“Stop sniveling, Ragsdale. He stole the most beautiful blonde in the world from me. I will take her back, and there’s nothing he can do about it.”
“He’ll kill you.”
* * *
“There’s Ragsdale,”Chase said and pointed to the laptop on his desk.
Now that he had some physical evidence on Franco, Chase had convinced Jade it was time to call the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, which had jurisdiction over the Triple C Ranch since it was outside of the Colorado Springs city limits. Deputy Sheriff Derek Brevard, a plainclothes cop, had been assigned to take a report. In Chase’s office, the deputy sheriff watched the laptop screen along with Jade and Bob as Chase showed a video of Ragsdale breaking into the garage, being caught by Reno and Faro, and the rest of the scene which had played out. Derek had taken possession of Franco Spatafore’s engraved scalpel, the .22 pistol, and the tracker. Bob had recounted firing Ragsdale from the ranch. Chase and Jade had both told of the kidnapping, Jade being held hostage, and the theft of her personal property.
Earlier, Jade told him she’d heard back from Katy, who had received her text. Like Chase had suspected, she’d found and removed the tracker on her car. Katy had verified her paycheck had been deposited and phoned in her resignation. Margo had hung up on her.
When the video ended, Derek said, “I can arrest Ragsdale for trespassing, breaking and entering, and attempted theft. I’ll check the weapons for fingerprints.” He frowned at the three plastic bags containing the .22, scalpel, and tracker. “Of course, if Franco’s prints show up, he’ll say the items were stolen. We’ll see if he’s smart enough to file a police report.”
Chase and Jade thanked him, as did Bob, who shook his hand and left. Chase walked Derek out of the office to the front door.
“Please keep me posted,” Chase said.
“Mr. Cooper—”
“Call me Chase. I think I’ve seen you at Southside Suzy’s.”
“I thought I recognized you, Chase,” he said with a nod. “I’ve certainly heard of the Triple C Ranch mainly because there’s never any trouble.”
“Until now.”
“Not your fault. Anyway, it’s nice to put your name with your face and ranch.” They spoke for a couple of minutes about their mutual friends, Richard, Suzy, and Vince. Then the detective told him, “If you’ve listened to the news lately, you know Mateo Spatafore is currently under investigation by the Colorado Springs Police Department. It’s public knowledge now that his criminal record extends back to New Jersey.”
“I found it online.” Chase didn’t mention the hypnosis Mateo had used on Jade, as he and Jade had decided not to do so unless necessary. “There’s a record on Franco Spatafore too.”
“I will run Franco through the NCIC, which is the National Crime Information Center, to see what I can find out.”
“My gut says Franco’s potentially more dangerous than Mateo.”
“Have Miss Taylor file for a restraining order.”
“We’ll get it done today.” Chase opened the door and walked him outside. When they were on the portico, he extended his hand to Derek. “Thanks again, Detective.”
“Derek,” he said, shaking Chase’s hand. “I’ll personally serve the restraining order on Franco Spatafore.”
* * *
“The temporary restrainingorder was converted to one for six months,” Jade told Chloe, Cash, Coop, and Rachel when they gathered just inside the doorway of the most famous and upscale steakhouse in Colorado Springs.
“Been expecting you,” the owner of the restaurant called to Chase, immediately walking to them from behind a long bar. “Right this way.” Per the owner, his establishment was famous because of his steaks, all of which came from the Triple C Ranch. Jade knew Chase had made the reservation with the owner, who was a friend as well as a customer. Passing booths of people in the front part of the restaurant, the proprietor personally seated them at a round table in a private area toward the back of his elegant eatery.
“Franco could have objected,” Chase added after a waiter had given them menus and poured water. “But he didn’t show.”
“That’s a good sign,” Coop said.
“Maybe,” Chase said as Cash nodded without conviction. “According to Detective Brevard, the restraining order is not only a good legal move, but it immediately shows them who the court is protecting.”
“Yes,” Jade agreed and attempted to apologize for the trouble she’d caused. The family wouldn’t hear of it. They had never held her responsible, only blaming the Spatafores. With a choke in her voice, she said, “Because of the Spatafores, this is the first time I’ve been out socially in Colorado Springs.” Jade looked at Chase and placed her hand on his thigh under the table. “I wouldn’t be here if not for you.” With a smile at Chase and then Chloe, who was on the other side of her, she followed the compassionate faces of Cash, Coop, and Rachel around the table and said, “I’m so grateful to all of you.”
“We love you, Jade,” Chloe said and hugged her as the others agreed.
“Tell us about this Detective Brevard,” Cash said.
Chase answered, “Derek Brevard has been a deputy sheriff with the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office for seven years. He earned his detective’s badge two years ago. He knows the good guys, bad guys, and all the angles.”
