Page 72 of Caught in the Crossfire

“Are you responsible for Todd’s injuries?” Gage stalked toward Mason.

Mason pushed Nicole further behind him. Seconds later, she found herself standing beside Dawn, looking at Mason’s and Linc’s backs. The two men stood side by side, providing a wall of protection.

As the tension ratcheted up, Nicole slid her phone from her pocket, ready to call 911 if things got out of hand. She eyed Mason and Linc again, noting their confidence, and returned her phone to her pocket. Todd was in no shape to take on anyone much less men trained in self-defense. Mason and Linc could handle Gage without difficulty.

“Should we call the police?” Dawn whispered to her.

Nicole shook her head. “Our men can handle this without breaking a sweat.” Hopefully without throwing punches.

“What good would it do me to harm Todd?” Mason’s voice was quiet.

“Payback for your prison term.”

“And end up behind bars again? No, thanks. My future plans don’t include another prison term.”

“A lot of men might believe the price of revenge was worth the cost.”

“I’m not one of them.” Mason folded his arms. “What about you?”

Surprise flickered on Gage’s face. “Me? What are you talking about?”

“I’m the reason Stacey and Allison are gone. No one would blame you for avenging your family. Are you responsible for what happened to me?”

The other man’s gaze swept over him. “Doesn’t look like you have injuries.”

“By the grace of God, I don’t. But someone wanted me out of commission or dead. Two night ago, a soft drink I left in my truck was doctored with ketamine.”

Understanding dawned in his eyes. “I wondered why the police questioned me regarding my whereabouts on the afternoon I arrived in town. I figured you sent them to harass me.”

“What did you tell them?” Linc asked.

“I was with Todd at the pharmacy to pick up his pain medicine. After that, we ate dinner in Cherry Hill at an Italian place highly recommended by the proprietress of the B & B.”

“Your story can be verified?”

A shrug. “I haven’t heard from the police again. They must have followed up.” Gage shifted his attention to Mason. “How do I know you’re telling the truth?”

“Same reason. The Otter Creek PD is thorough.”

“You live here now. You might have friends on the force. Who’s to say they aren’t covering for you.”

“If my alibi hadn’t held up, I’d be in jail. Yes, I have friends on the force. They’d hate to arrest me, but would anyway if they had proof I committed a crime.”

“Did you hire someone to poison Mason?” Linc cocked his head. “You have access to ketamine. You could have provided the drug to a free agent who doesn’t mind getting their hands dirty for the right price.”

He shook his head. “I could have, but I didn’t.”

“We only have your word for that.”

The vet lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “That’s not my problem. I don’t have to defend myself against something I didn’t do. By the way, I also don’t travel with veterinary medicine in my car. And, yes, the police searched the car and the room.”

“Why did you come to my work site today?” Mason asked.

Nicole’s eyes widened. That was a bold move on the other man’s part. Did he show up to cause Mason trouble with Brian, perhaps toss more accusations at him and convince the construction owner to kick Mason to the curb? If so, he was doomed to disappointment. Brian wouldn’t fire Mason without irrefutable proof of wrong doing.

“I wanted to see your face when you answered my questions about Todd’s injuries. You’re the only person he knows in town. No one else would have the motivation to hurt him.”

“How do you know it wasn’t a robbery gone bad?” Dawn asked.

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