Page 45 of Murder at Rescue Ridge

Over the phone, Chloe issued a grunt. “Allegedly innocent.”

“Now that you have new information, what does this mean for my brother’s case?” Kade asked.

“Mr. Sturgess is still a suspect,” Sandy said. “However, your attorney can petition the judge to have the ankle monitor removed now that new information has come to light about the case.” She glanced around the room at the faces. “Mr. Wayne’s disappearance, however it’s been explained, does implicate him as a person of interest.”

“It’s not illegal to leave town,” Beau pointed out.

“No, it isn’t,” Sandy agreed. “But I wouldn’t advise you to go anywhere for a while, either.”

Beau’s face wrinkled. “Am I a suspect now?”

“Everyone on the property is a person of interest,” Sandy said, “including Kade and Conrad.”

The answer seemed to satisfy Beau.

“How good are you with an axe?” Sandy asked Beau.

“Me?”

“Yes, sir.”

“I didn’t grow up on a ranch or in a life of privilege,” Beau defended. “Throwing for sport was out of the question. So, to answer the question you really want to ask—no, I wouldn’t be able to hit a target from that far away, which would be the only way I wasn’t covered in blood.”

“Mind giving a demonstration?” Sandy asked.

“What about the others?” Beau asked. “Shouldn’t we all be asked to throw?”

“Yes, sir,” she said. “But right now I’m focused on you.”

“I’ll do whatever it takes to prove my innocence,” Beau said on a sharp sigh. “And I’ll do whatever it takes to prove my brother isn’t guilty.”

“Half-brother,” Kade corrected.

Conrad normally stepped up to defend Beau when Kade did something like this. Not now. Seeds of doubt had been sewn, and Conrad’s life hung in the balance.

“Do you want to do this right now?” Beau asked.

“It’s dark outside and late,” Sandy said. “I’ll be by at first light.”

Beau nodded.

“I got a call that I need to speak to you about in private, Ms. Guidry,” Sandy said, changing the subject.

“Okay,” Nikki said. “As soon as we’re done here, we can step outside and talk.”

“Unless anyone has anything else to say, I’m ready to wrap this discussion up now,” Sandy said.

All agreed.

“I need to get back to the bunkhouse,” Kade said after ending the conference call. He shot a warning glance at Beau. “You are on notice.”

“Have been since the day I walked through the front door,” Beau muttered. It was true. It was also the reason Conrad had given Beau the benefit of the doubt.

Had he made the wrong call?

“What canI do for you, Deputy?” Nikki asked as soon as the two of them were out front.

“Families are none of my business,” Sandy hedged. “However, I received a desperate call from your mother asking if I could do a wellness check at the Sturgess home. She said you haven’t picked up your car from here or returned any of her calls and texts.”

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