Page 9 of Truth is the Ultimate Weapon

Coy’s brow furrowed, and he exchanged a look with Kenzie, “The town knows?”

“Not sure if you remember, Stone, but this here is a small town that does what small towns do… they talk. There’s talk about your stake out with the Sheriff –– and let’s be honest –– it wasn’t to find the kids who’ve been out cow tipping… or whatever bullshit story you gave. I also know your call on Ellis Steele wasn’t for shits and giggles. Then there’s the chopper that flies in and out, guessing that’s you, Stone, and your people. Let’s not forget the incident with Nora.”

“News does travel fast.” Coy shrugged.

“I don’t trust you, Coy.” Owen said, “Not with my daughter. Not when you have your own family and the Sheriff here as your priority.”

“I don’t trust you, Owen. You know a little too much about my business, and I can assure you, Charlotte is just as safe as anyone else on this ranch.”

“You found something, didn’t you,” Owen asked point blank.

“Such as?”

“I couldn’t guess, Stone. But whatever it is, it’s at the core of whatever bullshit you dragged here, and like I said, it has to do with Delilah Stone, doesn’t it?”

“What do you think you know about my mother?” Coy asked.

“More than you realize. She’s the reason you went to Ellis Steele, isn’t she? What did she do? What did she leave that sent you there?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Coy grinned. “But if you know something, especially about my mother, I suggest you start talking.”

“I’ll talk when you talk.” Owen was locked in Coy’s stare, unwilling to give in or give up.

“Then I guess we’re at an impasse.”

“Seems so,” Owen said. “We both have a lot on the line and despite not seeing… eye to eye, I’d like to offer help.”

“Oh really, in what way?” Coy asked.

“Let me help you protect this property. If I’m doing my math right, it’s the big fella with the tattoos over there who’s been working your perimeter and keeping things locked down.” Owen nodded to Rip. “I know this land, and I've already found some hotspots. I can help tighten them up.”

Coy stared at Owen, unsure how to respond, but kept his cool nonetheless and didn’t show his hand. “What’s in it for you?”

“I know my daughter is safe here.” Owen looked at Charlotte with a pleading look. “She’s all I got left. Let me help with that. Please.”

“Alright.” Coy said, tipping his head Rip’s way, “He doesn’t like what you got to say, and you’re out.”

“Fair enough. I have it all mapped out.” Owen said. “I’ll just leave it with you. And don’t be surprised if you see me at the head of the road that comes down this way or on the other side of your acreage just sitting. Watching. I won’t cross onto your property, but I will be watching. And if you decide you have something you’d like to share, I’m happy to sit down and share a cup of coffee and trade stories. You know where to find me.”

Owen turned and walked off without saying another word.

“The map?” Coy asked.

Owen looked over his shoulder back at them, “Ran’s men have it. You can get it from them. You know where to find me if you need me.”

“What’s his deal?” Nash asked.

Charlotte shook her head, “No idea, but he knows something… and he’s worried.”

3

“This is like finding a needle in a haystack.” Coy tossed a file folder full of papers on the coffee table in front of him. “What do you got?”

“Well, I have two piles.” Kenzie said, pushing a stack of files closer to Coy, “I took a break, sorted by year, county, and gender.”

Kenzie picked up another stack of files, tucked them away in a box, and pushed them aside. “We don’t need these since we are looking for a male missing person, and there’s a whole lot more missing females, so our pile just got smaller.”

“We’ve been at this for days, and we’re no closer now than we were before. The databases haven’t turned up anything either.” Coy went on. “We’ve covered, what, five years?”

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