Page 5 of Murder at Rescue Ridge

Nikki wasn’t certain how long she stood there, being reassured by Conrad. Memories of his kindness from the past flooded her while she was in his arms. His unique scent of sandalwood, the outdoors, and spice filled her senses as she breathed. When she pulled back, she realized they were alone in the barn. With the door open, hushed voices could be heard from just outside the office.

“Thank you,” she said to him. Would he really go to the trouble to comfort her if he’d just murdered her father? It dawned on her there were no blood stains on his clothing. Once the details came from forensics, which would take time, it would be easier to identify the perp. Though, fingerprinting wasn’t a perfect science when it came to murder scenes. She turned her head to the side so he couldn’t see her tear-soaked face this close.

A strong hand cupped her chin, then tilted her face toward his.

“I’m sorry this happened to your father,” Conrad said with the kind of honesty that caused those words to burrow deep in her chest. “I have every intention of finding the bastard who did this to him.”

There was no one more invested in finding the real killer than Conrad. Doing so would clear his name.

“Are you going to be arrested?” Nikki asked after thanking him for his kind words.

“That remains to be seen,” he said.

“Do you have any idea who would set you up?”

He shook his head.

“I blew in here on fire,” she said to him. “I accused you of murder. Why are you being so kind to me now?”

“Because you just lost your father, and I know what that’s like.” His deep baritone was laced with compassion.

“You saw more of my father than I did,” she countered.

He almost leveled her with his gaze. “We both know what kind of people Beaumont and Harrison were.”

“I know by reputation only,” she admitted.

“You and I aren’t so different.”

Those words rang truer than she cared to admit. Did it mean she trusted Conrad was telling the truth?

Staring into those dark roast eyes stirred feelings in her that she didn’t need to revisit right now.

“Will someone bail you out if you’re arrested?” she asked.

“Yes.” He shot a look that was hard to read. “But I’m hoping it won’t come to that.”

“Are you serious about finding out who did this to my father?”

“As serious as an unexpected spring thunderstorm,” he said.

The worddeadlycame to mind.

“Then, you just picked up a shadow.”

“No, I didn’t,” he said, shaking his head. “Sounds to me like I just picked up a partner.”

“I work alone.” Could she leave school midsemester? Speak to her professors? Despite being at the top of her class, she’d never liked law school.

“Neither one of you is going to work on this investigation if you know what’s best for you,” Deputy Combs said as she stepped into the doorframe.

“I’m Travis, by the way,” said the man who’d been in the office with Conrad when she’d first blazed in. “I’m the acting sheriff.”

Nikki took the hand he offered.

“I also happen to have personal involvement with the Sturgess family, so I won’t be officially working on the investigation,” Travis said.

Nikki glanced at Conrad, who’d taken a couple of steps back and was now sitting on the edge of the desk. She immediately felt the cold chill in his absence.

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