Sully rubbed his forehead and said, “I think he’s been relentless in trying to get you to go out with him again so that he could change your opinion of him.” Wrapping his right arm around her and the puppy, he said, “He hoped if he could winyou over, you wouldn’t suspect him of the crimes he committed against you and your mother.”
“But he’s made himself look worse instead of better.”
“Because he’s an entitled jerk used to getting his way,” Sully said bluntly. “When you refused to go to bed with him, he came to your apartment fully intending to take what he wanted. Your mother, hearing you scream, saved you.”
Charley shuddered. “I will always be grateful to her for that.”
“Vaughn didn’t have the safety in place on his gun the day I took it from him. I doubt he had it on that day at your duplex. He panicked and shot your mom during his escape.”
“Yes.” Charley nodded. “I scratched him when I tore the neck of his hoodie and saw his scorpion tattoo. The police have a record of his DNA, from under my fingernails, on file. I wonder if they have tested that DNA against the Cave Killer’s.”
“If Groves hasn’t done so already, you can bet he will,” Sully said with a hug. “Come on, let’s go to the Lodge. If Cash and Tracy are there, we can give them an update.”
Sully suggested they keep Charley’s car safe and out of sight by parking it in his garage. While she fed Wyatt, Sully moved her car. A few minutes later she and Wyatt went outside so the puppy could relieve himself. As they walked across the backyard toward the garage, Charley saw Sully talking on his cell phone. He smiled at her and motioned her toward him. As Wyatt played in the yard, Sully mouthed the wordDadand then hung up from the call.
“What’s the latest, Sully?”
“Groves hasn’t found Vaughn yet,” Sully replied, taking her hand and walking her back toward the house. “The cops put out an APB for him, meaning anall-points bulletin. They’ve let the Colorado Springs and Denver airports know not to let him on a plane.”
Back inside the house, Wyatt ran to his dog bed, as Charley smiled and said, “He’s going to be too big for that beagle-size bed before we know it.”
The sun had set, and the temperature was crisp so they put on jackets before going back out to Sully’s truck. He drove to Triple C Ranch-East, and they parked alongside other vehicles of folks there for dinner. They spotted Cash just coming out of the Lodge as they walked toward the entrance.
“Sully! Hey, buddy!” Cash said, coming forward and sticking out his hand. “So good to see you. Hi, Charley,” he added with a smile. “How’re you feeling, Sully?”
“Good. Supposedly I suffered a mild concussion, and I’ve got a bunch of stitches, but I have a great nurse.” With his hand going to his ribs, Sully grinned at Charley.
“My main job is trying to keep him quiet and resting,” Charley said. Thinking of Sully shooting out Rod’s tires, she rolled her eyes. “It’s not easy.”
“Yeah,” Cash said with a chuckle as they paused under the welcoming portico of Coopers’ Lodge. “Good luck with that.”
“How’s Tracy?” Charley asked, knowing her due date was about three weeks away.
“Sheisquiet and resting,” Cash echoed the last three words. “She won’t be back here to work here at the Lodge until sometime after the first of the year. She and Carly are spending some extra time together before the baby comes.”
“Please tell Tracy and Carly we said hello,” Charley said.
“I sure will. Anything new in Old Colorado City?” Cash asked.
Charley wasn’t sure how much to reveal since the information they had on Rod Vaughn was from Owen through his police contacts. So, she deferred to Sully with a glance.
“Off the record, Cash, the guy you briefly met at Triple C-South named Rod Vaughn, owns a gun that is somewhat uniquein that it has a firing issue. That gun’s bullet matches the bullet that killed Charley’s mother,” Sully told him.
“Damn!” Cash replied with a concerned glance at Charley. “Is Vaughn in custody?”
“He will be as soon as the cops can find him,” Sully said.
“They’ve also got his DNA on file,” Charley added. “I hope they catch him soon.”
“Me too,” Cash agreed. “Along with the gun, the DNA will be damning evidence.”
“That’s almost exactly what my dad said,” Sully told him.
The scorpion tattoo wasn’t mentioned, but Charley and Sully promised to keep Cash posted. In turn, he promised to let them know when Tracy went into labor. Either way, they were invited to Triple C Ranch-Central for Thanksgiving dinner. They were to bring Owen along, too, if he’d care to join them. As for this evening’s dinner, they bid Cash goodbye and continued into the Lodge. Sully waved at a couple of neighbors he knew. Charley didn’t know anyone, but then dining customers came from far and wide, as well as the Springs, to eat here. She and Sully both had the prime rib special, and it was delicious. Though she’d wanted to treat him, Sully wouldn’t hear of her paying, and he left a generous tip as well. Back in Sully’s truck, they returned to his ranch. There in the light of the front porch, Roy and Randy stood talking to Owen.
As they exited the truck, Owen called, “Hello.”
“Have they caught him yet?” Sully took Charley’s hand as they walked to the porch.
