Page 45 of Fatal Witness

She shook her head. Dani knew the sheriff when she saw him, but that was it. Mark googled the Dalton County Sheriff’s Office and used Dani’s phone to call the number. When a dispatcher answered, he asked for Crider. Seconds later the sheriff came on the line.

“Good to know you’re for real,” Mark said. “Nowadays you can’t be too sure.”

“I totally understand. Is Miss Collins—”

“I’m here, on speaker,” Dani said. “Why did you call?”

Sheriff Crider cleared his throat. “I don’t know how to say this other than your uncle, Keith Collins, was shot sometime during the night, and I’m afraid he didn’t make it.”

Her stomach dropped to her knees. “Are ... you saying my uncle is dead?”

“I’m afraid so.”

Dani raised her hand to her throat, her peripheral vision narrowing as an icy sensation spread across her face. She swayed, and Mark swept her up in his arms.

“Hold on, Sheriff,” he said. “I need to find a place for her to sit down.” He carried her to a nearby bench and settled her there. “You okay?”

She tried to speak, but all she could do was shake her head.Keith is dead?

“Will you be all right long enough for me to get you a cup of water?”

Dani barely nodded. Mark grabbed the phone from her and dashed to the cafeteria, returning a minute later with water. It helped. She nodded toward the phone. “Do you mind?”

“Not at all. Do you want me to leave it on speaker?”

No.“Yes.” Dani rested her head in her hand and listened as the sheriff gave Mark the details. Evidently the house alarm system had triggered a call to the sheriff’s office around eleven last night,and when the deputy got there to check it out, he found Keith dead on the den floor.

“The state is sending a CSI team to process the scene since I only have three deputies,” the sheriff continued. “I need Miss Collins to return to Clifton as soon as possible—she’s the only person who would know what’s missing, if anything, from the house.”

“How soon?” Dani spoke up, her voice breaking.

“Tomorrow, if possible.”

“Tomorrow?” she repeated. “I’m not sure—”

“Miss Collins, I’m sure you want your uncle’s killer found ... there are so many ways to take an investigation, and I first need to rule out a burglary gone wrong.”

She closed her eyes and leaned her head against the wall. “I’ll book the earliest flight to Billings.”

“Let me know your arrival time and I’ll have someone pick you up.”

“Thank you.”

Who could have done this? And why? What were they looking for? She flinched as Mark’s phone rang. He fished it from his pocket and glanced at the ID.

“It’s Alex. I need to take this,” he said. “Do you want to speak to the sheriff again?”

“Yes.” She took her phone as Mark walked away to answer his call. “Thank you for letting me know what happened. Do you want me to call you on the cell number from the first call when I know my ETA?”

“That will be fine. And I’m really sorry. Mae always said he was a good guy.”

“Thank you.” She disconnected and pocketed her phone. This couldn’t be happening. Fog swirled through her mind.

Someone had killed Keith. Why? Like her memories, the answer seemed to be just out of her grasp. And now she had to return home without any answers.

Lord, please clear my head.

She took a long draw of the water Mark had brought her as her mind tried to put the pieces together. First she’d been shot at, then Mark injured—no. First someone had broken into Mae’s house, and then the other two things. And now Keith.

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