And it was something Caroline could help them with.
He’d likely run into some protest from Kellan on that, but Jack understood that Caroline needed to be part of this. She should have a hand in helping eliminate the threat to both of them. Besides, Caroline would get through those files a lot faster than Kellan, he or the techs they could get to work on it.
Lily certainly didn’t thank Jack for rescheduling. As Zeller had done, she hightailed it out of there, leaving the anger still vibrating in the air.
“I’d better push on that warrant,” Kellan muttered, taking out his phone again. As he’d done with the other call, he stepped into the squad room.
“I’m okay,” Caroline told Jack before he could even ask. “Really,” she added when he gave her a flat look. She sighed and pushed her hair from her face. “I just want answers. I want the person who attacked us behind bars.”
“That’s my top priority,” he said, though that was one of those half-truths similar to the one he’d told Zeller.
Finding the person responsible and keeping Caroline safe and sane went hand in hand. But Jack knew that once that happened, it wouldn’t be the end of things. Caroline still had to recover from the ordeal that Eric had put her through. She’d need time to deal not only with that but also with her feelings for him. And she did have feelings. No doubts about that. But Jacksuspected that was the last thing she wanted to sort out right now.
“Sorry I dragged you in here,” Jack told her.
Caroline lifted her shoulder. “You didn’t get to do the interview, but we still learned some things. Both Lily and Zeller are scared. Maybe they’re that way only because of the damage something like this can do to their reputations, but they’re scared.”
Oh, yeah. And Jack liked that because it could perhaps cause them to make a mistake. It could also make them dangerous. If one of them had indeed run the sex-trafficking ring and murdered Nicola, then there was nothing they’d hesitate to do to cover their tracks.
Because getting caught could lead to the death penalty.
“If Lily tries to delete or hide computer files, we can arrest her,” Jack explained. “Ditto if Zeller tries to cover up the unreported contact he had with Nicola.”
Of course, neither of those things would be a direct link to the attack, but it could open a door or two. Right now, Jack would settle for a sliver of an opening.
He was about to suggest that Caroline and he go back to his place to work, but before he could say anything, his phone rang. Jack frowned when Unknown Caller popped up on the screen.
Hell, what now?
He hit the answer button, and while hoping that whatever he was about to hear didn’t give them another dose of bad news, he put the call on Speaker. “Marshal Jack Slater,” he answered.
Jack didn’t care much for the long silence that followed, but he finally heard a woman’s voice. “Marshal, you’ve been trying to get in touch with me. I’m Grace Wainwright. I understand you have some questions for me.”
Well, he certainly hadn’t expected Kingston’s friend, and the former resident of New Beginnings, to return his call. Jack had figured he’d have to track her down.
“Yes, I have questions,” he verified. “What can you tell me about an attack that took place yesterday near Longview Ridge?”
Since it was a direct question, he thought maybe she would dodge it. She didn’t. “Unfortunately, I know more about it than I should.” Grace sighed, and it sounded both heavy and weary. “Marshal Slater, there are some things you need to know about Caroline Moser.”
Chapter Ten
Caroline couldn’t stop the new round of fear and worry that slammed through her when she heard what Grace Wainwright had just said.
There are some things you need to know about Caroline Moser.
She didn’t think she had blank spots left in her memory, but it was possible she did. Also possible that this woman was about to give her news that she wouldn’t want to hear. Wouldn’t want Jack to hear, either. Still, that didn’t stop Caroline from moving closer to the phone so that she wouldn’t miss a word.
“Where are you?” Jack asked Grace.
It was one of those square-filler questions that lawmen needed to ask. A face-to-face interview was better than one on the phone, and there was the troubling problem of Grace’s safety. If she was involved in this—whateverthiswas—then she could be in danger.
“Sorry, but I’d rather keep my location to myself,” Grace answered. She didn’t sound angry or resentful. In fact, her voice was surprisingly calm.
“That might not be smart,” Jack countered. “I could help you.”
“Thanks, but I’ll manage. I don’t exactly trust lawmen and cops.”
Caroline couldn’t muster up a nod of agreement when Jack shot her a glance.
