Page 25 of Ranger Bravery

Piper’s heart sped up. “Mrs. Wainwright, I need to take Elena’s tablet, along with the other personal items she left you.”

“Of course, dear. Let me get them.”

She shuffled off to the back room and then quickly returned with a jewelry box, a stack of bills, and a tablet. The wail of sirens showed backup had arrived, along with the fire department.

Piper lifted the device. It was charged. The screen glowed, the background a lovely Texas sunset, but in order to unlock it, she needed Elena’s fingerprint or a passcode.

She winced. Most devices with biometric fingerprint locks required electrical conduction, meaning the reader sensed the faint electrical charge running through a person’s skin. Elena’s tablet was one of them. Once she died, it was impossible to open the tablet with her fingerprint.

Piper blew out a breath and glanced at Winnie. It was a long shot, but she had to ask. “I don’t suppose you know the passcode.”

The old woman’s face broke into a soft smile. “Actually, I do.”

FOURTEEN

Hours later, Jackson sipped water while waiting for the task force meeting to start. He’d taken a shower to wash off the smoke smell and changed his clothes, but his body ached from being thrown during the explosion at Elena’s house. Thankfully, no one was seriously injured by the blast. Including Piper.

She sat in the chair next to him at the conference room table. Her hair was pulled back into a tight ponytail that accented her high cheekbones and the long column of her throat. A faint scratch marred her ear and her complexion was pale. Like him, she’d showered and changed her clothes. Jackson’s insides clenched as he imagined how close they’d come to dying. A few seconds more and neither of them would be sitting at this table now.

Thank you, God, for protecting us.

It was the second time in two days Piper had been in mortal danger. First the shooting and then the bombing. Jackson didn’t believe either was a coincidence. He couldn’t prove it yet, but he trusted his own instincts. Whoever was behind this would try again. And again. Until the job was done.

Jackson wouldn’t let them succeed. Piper didn’t know it yet, but he was staying glued to her side until this case was solved. His mouth quirked as he thought about their argument last night. She’d fight him on the protection detail. Independent, strong-willed, and challenging. But there was a sweetness to her as well. A vulnerability that she rarely showed. The combination drew him in, made him want to be closer to her. It always had.

She shuffled some papers and then glanced over, catching him looking at her. “You okay?”

Embarrassment heated his cheeks. He’d been staring like a love-sick schoolboy. “I’m fine.” Jackson took a swig of water, letting the cool liquid soothe his smoke-damaged throat. “How’s your shoulder?”

The corner of her mouth lifted. “It hurts, but don’t tell Derek that, or he’ll put me on desk duty.”

“Ugh. There’s nothing worse than piles of paperwork.” Ranger Daniel Perez pulled out a chair. Jackson’s colleague tossed his white cowboy hat on the table before running a hand through his salt-and-pepper hair. Pushing fifty and divorced, Daniel was dedicated to his job. No kids. No hobbies. He did have a very large and loud extended family, but they were incredibly supportive of his career and never complained when he had to cancel last minute or change plans.

Daniel grinned. “I’m saving my extra paperwork for Cole. He comes off medical leave next week but won’t be ready for full duty for another month.”

“That’s cruel.” Jackson grinned back at his friend. “Especially since I’m doing the same.”

Daniel laughed, drawing the attention of Ranger Felicity Capshaw. The dark-haired beauty was petite with dainty features, but she was tough enough to flip a suspect over and make him cry for his mama if necessary. Her strength was only superseded by her brains, and Jackson was glad to have her on the task force.

Felicity propped her hands on her hips. “You two have to get in line. I helped Cole rescue Olivia from the stalker, so I get dibs on his help.”

“Hold on there.” Jackson arched his brows. “I worked that case too. You can’t cut ahead of me in line.”

“Sure I can.” She waved a hand over the piles of paperwork covering the conference room table. “Unless you’d like to spend the next few days interviewing Elena’s friends and sifting through her phone records. I’m happy to sit back with my feet up and eat a breakfast burrito.” She shrugged, her lips curving up into a smile. “Your choice.”

Piper leaned over. “Back off, Barker. She’s got you cornered.”

Jackson raised his hands in the classic sign of surrender. “I concede. You get dibs on Cole.”

The entire group laughed. A moment later, the conference room door opened, and the sheriff strolled in followed by Jackson’s boss, Lieutenant Vikki Rodriguez. The next few minutes were spent getting everyone settled with snacks and beverages.

“Okay, let’s get started, people.” Derek settled in his chair, then tilted his head one way and then the other, as if his neck was stiff. His dark hair was damp from a recent shower, his uniform clean and pressed, but his expression was grumpy. Jackson could hardly blame him. Within a few days, the town had a murder, a shooting at the sheriff’s department, and a bombing in a neighborhood. The media scrutiny was intense. “What did Elena’s tablet tell us?”

“She was having an affair with Shawn Kingston.” Piper passed around packets she’d prepared for the task meeting. “Text messages, phone calls, and photographs all confirm the relationship. It started a year ago, and according to the messages, ended two weeks before her death.”

“Who ended it?” Jackson asked, flipping through the pages. Dozens of texts and phone calls happened between Shawn and Elena. They were flirty but also sometimes intimate. The relationship wasn’t a mere fling.

“Elena did. Based on her messages, she was done being a mistress. Shawn was unwilling to end his marriage. That left Elena with no choice.”

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