The sheriff sighed and then looked at the clock.“Well, Ishould head up to the hospital and check on our victim.She’ll be damn happy wehave the perpetrator in custody.And Mr.Pace, you should remember if I findevidence that you were involved, you won’t be his lawyer anymore.You’ll be hiscell mate.”
“I’ll take you to the interview room,” Deputy Morgan offeredflatly.“You can talk to him there.”
Garrett followed, a knot in his gut.“Have you heardanything about Olivia?”
“She’s awake,” Deputy Morgan said, not looking back.
He would pull out his phone and call her, but she didn’thave hers.“Has anyone put a trace on her cell phone?”
Deputy Morgan turned, one brow rising.“I know you thinkwe’re all hicks, but we do know how to put a trace on a cell phone.It was in atruck in the hospital parking lot.”
“What?”Garrett’s heart stuttered.“Does she have a guard?Is he back?Who’s watching her?”
She held up a hand.“Save it, Counselor.Honestly, it’s onlya matter of time before we bring you in.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means your friend was the last person to drive thattruck,” the deputy announced.
He was so confused.“You found her phone in the truck wewere driving?In Gabe’s truck?”
“Are you now stating that Gabriel Lodge had something to dowith this?Because from what I can tell you stole his car.”
“Olivia’s car is still in the shop.They’re waiting for hertires to come in.We took two cars to The Barn—Gigi’s SUV and Gabe’s truck.Ihad the keys to Gabe’s truck because Gigi wanted to have a couple ofmargaritas, and she never touches a steering wheel if she’s had a drink.Gabetold me he would drive her home and that Keane could take his if we wanted toleave early.”
“Smart girl.”Deputy Morgan frowned and seemed to come tosome kind of decision.“You need to understand that the rest of the force mightbe afraid of Jack Barnes and that’s why they’ll put everything they have intothis investigation, but I’ll do it because Olivia deserves it.I can’t believethis is happening to her again.”
“What?”He needed someone to think this through.“Whathappened to her?”
“A guy fucked her over trying to get her money,” DeputyMorgan said with a sigh and what seemed like deep sympathy.
She was a smart woman.She seemed to think more than therest of the deputies he met.“How does faking her kidnapping do anything butcause trouble for us?”
Her arms crossed over her chest.“You want her scared.Ishould have remembered that most accusations are confessions.Isn’t thisexactly what you claimed those other men were doing?”
“They have reasons that it might put them in betterpositions if Olivia is afraid.It puts me and Keane in a worse position.”
“Or she’s so scared she falls right into your arms.”
“She’s already in our arms, Deputy Morgan,” he pointed out.“All this did was bring her father into it long before we’re ready.Do youthink Jack won’t protect his daughter?”
“Maybe you didn’t realize that.”But he could see she wasthinking about it.
“I have worked at Barnes-Fleetwood for two years.I live ona ranch his son-in-law owns.Do you honestly believe I haven’t heard everystory?You can’t decide I’m some sort of master criminal but also stupid enoughto not understand the man who is my ultimate boss.”
“I never said you were a master criminal.This was actuallyquite…” She stopped.“It was a clusterfuck.Like why dump the phone but keepher purse?And that phone was sitting in the back of the truck.”
Now he had her.“Because whoever did this wanted what was onher phone.He realized he didn’t get everything he needed from the fire becauseOlivia took pictures.”
“All right,” the deputy allowed.“Let’s say I’m willing tolisten to another theory.I’m not the lead on this case and from what I cantell Jack is already here and he’s the one who pointed the finger at Keane.”
It made no sense.“He doesn’t even know Keane.”
“He knows Keane’s got a record.Assault and battery.”
He felt his fists clench but forced himself to relax.Hehated that Keane had to deal with this.“Did you read all the reports?Not justthe prosecution.Did you read the defense reports?”
“Mr.Pace, I haven’t had time to read anything.I only knowthat he spent three years at Huntsville,” Deputy Morgan replied.
