Page 47 of The Cowboy's Magic Touch

Geoff had just dumped his clothes when he’d heard the deputy and Annie approach. His first thought was Bella. Desperately hoping the muddy pile behind the rocks would be enough to keep her busy, he hurried across to the opposite side of the track and crouched down behind a group of trees. Mere seconds later the deputy and Annie appeared.

At first he was afraid to look, but he could hear every word, and it quickly became obvious the dog wasn’t with them. Breathing a sigh of relief, he finally peered around, only to see them step behind the rocks and find the clothes. But as the Deputy told Annie he wanted to take her back to the car, an inkling of an idea floated through Geoff’s head.

He waited until they were almost out of view, then followed. By the time they drew near to the edge of the forest, though his plan was extremely risky, and he’d have to play everything by ear, he decided it might be his last and only chance…at least for the foreseeable future.

As the deputy walked Annie to his car, Geoff moved from tree to tree, and was soon close enough to hear them talking.

“Why don’t I just walk back to the barn, it’s not far,” Annie said as he opened the back door of the squad car.

“We know Geoff Palmer has been here very recently, and it’s likely he’s still around. I have to go back in and secure the scene so I can’t go with you. God Forbid some animals come along and find those clothes. I suggest you wait in the car, lock the doors, and call Brody. He can come up and get you. Like you just said, it’s not far. I’m sure he’ll be here in no time.”

“You really think it’s necessary? It’s so open out here, and so is the walk down to the barn. He’d be crazy to expose himself like that. Geoff may be many things, but he’s not an idiot.”

“Ah, perhaps not, but from everything I’ve heard, he is a bit on the crazy side. Call it an abundance of caution. Call Brody, and when you see him, get out and meet up with him. We’re only talking about a few minutes.”

“Okay, okay. And thanks for being so protective.”

“Hey, you’re our shining star. I can’t let anything happen to you. Susie will never let me hear the end of it.”

“Oh, I see, so this is to keep you out of trouble,” Annie retorted with a laugh.

“Exactly!”

“Then I guess I have to go along with it. I’ll call Brody now,” she said, climbing into the car.

“Thank you. “I’ll lock the doors with my remote. To unlock them just press that red button on the door handle.”

“Will do.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

Brody had finished checking the documents and was placing the papers in the copier when his cell phone rang. Seeing Annie’s name he quickly accepted the call.

“Hey, baby. Is everything okay?”

“You won’t believe it. We found a bunch of muddy clothes behind those rocks and we’re sure they must be Geoff’s.”

“You’re kiddin’.”

“And I think he replaced them from your cupboard.”

“What makes you say that?”

“As I just told Frank, he can’t be running around naked and where else would he get them?”

“If you’re right he was here pokin’ around.”

“Exactly, there’s no other explanation.”

“But how the hell did he come in without bein’ seen? Dammit! I just realized something. When I first walked into my office I thought something was wrong but I couldn’t put my finger on it. It just hit me. The window is all the way open and I always leave it half closed.”

“Oh, my gosh.”

“Annie, where are you?”

“That’s the next thing. I’m locked in the deputy’s car. He’s gone back into the forest and he didn’t want me walking down to the barn by myself.”

“Hang tight. I’ll be right there.”

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