Page 42 of Ranger Bravery

“Have you seen what Emilia discovered?” Piper set her mug down and shifted through the paperwork to find the profiler’s report. “She also located two murders in the surrounding counties. The victims were female, blonde, and blue-eyed. Both were beaten and shot. The bodies were dumped in a wooded area and found years later.”

Jackson leaned against her desk. “So we’re dealing with a serial killer.”

“Definitely seems that way. My assault was ten years ago. These two murders happened after that, one five years later, one seven years later. Both women disappeared from a bar.”

“Like Gerdie.”

She nodded. “Grady followed up with the bartender at the Watering Hole, which is where Wally and Todd went on the afternoon Elena was murdered. He confirmed Wally was the one talking with Gerdie.” She twisted back and forth in her chair. “Wally’s former roommate—the one he had during his time in the military—also confirmed Wally learned how to build bombs from him. He must be the killer.”

“Not necessarily. The two brothers could be working together.”

“Todd’s an alcoholic. Does he have the brains and wherewithal to plan several murders?”

“Alcoholics can build up a tolerance. You’d be surprised how functional they can be.” Jackson frowned. “I don’t think we should ignore the possibility that Todd is behind all of this. Either way, I bet they’re hiding out together. We find one brother, we’ll find the other.”

Piper nodded in agreement. “So far, they’ve avoided detection. I can’t imagine where they’re hiding out. In some kind of cave?”

Jackson’s phone rang. His brows creased when he glanced at the screen. “It’s Shawn.”

He answered the call. Piper couldn’t hear what Shawn was saying, but judging from the look of surprise on Jackson’s face, it was unexpected. He tried to get Shawn to tell him something over the phone, but the man obviously refused.

She anxiously waited for Jackson to hang up and then said, “What happened?”

“He wants to meet in private at the nature preserve parking lot on the west side. Shawn claims to have information that will help the case.”

“Do you believe him?” Piper didn’t trust the Kingstons any farther than she could throw them. “After the way Paul acted in Marcus’s hospital room, I’m not convinced the Kingstons aren’t covering something up. It’s possible a serial killer targeted Elena randomly, but it certainly comes at a convenient time for Shawn. This could be a trap. You can’t go to that meeting alone.”

Jackson’s mouth quirked up. “I wasn’t planning on it.”

TWENTY-THREE

Jackson’s windshield wipers swished rhythmically. It was just after dusk, but the constant rain made the darkness press closer. The parking lot was empty. He’d rolled his window down just a smidge, and the scent of pine scented with rain swept in on the breeze. Shawn was late.

Piper sighed. “Do you think he changed his mind?”

Jackson shrugged. “We’ll give him a few minutes. This is a clandestine meeting. Maybe he had some trouble slipping away unnoticed.” He picked up his cell phone and pressed a button on the screen to activate the walkie-talkie app connecting him to his teammates hiding in the woods. “Any sign of a vehicle?”

“Negative.” Bennett growled. “Wish this rain would stop. I’ve spent half the day in the mud.”

“Well, it won’t end anytime soon,” Daniel interjected. “There’s another thunderstorm heading our way. It’s going to get worse before it gets better.”

Jackson grimaced. High winds and heavy downpours could be dangerous, especially for his teammates out in the woods who were exposed to the elements. “What’s the ETA on that storm?”

“Half an hour. We’ve got time, just not much of it.”

“Copy. We’ll give Shawn another five minutes. If he doesn’t show up by then, we’ll arrange for another meeting in a more controlled location.” Jackson hated to pull the plug, but he wouldn’t put his colleagues through unnecessary risk. Facing off with a potential killer in a deserted parking lot was bad enough. Doing it during a thunderstorm was a step too far. “Signal if you see movement.”

He clicked off the talk button on the app and set his phone back down in the cup holder. Piper cleared her throat and adjusted her weight on the seat. She was nervous, and Jackson suspected not all of her anxiety was about Shawn. He took her hand. “Now you’re doing it.”

“What?”

“Brooding.”

She laughed, the sound light and musical. Jackson realized how little she laughed. Piper was always so serious, as if the weight of the world rested on her shoulders. He wanted to help carry her burdens, whatever they were. Jackson threaded his fingers through hers and rubbed his thumb over the back of her hand. “It might help if you talk about it. We’ve got time.”

She glanced down at their joined hands and then met his gaze. “It’s about you and me.”

“I figured.”

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