“Gladen Farms is an ancillary member of the consortium.Barnes-Fleetwood wouldn’t have any say in who they hire for their operations,”Morgan explained.“It’s not like O’Malley Ranch or Miranda’s parents.They wereground-floor members.They all use the same legal staff and office staff.Theancillary members don’t, so I assume Jack doesn’t even know Jessica is atGladen Farms.I want to know if there’s been any trouble with Gladen.Oliviamentioned she had some ass to kick.I thought it was about business.I wonderif this isn’t some kind of revenge.”
Or a cover-up.He listened to Olivia and Garrett, even whenthey got caught up in work discussions.They’d been a bit obsessed with onething at work.His subs had been talking about Gladen Farms.The situationthere was what Garrett was worried about in a legal sense.It couldn’t be acoincidence.“Olivia’s been investigating Gladen Farms and their practices.She’s going to present it to her father and recommend they be removed from theconsortium.”
Morgan’s brows rose.“What did he do?”
“They aren’t following organic practice, and she thinks he’sbeen paying off the USDA inspector.”He probably shouldn’t have told her, buthe couldn’t risk it.“They haven’t moved yet because Garrett wants to make surethey have everything covered.It’s a political situation, according to him.”
“Well, it might be about corporate politics, but bribing anofficial is a crime.Shit.This is worse than I thought.Does Barnes know?”
He shook his head.“They want to get all their ducks in arow before they go to her father.It’s been kind of chaotic with the weddingand the redesign.I think she wants to make it as simple and easy on him aspossible.”
Morgan put down her basket and pulled out her cell phone.“Now I understand why someone would want to burn down the office.He thinks shewould keep the evidence there.Is he dumb enough to think she doesn’t have abackup?”She put the phone to her ear.“Yes, Tanya.I need to put a BOLO onJessica Fellows and a man named Martin Gladen.”She sighed.“Yes, I think theyare criminals.That is what the BOLO is for.I’m going to secure Olivia.No,it’s not because of her boyfriends.Stop with the gossip and get it done.Thisis serious.”
She glanced up at Keane.“I need to make some calls.Couldyou go and get her?I know it’s a public place, but I would rather we had eyeson her.”
Keane dropped his basket.Coffee would have to wait.Morganwas right.He needed to lay eyes on her.She was only a couple of aisles over,but he shouldn’t have allowed even that.“Yeah, I’ll get her and take her backto the ranch.You can meet us out there.Garrett’s been working with a privateinvestigator.She might have some information that would help your case.”
That was when he heard it.Such an odd sound, and muffled bythe Beach Boys blaring out of the speakers.A sizzle and then a thud.
He stopped, listening.What had happened?Why did he knowthat sound?
Morgan had gone pale.“That sounded like a stun gun.”Sheleft her basket behind, and she started jogging.“What aisle was she on?”
“Olivia,” he yelled over the music.
His heart started to race.Maybe they didn’t hear what hethought they had.Maybe it was a light fritzing out.Maybe it was something,anything but a stun gun hitting Olivia.
He ran up and down the aisles, pushing through when he hadto.Panic started to bubble up, threatening to take over.He searched thestore, looking for that wild mop of red hair.
He got to the back of the store and saw Morgan standingthere.She had her cell in her hand.
“Sheriff, we have a problem.Olivia Barnes-Fleetwood hasbeen taken,” she said.
Keane’s phone rang.He pulled it out, praying it was Olivia.It was Olivia calling to tell him she’d stepped out for a moment and waswaiting by the truck and then he would hug her and spank the hell out of her.Her backside would be red.He would never let her out of his sight again.
“Liv?”
“No, it’s me,” Garrett said.“Hey, you need to be careful.Ruby’s here and she thinks this is about way more than Scott Whittiker.”
Keane’s hands started to shake.
They were already out of time.
* * * *
Garrett felt his stomach drop as Keane spoke.
“They took her.”
Ruby sat up and grabbed her cell phone.
“What do you mean?”The words didn’t make sense.He’d seenthem an hour and a half ago.He’d kissed Olivia and teased her about not beinggone long.She promised him they were just going to the feed store and agrocery.She’d rolled her eyes about being escorted, but they weren’t lettingher walk around alone until they figured out what was going on.It was themiddle of the day.There wasn’t any real reason to worry because Keane was withher.
Keane’s voice came out on a tortured rumble.“I mean she’snot here.I left her alone for a couple of minutes to pick up some cream and Imet with Deputy Morgan and now she’s gone.We think they took her out theback.”
“Deputy Morgan?She’s gone?”His brain couldn’t process itright now.
Ruby had stood up and was pacing.He vaguely heard hertalking to someone she called Harlow.
