“And then some,” Chase agreed. Not stopping until they were halfway across the great room, only then did he put her feet on the floor.
Trembling now that it was all over, her voice shook too, as she said, “When I needed my gun, it was in my purse.”
“It’s okay.” Chase patted her hip as he held her to him. “So that scalpel in Franco’s thigh is your handiwork?”
“Yes, I stabbed him to keep him from shooting Coop.”
“Damn fine job.”
“I mean, they’re all dead, Chase,” Jade said, looking up at him. “Ragsdale claimed Franco killed Mateo, Margo, and Greta before coming here to kill you.”
Chase stood her back as Cash and Bob, along with Richard and Blade, reached them. Looking her over, Chase said, “I hate that he hit you, Jade. If I’d been here a few seconds—”
Cutting him off, she said, “I’m fine. Are you okay?”
“I’m okay except for seeing your red cheek.”
“Chase fired the kill shot,” Martyman said from where he stood near Franco’s body, confirming what Jade suspected. “The Blackhawk bullet hit him square between the eyes.”
Looking up at Chase, Jade whispered, “I’m so sorry for all of this.”
“Don’t be,” Chase said. “The moment Franco realized you’d played him, you were dead.” Chase grimaced at that and shoved his gun into the back of his jeans. With his left arm around Jade’s shoulders, he looked at Richard and, holding out his right hand, said, “Thank you, Big Dog. But how in the hell did you know Franco was here?”
“Lester the Investor,” Richard replied as they shook hands. “He and Ragsdale were playing poker at Dump-it-Here when Ragsdale got a call. After Ragsdale took off, Lester rode his scooter over to Suzy’s to tell us Ragsdale and Franco were headed to your ranch. I called you, but it went to voicemail. We got here as fast as we could.”
“Has anybody seen Finn?” Katy cried out from across the room as Mean Pete cut through the duct tape around her wrists.
“Finn’s okay,” Coop called from the edge of the kitchen, where he stood with his arm around Finn’s shoulders.
“Mom!” Finn yelled as Mean Pete steadied Katy.
“Finn, stay back!” Katy cried.
Keeping Finn at a distance, Coop said, “Finn ran straight to my cabin and kept Crockett safe for me.”
“I did!” Finn said, nodding and looking toward his mother. “Coop told me, when we were playing checkers, about the crazy man after Jade.”
“With your help, we stopped him, Finn,” Coop said with a pat on the boy’s shoulder.
As Mean Pete escorted Katy away from the bodies, toward Finn and Coop, Katy looked at Jade and said too quietly for Finn to hear, “Franco wasbatshitcrazy.”
“I like this girl and her boy!” Mean Pete announced, beaming at Katy.
Keeping Jade within his embrace, Chase pulled his phone out of his pocket, scrolled, and hit a number. Jade pressed her head to his chest, the sound of his steady heartbeat helping soothe her rattled soul.
“Derek, this is Chase Cooper,” he said. “Franco’s dead.” Chase listened for a minute and replied, “Jade’s okay. No one else was hurt except for Ragsdale, who Franco shot and killed.” He listened again and chuckled. “Yup, they’re both inside my house. Pretty sure the back of Franco’s skull is gone. Witnesses? As many as the bullet holes in Franco’s body.” Chase paused and then said, “You might want to send CSPD to the Spatafore compound.” He briefly explained and ended with, “We’ll be here waiting for you.”
“If Derek’s on his way, should I send for Chloe?” Jade asked, managing a small joke.
“Hell no,” Chase said. “She’ll sidetrack Derek and we’ll never make it back to Cash’s barbecue.”
“Hang on!” Cash said. Pulling his phone out of his pocket, he glanced around, pointing and counting. “One call and the barbecue will be twice as big.”
“That’s the way we roll on the Triple C,” Coop said to a hail of hearty hurrahs from bikers and cowboys.
Coop had exchanged places with Katy and Mean Pete, who had taken Finn into the kitchen. Giving Jade a tug out of Chase’s arms, Coop embraced her and asked, “Could I repay you for saving my life by walking you down the aisle to my grandson?”
“Please, Coop,” Jade said, hugging him. “I was planning to ask you if you would.”
