Page 66 of Wanted by the Lawman

CHAPTER 21

ZANDER SWIPED HIS hand down his whiskered jaw, standing along the edge of the bush line, examining the broken branches of a bush. Carefully, he spread the branches and noticed how the undergrowth was flattened and mushed. Someone had been standing here, watching Wynn’s house. A mixture of anger and vulnerability rushed through him. What if she hadn’t come to his house? Would she be…

He couldn’t complete the thought.

He let the branches fall back into place and stepped around to bend closer to the underbrush, looking for any evidence or clue as to who was here. It could have been Rory watching Wynn’s house, but Zander didn’t believe the man would have wasted time in watching when he would have wanted to get the hell out of dodge. Zander wasn’t sure that Wynn would have complied, but a tugging in his soul made him question if she would have gone with the bastard. Zander was angry with himself. He’d known about Rory coming, and had known that his sister was asked to come to watch Wynn because of her connection to Crooked Creek, but he’d kept the information from Wynn. He’d known she would be safe because Kiersten had been watching her, and it made it easier not to mention what he already knew.

Zander didn’t give a damn right now about the counterfeit money or the people Rory had been dealing with. Most law enforcement agents received death threats during the span of their career, and most of the time they were a fool’s ignorance. Zander knew the bastards from New York wouldn’t step foot in the small town. Why? Because they wouldn’t take the risk. But would they have sent someone to take care of Rory? Possibly. It didn’t fit though.

Crooked Creek had a serial killer on their hands and no one, especially Wynn, was safe. Zander’s instincts warned him that the killer had been here, right here in this spot, waiting for the availability to make Wynn his next victim.

“What’d you find?” Kiersten asked from a few feet away.

“Nothing. Again, this bastard is clean in everything he does.” Zander shook his head in irritation.

“Maybe if I’d stayed out here we could have caught him. I thought Wynn was safe at your place—”

“This isn’t your fault,” he assured her.

She tugged her coat tighter around her waist. “Well, now I can take a vacation.”

“You shouldn’t have resigned from the bureau.”

“I didn’t have much choice. Anyway, what’s your theory?”

“I think the killer was standing here, watching Wynn’s house. He saw Rory pull in and, afraid he’d disturb his plans, the killer decided he was a risk. Maybe Rory saw the man. Could identify him. I guess we’ll never know.”

“So Townsend was innocent.”

“Yeah, and the killer knew we’d watch the security videos, ask questions, and go after Townsend.”

“Who’s the killer then?”

“We’re getting closer. I can feel it.” Zander looked toward Wynn’s house. He hadn’t spoken to her all day. She asked to be alone and he had to respect her wishes.

“I know you, brother. You think you know who it is, don’t you?”

“I have my suspicions, but I can’t move on him just yet.”

“I wish I could stay and watch this go down, but I have to go back to the office and finalize a few things,” Kiersten said.

“I’ll tell you the story.” He winked.

She shrugged. “I’m sure you will.” She kicked a leaf with the toe of her boot.

~~~**~~~

“Still no baby?” Zander kissed a very pregnant Lanie on the cheek.

She held her full stomach and sighed. “The doctor will induce me in a few days if baby doesn’t decide to make her appearance on her own. I don’t think I’ll be able to move if I get any bigger.”

“Rudy wanted me to stop and speak to him.” Zander removed his Stetson and placed it against his chest.

She narrowed her gaze. “Listen, he needs rest, physically and mentally, from work.” She waved her finger at him accusingly.

He grinned. “I get it.” He couldn’t fault a woman who wanted to keep her family safe.

“It’s okay, sweetheart. I’m no good at just sitting around,” Rudy said from the doorway. Besides the fact that he had a bulging bandage on his chest from his broken ribs and was leaning on a cane, he looked as vicious as ever.

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