“That could be either Zeller or Kingston since they’re about the same height,” Jack grumbled under his breath.
Yes. Or someone either of them could have hired to get the car. “What about the handyman Zeller mentioned?” she asked. “Bennie Darnell. Can you pull up an ID on him?”
Jack didn’t point out that it was a long shot. Even though it was. He just tapped into the DMV files and accessed the man’s photo and the details listed on his driver’s license.
This time, all three of them cursed.
Because Bennie, too, had a similar height and weight to Zeller and Kingston. Not only were they not able to rule anyone out, but now they’d added another potential person of interest.
“Bennie has a record,” Jack explained as he went through another database. “He was arrested for drug possession and driving under the influence ten years ago. He’s been clean ever since.”
Obviously, his record hadn’t stopped him from getting a job, and Caroline doubted he’d been hired without some kind of background check. Still, it wouldn’t hurt to do a deeper run on him. She was about to suggest that when Jack’s phone rang, and she saw Zeller’s name on the screen.
Eli must have seen it, too, because he muttered something about getting a cup of coffee, and he headed out of the office. Jack answered the call and put it on speaker.
“You wanted to talk to me?” Zeller snapped the moment he was on the line. He sounded annoyed, and Caroline bet his irritation would only increase after this chat.
Jack didn’t waste any time responding. “Who knew about your alias, Brad Smith?”
Now there was some hesitation. “Why?” Zeller demanded.
“Because someone using that name rented the car used in the attack against Caroline and me.”
She’d been right about the annoyance, but there was also some anger when Zeller belted out a string of profanities. “Someone’s trying to set me up.”
“Who knew that was your alias?” Jack pressed, speaking right over Zeller’s cursing.
“Hell, anybody with access to our computers,” Zeller spat out. “Anybody who came in contact with me when I was on an op and using that name.”
“Narrow it down,” Jack insisted. “Go through your case files and find someone who intersects with Caroline and me.”
“Believe me, I will. Because I didn’t have anything to do with that car or the attack. What about security cameras at the rental place?” Zeller quickly tacked on.
“I’m looking at it right now, and I can’t rule you out.”
“No, but you can sure as hell rule me out because I’m not a dirty marshal. Somebody’s setting me up,” Zeller repeated. “I want a copy of that surveillance feed. While you’re getting that to me, I’ll go through the files and get back to you.” And with that, Zeller ended the call.
Caroline hadn’t expected Zeller to just fess up to renting the car and then hiring someone to shoot at them. No. Even if he was as guilty as sin, Zeller wouldn’t cop to anything because he’d know there wasn’t any concrete evidence against him.
Not yet, anyway.
“I know the Ranger crime lab will try to enhance the security footage,” she said, “but I’d like to have a go at it, too. I might be able to match the jawline to Bennie, Kingston or Zeller.”
Jack didn’t refuse her help, but he did look her straight in the eyes. A look that likely told him that she was exhausted. She also had a dull, throbbing headache. There’d been no time for her to calm down after the shooting. No chance for her to regain her footing. And the kiss hadn’t helped with that. Maybe that was why Jack didn’t come to her. Instead, he crammed his hands in the pockets of his jeans.
“As soon as Kellan finishes up with Kingston, we should be able to leave for another safe house,” he said.
Her first response was relief. She could get some quiet time and try to level out her nerves. But another concern popped up immediately. For her to get to a safe house, she’d have to leave the sheriff’s office and go outside, where their attacker could be lying in wait for them. It was a risk. Then again, she couldn’t stay here amid all the badges that she wasn’t sure she could trust.
So this was the rock and the hard place.
“Where’s the safe house?” she asked.
Jack didn’t get a chance to answer her, though, because Eli stepped back into the doorway. “You’ve got a visitor,” Eli said, shifting his gaze to both Jack and her.
Instant alarm went through Caroline. Jack seemed to stiffen with attention. He immediately stepped in front of her.
“Who is it?” Jack pressed.
