Page 106 of Crosshairs

That’s where he’d seen the man. Not that Linc went there often, and in fact he didn’t go enough to even know the man’s name.

“But that’s not where I know him from.” Jonathan crossed his arms over his ample chest. “I’ve had him on my radar for a few years now. Pretty sure he supplies the dealers around here who sell marijuana and cocaine to the high school students.”

“Why hasn’t he been arrested?” Ainsley asked.

“Because he’s slick. And very careful who he sells to. Plus, his runners are loyal, won’t roll over on him.”

“If Ronald McClain was dealing drugs, is there any chance he sold Hannah Dyson the marijuana the night she died?”

Jonathan shook his head. “Only decent thing I can say about him—he didn’t deal to teenagers. But that’s not to say one of his dealers didn’t.”

Ainsley’s phone rang as they climbed the stairs back to the library. “It’s Gran.”

She silenced the call and then her fingers flew as she texted her grandmother. She tapped send and then looked up. “I told her everything was under control and that I’d see her in the morning.”

Her phone rang again, and she groaned.

“You might as well answer,” Linc said.

Ainsley shoved the phone into his hand. “You can do more with her than I can. I need to talk to Pete.”

Linc took the phone while she joined the chief. “Rose, this is Linc,” he said.

“What’s going on over there? Where’s Ainsley? Is she all right?”

“She’s talking to Pete Nelson.” He glanced toward where the paramedics were loading Sonny McClain onto a gurney. “We had an intruder. She’ll tell you all about it in the morning.”

“I hope you don’t think I can sleep until I know what’s going on,” she said, her voice snappish.

“I’ll pass the word along to her, but it may be a couple of hours before she’s free.”

She sighed. “Okay. I suppose I can nap until then,” she said, her tone softer. “And Linc, I’m sorry I was so short, but I’m worried about my granddaughter. I want to see for myself that she’s okay.”

He assured her it was no problem, and after a few more words, he disconnected and walked to the fireplace, where Ainsley was showing Pete the hidden staircase. “She’s waiting for a report,” he said and handed her phone back.

“I figured that.”

Even though she sounded stronger, she hadn’t regained her color. They both turned as Nate walked into the library.

The sheriff nodded to Pete Nelson. “Thanks for giving me a call on this. I’ve never been able to get enough on McClain to take to the district attorney, but maybe this will put him behind bars.”

Pete nodded his agreement. “The coffee shop was the perfect place to make connections.”

“Your sergeant mentioned the Blue Lantern, and it rang a bell,” Ainsley said. “I think Cora and Gran go there, but I’m sure they had no clue he was involved in drugs. That may have been where McClain learned about the diaries.”

“Then we’ll need to talk with Ms. Rose,” Pete said. “Maybe tomorrow. Wouldn’t want to disturb her tonight.”

“I doubt you’ll disturb her,” Ainsley said with a wry grin. “I’m sure she’s watching out the window.”

“What’s this diary you’re talking about?” Nate asked.

“And Sergeant Rogers mentioned something about you not thinking Miss Cora’s fall was an accident,” the chief said.

Linc exchanged a glance with Ainsley, and she nodded for him to take the lead. “We don’t actually know why he was here. Ainsley never believed Cora simply fell but that someone assaulted her. There were damp spots on the carpet around her desk the night it happened.”

“Why didn’t you report it?” Pete asked.

“We had no proof she’d been attacked,” Ainsley said. “Cora didn’t remember the details of why she fell, and by the time I got back to the house, the carpet was dry, and nothing seemed to be missing. But Cora kept rambling about two diaries she’d found dating back to the 1870s and asking me to keep them safe. I started looking for them. Found one in her wall safe, but I never found the other one.”

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