Page 49 of The Cowboy's Ultimatum

“Yeah? Spit it out,” Ken said with a grin.

“Why is there a chain across the entrance to this area?”

“Don’t know, don’t care. Now it’s time for a drink, then we’ll roll out the sleeping bags and get some rest.”

CHAPTER THIRTY

When Andy arrived at the estate and walked through the front door, he found women crying, men obviously still shaken up but hoping to comfort them, and Sheriff Cooper along with his two deputies trying to keep some kind of order. Looking around and not seeing Helen, he grabbed his phone and called her.

“I’m here, darlin’, where are you?”

“If you’re facing the door to the library, look over to your right and you’ll see a hallway. Go down there and up the stairs at the end. I’m in the second room on the right.”

“I’m on my way.”

But as he walked quickly towards the hall, the sheriff caught his eye and waved him over.

“Hi, Sheriff. Are you okay?”

“Yep, but damn, what a mess. George has called in his team from Dallas. They’ll be here in about thirty-minutes. We can’t let anyone go home until we get witness statements. We’ve started but with so many people it’s a long job.”

“Isn’t that a bit rough? Can’t you let them go home and come into the station tomorrow?”

“That’s what I suggested, but George was insistent. He’s interviewin’ them one at a time in an office through there,” he declared, pointing to a door on the opposite side of the room.

“That will take all night.”

“Yep, though once his men get here it will go faster.”

“But we already know who did this,” Andy declared. “Ken Lockhart and his gang.”

“It sure seems like it, but we can’t take anything for granted.”

“I guess. Well, if you need me just send a text. I have to go, Helen’s waitin’.”

“Sure, sure, go ahead. But Andy, are you sure they disappeared somewhere near the Moonshine Campgrounds.”

“Yeah, for sure. That stretch is dead straight. I would have seen their taillights for a while, so they must have left the road.”

“They might have ventured into the woods, but they’re not easy to access up there. That only leaves the campgrounds or Lake View Point. I’ve called the manager over at the campgrounds and he said it’s been quiet all evenin’. If those bikes had gone through he would’ve heard them for sure.”

“Maybe they were just ridin’ so fast I lost sight of them,” Andy said thoughtfully, “but I really need to get upstairs now.”

“Okay, Andy, and thanks.”

Hurrying away and taking the stairs two at a time, Andy opened the second door on the right and poked his head around.

“Andy!” Helen exclaimed, jumping to her feet and hugging him as he walked in. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

“Damn, girl, I was worried about you. Thank God for Molly or you would’ve been in that library.”

“I keep thinking the same thing. When Kenny found the sheriff in that room he would have known I tipped him off.”

“Maybe, but you’re okay, and that’s the only thing that matters. Did you know George is keepin’ all the guests here until they’re interviewed?”

“Yeah, I do. I’ve already given him my statement so I can go, and I can’t wait to get out of here.”

“How are your mom and dad?”

---