. Smoky crawled out from beneath the table, stretched, and then stood at her side, looking up expectantly.
“I know, you probably need to get busy, huh?” She bent to stroke Smoky’s fluffy fur. “Soon.”
Smoky’s high curvy tail wagged back and forth in response.
Dominic left cash on the table, then followed her and Smoky outside. She paused near a snow-covered area and waved a hand. “Get busy.”
Her K9 didn’t need to be told twice. The Alaskan malamute trotted over to do her thing. Pulling a baggie out of her backpack, Kendra cleaned up after the dog, then tossed the waste in the trash.
“Good girl.” She turned toward Dominic. “Are you ready? We left my SUV across the street.”
“Yeah.” He scowled. “I really wish you’d go home.”
“Give it a rest, Dom. I’m a grown woman who can make my own decisions, thanks very much.” Swallowing her annoyance, she gave Smoky the hand signal to come.
The dog trotted beside her as they crossed the café parking lot, then waited for a break in the traffic. She took a moment to appreciate how the main street of Cody was fully decorated for Christmas. Tiny twinkling blue lights shimmered along the rooftops of buildings and wreaths with large red bows hung from each streetlight. The holiday was still three weeks away, but Kendra knew that normally she’d only spend time in downtown Cody if she was shopping for Christmas gifts for her growing family.
Instead, she was digging into a six-year-old murder.
They crossed the street and approached her vehicle. They were only a few feet away when Smoky began to growl. Kendra paused, glancing around in concern. Smoky was even-tempered, she rarely growled at strangers.
“What is it, girl?” She kept her voice low. “What’s gotten your attention?”
