Page 16 of Truth is the Ultimate Weapon

“Like he’d been dead for quite a while.” Coy completed the thought, finding that the same curiosity that had struck Kenzie seemed to overwhelm him as well.

“Yeah,” Cut spoke with a hint of bewilderment, uncertain of the direction the conversation was taking.

Coy shook his head in disbelief, “I thought so, too. That wasn’t a fresh kill.”

“What are you thinking? Third guy?” She asked.

“You’re reading my mind, Sheriff.”

“What? Like Nora interrupted something bigger?” Cut asked.

Coy nodded, “What if the plan that took her attacker out there was that there was only supposed to be one body, but ended with two?”

“Shit.” Rip said through the phone, “That would mean Nora was set up.”

“Perhaps.” Coy considered, “Or, a convenient way out and someone to throw under the bus.”

“So, what…” Kenzie began to piece the theory together, making it clearer for all who were listening: “Two people entered the property with the deceased, who we know as one of Nash’s buyers, to what… set Nash up initially? Send him a message about the missing plants?”

“Okay, extending on that theory here –– there was a disagreement or fight between the two men who brought in the body. Over… what?” Rip asked.

“What if only one was supposed to walk out of there all along,” Coy added. “He used the other man to get the body on the property and then planned to take him out too as soon as he didn’t need him anymore only, our friend who attacked Nora didn’t know he was being set up and used.”

“The killing was a cover-up,” Rip said. “The two dead men knew too much and served their purpose.”

Kenzie questioned the theory, aiming to fill in the gaps in their understanding of the suspected occurrence, “Okay, the story works, except for one part… Why attack Nora?”

“She was an unexpected convenience.” Rip shared. “Pin it all on her as a direct hit to the family. It’s clear you’re all targets, so why not her? The opportunity presented itself.”

“Perhaps he was disoriented and didn’t know who he was going after,” Coy said. “If he was already in bad shape before encountering her, anything is possible.”

Kenzie nodded in agreement. “All of these ideas are plausible. If there was a third party involved, what if Nora was a sacrifice to get back in that person’s good graces? Infiltrate and fracture the Stone family as a good deed.”

“Shit.” Coy pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head in frustration. His phone pinged, distracting him as he moved to read the message, completing his thought with a sigh. “This is a mess no matter how we spin it, and it just keeps getting worse.”

“What the hell is going on here?” Cut fumed, the theory they were discussing igniting a fury they had yet to witness from him. “This sounds like a damn movie –– a twisted one. This kind of shit never happens in Coyote Creek, much less to our family.”

“Until now.” Coy said, exasperated, sliding his phone aside, “Ransom and Dill, pack up. You’re getting out of here. I just got word that there’s been a threat to you, and you need to get the hell out of town. I’m sure your detail is being alerted and mobilizing to get you out of there as we speak. You’re in danger, Mr. President.”

6

“Ransom really doesn’t want to leave everyone,” Dillon said over the phone as Cut walked Coy and Kenzie to the elevator. “This isn’t a credible threat, I’m sure of it. It’s all part of whatever is going on around us. It’s to break up the family and separate us. We’re stronger in numbers, and this is to weaken the front.”

“I agree, and I appreciate that he offered to leave agents,” Coy shared, “But I don’t think it’ll help at this point. It’s just putting more people at risk. We can call for help and have them here in no time if needed. We may need to let our guard down a little to get the monsters to show their damn faces.”

“I hate to say it because it feels like we’re inviting danger, but I agree,” Kenzie said. “The agents are holding off the inevitable. We need to be proactive now, and as long as we’re ready for them, we can handle whatever comes our way.”

“I just hope it’s the right decision. Part of me wants to keep everyone on the ranch, but…”

“We’re going to be just as safe, if not safer, back in D.C.,” Dillon reminded.

“I’ll be here with Nora until they pull her out of her coma and she gets back on her feet.” Cut said, “So you’re a man down, but as soon as we’re home…”

“Don’t rush it, brother,” Coy said. “Just know that there are people here watching over you two and the baby, even if you don’t see them. Rip has it all arranged, and we’ll have eyes on you at all times. Your family is safe here, and of course, we have the kids taken care of at the ranch.”

“What if…” Dillon cut in over the phone, “What if we took the kids with us? Sure, they’re safe at the ranch for now, but this is becoming more and more dangerous as time goes by.”

“To D.C.?” Cut asked, “You want to take my kids to the White House?”

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