Page 8 of Grave Consequences

“I’ve been properly warned. Beware protective elder brothers.”

“That’s good advice. They own a private security company.” She took another sip of water and set her glass down. “My brothers wreak havoc on my dating life.”

“I’ll bet bodyguard big brothers are a sufficient deterrent for most men.”

“Yes. They sure are.” A troubled look briefly crossed her features, and he wondered if he’d imagined it. She twirled one of her braids around her index finger. “It’s aggravating.”

“I would think it must be nice to have someone who cares about you enough to intimidate anyone who might be less than genuine.”

“I guess so.” She released her braid as the server set their burgers down. “That came out quickly. And it smells divine.”

It did indeed. “I’m starved.” Not just for food. For company. And hers was what he needed tonight, a pleasant combination of serious and sassy. He could get used to spending time with her.

Chapter Five

Dust danced in the sunbeams streaming in the enormous windows lining the spare room Cate currently occupied at her brother’s house. The moment had arrived to provide her boss with an update. Virginia Vaughn hated email and text. She preferred phone calls. Telephones were Cate’s nemesis. She needed to make calls for work, but experienced a touch of panic before each one. It wasn’t a mere dislike of using them. It was a fear. And every once in a while, it was debilitating enough that no amount of self-talk could make her dial it.

The same thing didn’t happen when she called her brothers, and receiving calls was slightly less traumatizing, but dialing the telephone could be paralyzing. Her fears might be irrational. She could accept that, but it didn’t make them go away. She did as much as possible through email or text, but on those rare occasions when she couldn’t, she needed to spend fifteen minutes psyching herself up.

She punched in the number and waited out the rings, forcing herself to remain on the line.

“Hello.”

“I have an update for you.” Cate shared what they’d found so far. “I’m hoping for some time to investigate the disappearance of the cubs.”

“That’s why we have Game Commission officers and DCNR rangers. It’s not your job to find them, Cate.”

“I know, but I think I can help. If the cubs are found, law-enforcement won’t be able to tend to them until they can be placed.”

“We don’t have much time left, Cate. Hibernation doesn’t last forever. We have to do our work now.”

“Please let me see this through.”

“You were aware when you accepted this position that there would be heartbreak, hon. This isn’t like books and movies where you get a happy ending every time. Saving the cubs may not be possible.”

“I understand that, but I think we should take a little more time. The DCNR ranger here has some leads. He’s trying to track down the cubs.”

“Two days, Cate. I’ll send your team ahead of you to Union County. It looks like we have a sow denned up near the Alvira Bunkers in State Game Lands 252. I have some cataloging the rest of your team can do until you arrive. Meet them there in two days.”

“I appreciate the extra time.”

Her boss harrumphed before disconnecting. Relief spread through her that she’d managed the telephone call without a full-fledged panic attack.

The deadline imposed by Virginia didn’t bode well for the cubs’ survival. If they could convince a game cop to get involved, there was a remote chance they’d find them in time. Certainly better than their odds if Malachi continued working the case alone. She earnestly prayed that it wasn’t too late for the cubs.

Becky drew in a deep breath and rubbed her shaky hands on her skirt. She could do this. The only way to make the change she hoped for come to pass was to eliminate Reece as an obstacle. And his own crimes would make it possible. Another deep breath and she pushed open the door to the park office.

It was him. This time she was certain. In her mind’s eye she saw him as a child chasing butterflies in the outfield instead of catching baseballs. The strawberry mark on his neck gave him away. Not as vibrant as before, but it remained.

“I want to report a crime.”

He raised an eyebrow. “What type of crime?”

Her gaze caught on a stuffed bear cub climbing a tree. Odd, she came here to discuss. Becky forced herself to turn away from the creature and instead stared at a park map pinned to a wall behind the desk. Inhaling the scent of burnt coffee, she folded her hands on top of the clutter-free counter to still them. “Selling wild bear cubs.”

He ushered her into a back office and gestured for her to take a seat at a desk covered in paperwork. “Please tell me what you know.”

“A man named Reece killed a bear and stole her three cubs.”

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