Page 24 of River Justice

When his body was found in the well near the ranch, the sheriff had questioned why she’d never bothered to try to find her second husband or have him declared dead after all these years—which made her look guilty of his murder. According to the coroner, Dixon had probably been at the bottom of that well since his disappearance that night so many years ago.

Vaguely, she now remembered her husband telling her that he had a daughter he wanted her to meet. Could this Birdie Malone be the daughter? “Who is this woman?” she demanded of Drake, hoping she was wrong.

“A child your second husband had out of wedlock a little over thirty-two years ago,” he said.

She closed her eyes and tried to breathe. Dixon’s daughter, just as she’d feared. “Why would this woman give Brand an alibi?” When Drake didn’t answer, she opened her eyes to look at him.

“I have no idea. She swore that he didn’t leave the ranch all morning and therefore couldn’t have kidnapped Holly Jo from the bus stop.”

“How could she possibly know that unless—” She felt her eyes widen. “Do not tell me that Brand is seeing this...this woman.”

“I don’t know how she knew that he had been in his room after closing the bar last night until almost noon today, but while the sheriff might be suspicious, he seemed to think she was telling the truth.”

Pulling out her phone, she tried Brand’s number. The call went straight to voicemail. He probably didn’t want to talk to her. She couldn’t blame him. She didn’t leave a message, not sure what she would say to him.

She began to pace. “My son would not kidnap anyone. I told Stuart that.” She stopped to stare at her lawyer when he didn’t comment. Ian, she noted, was avoiding her gaze. “What is it you’re trying so hard not to tell me? Spit it out. It can’t be that...bad.” Even as she said the words, though, she thought of her eldest son, CJ. She’d never in her life dreamed that he would do the things he’d done. Was it possible she was also wrong about Brand? If she was, then how could she deny that she was responsible for the way both had turned out?

“The sheriff suspects Brand because of the kidnapper’s demand that Holden tell the truth.” She started to open her mouth, but he rushed on before she could. “It comes back to Brand and the DNA results. You have to understand how suspicious it looks. Also, his alibi might not stand up, given who it came from. I’ve been your attorney for too long, Charlotte. If there is any chance you know where that girl is—”

“Of course I don’t.”

“Or if Brand—”

“Stop! Brand didn’t take Holly Jo. He wouldn’t do that.” It made her furious that Drake would believe either of them was capable of doing something like that. But as he’d said, he’d been her attorney for years.

“Brand left a copy of the results for Holden McKenna the same day the kidnapper left a note demanding he tell the truth.”

“I know all that. It’s ridiculous. You know I already told Stuart that,” she snapped, trying not to think about Holden. He knew about Brand. That alone had her chest aching with worry as to how he took the news.

“Holden can’t think that my son...” His son. She told herself that she’d never known for sure Brand was his. It was a lie. She’d watched her son grow up, seeing Holden in him every day. Had Brand known or at least suspected? Was that why he’d gotten his DNA results?

Oakley, she thought with a curse. Her headstrong daughter had started this. But Brand was bound to find out eventually. Hadn’t she lived with the fear for years that it would come out? Now Brand had proof, and apparently so did Holden. Worse, Holden had reason to believe their son had kidnapped his ward.

“I need to see him.” She looked around for her purse, but stopped at his next words.

“Brand was released. I’m not sure where he—”

“Not Brand,” she snapped.“Holden.”

She saw her purse by the door. “I have to go.” The thought made her feel physically ill. But this was a conversation she should have had more than thirty-two years ago. “I’m going to see Holden.”

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea. Charlotte, this would be a good time to pull the family together. You need to see Brand. If you’re trying to avoid him, that will only make him look more guilty.”

“Let yourself out, Ian.”

“Charlotte!” he exclaimed, but she was already closing the door behind her.

ASBRANDEXITEDthe sheriff’s department through the back door, he did a double take when he saw Birdie clearly waiting for him. He looked past her, expecting to see his mother or Ian Drake. Seeing neither, his gaze returned to the young woman leaning against the side of a pale green SUV.

“Kidnapping?” She pushed off the car and walked toward him. “Really? What kind of family are you Staffords?”

He sighed. “What are you doing here?”

“Is that how you treat the person who just got you sprung from jail?” she demanded, but she was smiling as she said it.

He met her gaze. “You got me released? Why would you do that? I know how you feel about my family.”

Birdie eyed him for a moment and then shook her head. “Not your entire family.”

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