“Thanks. We’re just anxious to hear what he saw, and what he remembers, because until he wakes up, we have no idea why any of this happened,” Ash said.
Hoyt frowned. “I thought it was a robbery.”
“Nothing was taken. Not even the money from his wallet,” Gunner said. “He was just shot and left for dead.”
“Oh… I see,” Hoyt said. “Then I understand the urgency.”
It was frustrating that their dad’s condition hadn’tchanged, but they had to be satisfied with the fact that it hadn’t worsened. And today, they’d brought work with them to pass the time.
All three found a spot out of the way and opened their laptops.
Dylan immediately logged in and began checking messages, and sending answers to the questions Angie had sent.
Asher was on the phone, checking in with Sheriff Reddick.
“How’s Jacob? Has he regained consciousness yet?” Reddick asked.
“No, but his condition is holding, and his vitals are steady. I was wondering if the crime scene crew is finished at the bar?” Asher asked.
“They will be sometime today,” Reddick said. “A local tacked some plywood over the broken window on the door. They’ve been told to leave the keys with Pearl after they’ve locked up and left.”
“Do you have any inkling of who might have done this?” Asher asked.
“Not yet. We’re still running a search on how many white mustangs there are in Texas. We’re up into the thousands and the search is still running, and a large portion of them are listed as having been stolen, so I don’t think this is going to help until we get more information.”
“Damn it,” Asher muttered. “Look, I’m going to be honest with you. Gunner and I have taken a leave of absence from our jobs, and we’re going to be investigating from our end, too. We will gladly share info with you as we go along, because ultimately this is your case. But he’s our dad, and we are both cops. We can’t let this slide into someone else’s lap.”
“I don’t have a problem with any of that, and completely understand,” Reddick said. “And by the sametoken, if there’s anything we can help you with, just ask. Jacob is a friend. An old friend. And this pisses me off big-time.”
“Crossroads is a sitting duck for crime. It’s a wonder stuff like this doesn’t happen more often, since everybody knows there’s no local law enforcement in the town.”
“I completely agree, but Crossroads doesn’t have the finances to support that,” Reddick said.
“Yes, I know how it works,” Asher said. “So, to verify… We’ll be free to come and go from our home after today?”
“Yes. And I assume the bar will stay closed?” Reddick asked.
“For the time being, yes. That’s Dad’s baby. And when he’s better, he’ll make those decisions. Thanks again,” Asher said, then hung up and headed for the vending machine to get coffee.
Gunner had just sent a request to the FBI for access to the files from the armored car robbery. Of all the brothers, he’d known the least about what happened, and had the least interest in finding out how deeply involved their mother had been. He just didn’t want to know. But the shooting changed everything.
Having this happen on the heels of Pete Brandt’s death was more than coincidence, and even though it was now a cold case, they needed to know what info the Feds had accumulated.
Asher and Gunner had been the first to go into ICU together, and now this visit, Ash stayed behind while the other two went in. He was sitting at the far end of the waiting room, trying not to dwell on how pale and small his dad looked in that hospital bed, when he heard footsteps and looked up and saw Nora walking in, wearing jeans and boots, and a gray coat with a fur-lined hood. Her hair was wind-tossed and wild around her face. Her eyes still hadshadows under them, and he could see she’d already chewed off her lipstick. Something she’d always done when she was bothered.
He went to meet her, and got a kiss and a hug for the trip before he led her back to where they were sitting and helped her off with her coat. Ignoring the curious eyes of the other people in the room, he took her hands in his and rubbed them until they were warm.
“How’s Jacob? Any change?” she asked.
“Not yet, but he’s not any worse.”
She saw the fear in his eyes and knew how scared they must be. And then to her horror, tears welled.
Asher’s heart sank. “Nora… Sweetheart… Don’t cry.”
“Sorry. So sorry. My emotions are all over the place anyway. I’ve been crying my way through sorting stuff at Mom and Dad’s house, and then this happening to Jacob, and seeing you again and… It all feels surreal,” she said, and started digging in her purse for a tissue.
He reached for her hand. “No apologizing. You’ve had the weight of the world on your shoulders for years, and I didn’t even know it. It breaks my heart for you.”
