Page 14 of Murder at Rescue Ridge

“What’s our next move because I’m drawing a blank?” she said.

“We find the sonofabitch who killed your father,” he muttered.

“And how do you propose we do that?”

He heaved a sigh. They were back to square one.

“The law is going to be looking for both of us,” she said. Was running a mistake? She’d acted on impulse in following Conrad, something she rarely did.

“That’s correct.”

“And we’re making it even easier being together,” she said.

He cocked a dark brow. “How’s that?”

“Folks will be looking for a woman and a man,” she said. Going back to Houston was too risky, even if they could figure out a way to get there without being caught.

“I have an idea, but it’s high-risk,” he said.

She shot a look. “Can it get worse?”

“Sometimes, a gamble pays off.” He reached for her hand. Hers was small by comparison and felt a little too good against his rough skin. For a split second, she imagined what it would feel like to have those hands roaming her body.

Shaking off the thought, she said, “Let’s roll the dice.”

Mr. and Mrs. Zilkerhad retired to their fishing cabin a few years back. Their car was parked out front. Unlocked? The temperature had dropped in the last hour of the walk to the lake. Conrad had taken off his flannel shirt in order to keep Nikki warm. She’d fought him all of two seconds before relenting and putting the heavier shirt on. At least her teeth had stopped chattering.

It was late. The lights were out at the cabin. The Zilkers were no doubt asleep. Rather than wake them, Conrad tried the car door. It opened.

“Front or back?” he whispered. The vehicle would keep them warm while they waited for first light so they could knock on the door without meeting the barrel of a shotgun.

“I’ll take the backseat,” she said in a low voice before climbing in.

He took the front passenger side. Leaning it back all the way, he closed his eyes and wished for sleep. Instead, the events of the day played over and over again in his thoughts. At this point, there was no way to contact his siblings to let them know he was okay. They would be sick with worry. What had he been thinking he would accomplish by running? Damn. He’d made a mess of the situation and dragged an innocent person along for the ride, a person who’d just lost her father. Was she thinking straight? Making the best decision by going along with him?

Those and a few other questions were on a hamster wheel. He lost track of time.

By the time the sun began to rise, he realized that he would have to go back to the ranch if he wanted answers. Whoever threw that ax had to have some blood splatter on their clothing. Unless the person was strong and accurate enough to nail a target from a great distance.

The sounds of steady, even breathing from the backseat meant Nikki was asleep. He wouldn’t disturb her. Plus, being still gave him time to think. Who wanted Harrison Guidry dead? Throwing an ax at someone felt personal. A bullet could be fired from far away with decent accuracy and get the job done. Another thought swirled around. Had someone wanted to set him up? His sister Chloe had been the target of a scheme to get a piece of the inheritance. The manager of her ex’s band had tried to kill her and make it look like an accident. With Chloe gone, her portion of the inheritance would automatically have gone to her three-year-old son, Grayson. Grayson’s father would’ve then been in control of the money, given the fact Grayson was a minor. However, the man had a drinking and drugging problem, so he’d signed over power of attorney on all money matters to his manager. Chloe’s death, it seemed, would have kept the band solvent and the manager in a job. The bastard had been willing to kill for Chloe’s money, leaving a child without a mother in the process.

The barrel of a shotgun tapped the window next to Conrad. Hands up, he sat up. Mr. Zilker’s expression morphed from serious to surprised in half a second.

“Come on out of there, son,” the older man said to Conrad, taking a step back and lowering the barrel.

Conrad opened the door and then hit the lever to make the seatcome up. It smacked him in the back. Nikki gasped and sat straight up.

“It’s okay,” he reassured. “I know this man personally.” He looked to Mr. Zilker for confirmation the older man had no intention of shooting.

Mr. Zilker nodded.

Nikki exited the vehicle and stood next to Conrad.

“I’m sorry to disturb you, sir,” Conrad began. “We didn’t have anywhere else to go.”

“Irene, put out a couple extra breakfast plates,” Mr. Zilker shouted back at the cabin. He turned his attention to Conrad. “For the record, I knew you couldn’t have done it.”

“Thank you, sir.”

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