Page 45 of Final Inning

“I’m calling Dani. Keeping her on alert. She can have the Oklahoma Highway Patrol here, if you need it.”

“Probably not a bad idea, if you are that worried. But we both know I’m tough. I can take care of myself.”

“Sure you can. Everybody—keep in touch.”

Chapter 34

Knight was beyond pissed, but he wasn’t going to let Brockman and Lorcan see that. He used the drive toward Finley Creek to cool his temper down. To go over what it was that Lorcan was needing from him. Maybe the break from the Wycoff/Adams case would clear his head, anyway. They’d gone over every report and transcript of the interviews they had the night before.

The only thing that he, Ward, and Miranda fully agreed on—the killer was local, probably in his forties now, and strong enough to have taken out a man Kevin’s size. And that Johnson and his cronies had fumbled too much. They had several theories why, but nothing confirmed.

They weren’t much further along than they were when they’d first arrived. But Knight felt they had confirmed Hagan Lindhour’s theory: Kevin and Harper were killed by the same person. Miranda would be checking in with Dani by now. There had been a message from Dani to check their emails when they could.

Knight strongly suspected it was a Buckbert local. They just had to narrow it down.

Assuming roughly half of the population was female, and at least a third was either elderly or a child or physically incapable of this type of murder—they could be potentially dealing with a list of sixty-five to seventy-five males. They could work with that. Narrow it down to a list of those who met the profile. It would give them a working list.

Knight pulled into the next gas station, and sent Dani a text to get Miranda that list. If she didn’t already have that list in the works. That woman was sometimes quicker than Knight was.

He was going to get with those two asses in Texas, then get back to Buckbert. He did not like the idea of leaving Miranda alone in a town where her only backup weighed a hundred pounds soaking wet—or was Sheriff Ted Johnson.

No. Something just wasn’t sitting right.

He was halfway to his destination when Dani texted in. He hit the button on the wheel. “Yes, Dani. What do you have?”

“Where you at, boss man?”

“About to cross the damned state line into Texas. Why?”

“Got you a meeting that is probably more up your alley. I finally got ahold of Kevin Adams’ daughter Ramey. That girl does not stay in Oklahoma. She works for a charity that helps foster kids get into Ivy Leagues. She was in New York until yesterday. She’s waiting to meet one of us, as soon as we can get there. Since Ward is probably halfway to OKC and last I heard, Randi and her new best buddy Lindhour were going over that handy-dandy list of people living in Buckbert…you…are the most obvious choice. Ramey Adams lives right there in Finley Creek. I love the coincidence in that. Went to college at FCU, then after her mother was in assisted living until she passed—Ramey just stayed in Finley Creek.”

“I’m about an hour away now.”

“Perfect. She’s agreed to meet you at a diner called Mamaw’s Place in about seventy-five minutes.”

“At least this isn’t a wasted trip. Thanks, Dani.”

“Anytime. You want me to let Agent Lorcan know you may be a bit late?”

“Go right ahead. And Dani, one more thing—keep the OHP on alert, just in case. Down-low, if you can. Miranda may need assistance while I’m playing the puppet.”

“Will do my best.”

Chapter 35

Dani disconnected with Knight then texted Miranda to tell her mission accomplished. Miranda probably wouldn’t admit it, but she’d obviously been worried about Knight and him having to deal with his own personal boogiemen.

Those two…so cute together. Terrifying at times—they were both beyond brilliant, seriously take-charge, dynamic personalities—but the connection between them…yes. It was real.

Those two, so cute. Just so, so cute.

Michael came in. She listened to his demands again. Then told him to go stick his head in the toilet.

He hadn’t liked it; she’d seen the disgusting snarl on his face. But…Dr. Compton had come into the lab looking for his wife—they had a lunch date and were almost cooing at each other, he’d been out of town for two weeks—and Michael had taken off. He always did that when a male threat was too close.

Her phone buzzed. Dani answered quickly. She did not like having her people spread out as far as they were now. Yes, most times not a problem. But…Miranda was surrounded by law enforcement she and Knight had made it clear they just did not trust. That made Dani antsy.

“Talk to me.” It was Ian. Dani brought up the little map she used to track the members of the team. Knight was like he’d said, just over an hour away from Finley Creek now, accounting for the time it would take to get through Wichita Falls. Miranda was…back at her hotel. It was time for a late lunch.