Page 46 of Murder at Rescue Ridge

“I’ll take care of it,” Nikki said, guilty that she hadn’t made an attempt to reach her mother yet.

“It would give your mother peace of mind,” Sandy said. “And I’d appreciate it, too. That way, I wouldn’t have to field any angry calls from a man claiming to be your father.”

“You know who my father is…was,” Nikki said. It was still impossible to believe Harrison Guidry was gone.

“I do,” Sandy admitted.

“Heath is well-meaning,” Nikki said. “But he is not my father.”

“I know,” Sandy said, her gaze intent on each bruise and cut on Nikki’s face. “I want to make certain you’re at the ranch of your own free will and not under duress.”

“I am, and I’m sorry Heath lied to you,” Nikki said. Her first thought had her wondering if he would get into trouble for sticking up for her again. Except this was different. “He crossed a line.”

“Did he?”

The question Sandy was really asking was whether or not Nikki’s stepfather was physically abusing her.

“No,” Nikki said. “The reward he put out for my ‘safe’ return was bogus and ended up hurting me more than it helped.”

“Do you want to explain what happened to cause all those cuts and bruises?” Sandy asked.

Nikki gave a quick rundown and then relayed the type of vehicle and descriptions of the men who’d abducted her. “I’m fine now.”

“Do you want to press charges?” Sandy asked.

“No,” Nikki admitted. “Technically, they were after the reward and things got a little out of hand when I had other ideas.”

Sandy frowned.

“The description fits one of the men who turned Conrad in,” Sandy observed after a few silent moments passed.

“That’s correct,” Nikki said.

“Why didn’t you report this incident?” Sandy asked.

“You want an honest answer?”

“Yes, of course.”

“I didn’t want Heath to be in trouble for trying to help,” Nikki said.

Sandy gave Nikki’s face a slow once-over. “It seems his helping is creating more of a problem.”

“Agreed,” Nikki said. The deputy’s reaction caused Nikki to think twice. “Heath is going to be angry once he sees what those assholes did to me.” She flashed an apology at the deputy. “Sorry for the language.”

“I’ve heard worse,” Sandy said with a half-smile meant to put Nikki at ease. This whole conversation was unsettling for obvious reasons, and something else niggled at the back of her mind that she couldn’t quite put her finger on. “Said worse, too.”

She returned a half-hearted smile that made her face hurt. Movement made her face hurt.

“Is your stepfather the same person who owns Alastor Construction?” Sandy asked.

“Yes, that’s him.”

“I imagine any one of his workers would jump at the chance to make the boss happy,” Sandy said. Where was she going with this?

“They are loyal to him,” Nikki said.

“I’m sure it’s deserved,” Sandy said. “Sometimes, the best of intentions backfire. Ever notice how that happens?”

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