Page 58 of Some Cowgirls are Worth Protecting

Hudson straightened. “That’s great. When does he usually come by?”

The bartender shrugged. “It’s not a set time or day. He comes in a couple times a week. But a few weeks ago, he didn’t come in at all for a week or two. I don’t know how any of that is going to help you.”

His eyes swept across the bar to a stack of napkins. He pulled one from the pile and placed it in front of him. “Do you have a pen?”

She didn’t move right away.

“Something to write with?” Hudson held out his hand.

She jumped into action and handed him a pen.

“I’m going to write my number on this napkin. If you can give me a call when he shows up, I’ll make it worth your while.” He pushed the napkin across the counter. “Please. It’s a very serious matter.”

The woman stared at the napkin. There was a good chance she wouldn’t do any such thing. All he could do was hope.

Hudson stood outside of the bar. Four days later and he’d finally gotten the call. He wasn’t sure what awaited him inside. The bartender might have even told the guy that Hudson was looking for him.

He pushed into the darkened bar and let his eyes adjust. The man was alone. That was a sign in his favor. Hudson approached slowly. The bartender caught his eye and then looked away. He’d have to make sure to give her a big tip for her help.

The man sat stooped with a whiskey in one hand and the other pinching a cigarette that had met its end. He glanced at Hudson, faint recognition flickering in his hazy focus. He put out the cigarette in a nearby ashtray and scowled at Hudson. “What are you looking at?”

Hudson lifted a brow, then pulled out his phone. He snapped a shot of the guy, which only angered him further. The man released a string of obscenities and lunged for the phone but only succeeded in losing his balance and falling off his stool.

When he got to his feet, he stared Hudson down with a venomous stare. “You’re going to delete that.”

Hudson ignored him, instead grabbing a baggie from his pocket. He put his hand inside it and grabbed the cigarette before turning the bag inside out.

The man’s eyes darted to his movements, and that was when the realization hit that Hudson wasn’t just anyone. “What do you want?”

Hudson scowled right back. “You know the problem with this nasty habit? You leave a trail of breadcrumbs so anyone can track where you’ve been.”

He frowned but didn’t immediately respond.

Lifting the baggie to examine it, Hudson let the man focus on it before he spoke again. “There was a break-in at a ranch in the next town over. Then a creek mysteriously dried up. And wouldn’t you know it, a fire. All at the same location.”

There it was. The fear in the man’s face appeared, but it only mildly affected Hudson’s mood.

“How easy do you think it will be with a little bit of money and a lot of influence… for a woman scorned to get the DNA tested and matched to the butts found at those crime scenes?”

His brows shot up and he paled visibly. “I don’t… I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he stammered.

“I think you do.” Hudson folded up the baggie and put it in his pocket. “I think this could go all the way to the federal government. What do you think?”

The man’s eyes darted back and forth, and he wet his lips nervously. “I might have some information.”

“I thought you might.”

“But I want immunity.”

Hudson shook his head. “I’m not law enforcement. I don’t have that kind of power. If I were you, I’d think real hard about what your next moves are going to be.”

28

Rachel

Rachel put her head in her hands. Her eyes burned from staring at the computer screen for so long. She rubbed at her temples. Everything she’d searched for when it came to the company that had wanted the property came up normal, nothing suspicious.

What was worse was that the company was involved in charities. There was no way she’d be able to accuse them of sabotaging her project when they were known for doing so much for communities all over the country.

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