Unhappy, she shrugged and made no comment.They went back inside the main office.
On her feet, Marge was just hanging up the phone.Her gaze shifted from Ben to Sarah.“Something’s happened,” she said.“In Montana.”
“What?”Ben drew up short, his hand automatically going to Sarah’s waist.
“Big Jim is your father, right, Sarah?”Marge’s brows were pinched tight.“He’s been calling both of your cell phones.No answer.I guess you left them in Ben’s office.That’s why he called here.”
“We did leave them in there,” Sarah said quickly.“What happened?”
“A dog has been killed, somebody’s Labrador pet.Its body was left at your ranch gates.Your dad, Jim, discovered it this afternoon.On the body was a note.Sarah ...it was about you.”
Chapter Twenty-One
His jaw set in stone, Ben turned on his heel and strode into his office.In short tense steps, Sarah followed.He picked up his cell phone and found two missed calls: one from Chief King, and the second from Big Jim.He returned the Chief’s call first.
“It was a black Lab,” King said, answering on the first ring.“From down the highway, a neighboring ranch hound.Slashed up pretty good.Neck sliced open.”
“The note,” Ben said tersely.“What’d it say?”
“Said he’s gonna cut Sarah’s throat like he did the dog.That she deserves to die.”There was a pause.“We’re doing all we can here.I’ve got roving patrols, and the townspeople are on the lookout for strangers.The note’s in the laboratory, and I ordered Forensic to scour the alleyway where Annie Smith was attacked.So far, we’ve got nothing.Hope you’ve stashed Sarah in a safe place.”
Ben glanced at her tight features.“I have.Just stay on it.”He hung up and faced her.“I’m glad you’re out of Montana.”
“The note threatened me, right?But who—whose dog?”Her eyebrows went up.
“King said it was a neighboring rancher’s pet, didn’t say who.A black lab.I didn’t get the animal’s name.”
“Oh, I feel awful.Somebody lost their pet because of me.”
He took her by the shoulders.“Not true.You had nothing to do with this.This crazy jerk has focused on you, and he’s the one causing havoc.Not you.Nobody blames you for this.”
“But if not for me, Annie Smith wouldn’t have been hurt.And Travis Butler wouldn’t have had his head split open.One of my neighbors wouldn’t have lost their pet.”With her lower teeth, she worried her upper lip.“Maybe I should never have moved back home.Maybe I should have stayed in New York.”
This had gone on long enough.Ben moved to his doorway.“Marge, I’m knocking off for the day.See you tomorrow.”Coming back to Sarah, he lifted her purse from the desk and pushed it into her arms.Then he grabbed his cell and keys and herded her to the exit.
Every female eye in the room followed her, concern on their faces.
