“He thought he could use me as a bargaining chip to get to his son.”
“Where was Cain? I thought you two were staying out there together.”
She and Linc had talked about this. Linc didn’t trust the sheriff. No way was she telling Howler their plan to equip a Drake truck with surveillance gear.
“Linc went to Dallas on business. He heard about the storm and decided to drive back in case it got worse, which it did. I just thank God he showed up before it was too late.”
They talked for another twenty minutes, Howler asking the same questions in different ways, getting the same answers, since she was telling him the truth—at least about what had happened during the storm.
Then Howler asked her to leave while he interviewed Linc, who gave him the same story.
When the sheriff called her back into the study, Linc sat at the table with a scowl on his face.
“We’re done here,” the sheriff said to her. “Guess you might as well move back home since Archer won’t be givin’ you any more trouble.”
Howler’s attention swung back to Linc. “I know Ms. Drake filed for custody of the boy. Real convenient his dad showin’ up on your property like that, then a tree fallin’ on him, killin’ him dead.”
Linc’s jaw tightened. “I assure you, Sheriff, no matter how much money I have, I can’t command God to crash a tree down on someone I don’t happen to like.”
Howler just grunted. The heavyset sheriff picked up his paperwork. “A few more questions may come up. Be somewhere we can find you.” He ambled out of the study, and Carly felt a wave of relief.
“I’m glad that’s over,” she said.
Linc’s gaze remained on the study door the sheriff had just closed behind him. “Archer’s no longer a problem.” Linc’s attention returned to her. “Now we need to deal with El Jefe.”
Any relief Carly was feeling slipped away.
* * *
It was Saturday morning. Linc was packed and ready to leave for his trip with Carly into Dallas for the charity ball. Crews were at work on the ranch, cleaning up the mess left by the storm, rebuilding the roof of the barn. The good news was, the storm had caused enough mayhem that the protestors were too busy taking care of their own problems to hassle him.
And the truck, completely fitted with surveillance equipment, now sat once more in the Drake truck yard. Things were moving forward, but until they heard from El Jefe, or the Demons came up with his identity, there was nothing more he could do.
“It’ll be good to get away for a while,” Linc said. Carly walked beside him as he carried her overnight bag and hanging garment bag from the bedroom out to the living room. “We can relax a little once we’re there, get ready for tonight.”
“I guess so . . .” Pausing in the entry, Carly glanced around as if she might never see the house again, and alarms went off in his head.
“What are you thinking? We’re only going to be in Dallas one night. Are you nervous about the benefit?”
She shrugged. “Not really. It’s just . . . you’ll be different there. You won’t just be Linc. You’ll be Lincoln Cain.”
He set the luggage down and strode toward her, caught her shoulders in his hands. “I’ll be the same man you slept with last night. The same man you’ll be sleeping with in Dallas.” Bending his head, he very soundly kissed her. “The same man I am right now.”
She swallowed, seemed to collect herself. “You’re right. I’m being silly.” She glanced away. “Just so much going on, I guess.”
He wanted to shake her, make her understand it didn’t matter which man he was, she was still the woman he wanted. Instead his cell phone rang and he let her go.
Linc pulled the phone out of his pocket. “Cain.”
“FBI Agent Quinn Taggart. We need to talk, Cain. It’s important.” The formal tone of Quinn’s voice relayed the man’s irritation.
Linc should have phoned, as Taggart had expected, given him something, even if it wasn’t completely the truth. No choice now. “We’ll be in Dallas within the hour. Where would you like to meet?”
“Maybe you and Ms. Drake should come in to FBI headquarters. Maybe we’ll be able to communicate better there.”
Unease filtered through him. “You don’t really think that’s a good idea?”
“What I think is, we need to discuss your situation. We expected to hear from you. If you come in, maybe you’ll understand how serious this is.”
