Page 62 of Claimed by the Lawman

Chapter 20

HE SWALLOWED AGAINST the constriction in his throat, feeling his heart plunge into his stomach.

“What do you mean? Isn’t Mansfield shooting himself a confession?”

He stared at Tyler’s pale complexion, wishing he could give her all the answers so she could find closure. He just didn’t have them yet. “No, it’s not, Tyler. It just doesn’t make sense.”

“I want to know everything, Kace. I have the right to know. I need to know. What were you told about Mansfield and my sister?” Her bottom lip trembled.

Swiping a hand down his face, he sighed. “I’ll tell you what I know right now, which isn’t much. Whatever Mansfield knew about your sister, he didn’t want to divulge. I linked another mysterious death back to a young woman who had the same brand marked on her body that Susy did.”

“Another death? Was her death made to look like a suicide too?”

“No. An overdose, but there were clues that made it look suspicious. The case was dropped.”

“Let me guess. By Mansfield?”

“Yes.”

“He was guilty. All fingers are pointing at him.”

“Maybe, but before he pulled the trigger he said something that has me stumped. He said that you are in trouble, Tyler.”

“How?”

“He didn’t go into detail.”

Her eyes widened slightly. “He’s only saying that because that was the type of man he was. He needed to give one last hoorah. Why would he want Susy dead?”

He leaned his elbows on his knees. “Allegedly, Susy was into prostitution. He marked his girls.”

Several pained expressions flickered across his face. “That’s not true. She wouldn’t sleep with a man like Mansfield.”

“Tyler—”

She stood and crossed her arms. “I can’t believe it.”

“Can’t or won’t? She was working as a stripper because she needed the money for drugs. She wouldn’t be the first. I’m sorry, but it’s true. Even notations in her diary point to the facts. In the meantime, I’m not closing this case. Not quite yet. I’m in this for the long haul.” Seeing her curious expression, he laid a hand on her knee. “What is it?”

“Do you think Bane could be involved in some way? I just don’t know what it is, but he can’t be trusted.”

He blew out a long breath. “Bane wants your father’s land, but what would he have to gain from Susy’s death? That wouldn’t have any influence over your father selling the ranch.”

She shrugged. “I don’t know, but I don’t like him. When he’s near me, he is so smug and cocky, as if he knows something I don’t.”

Kace wrapped his head around her words. “Bane is a lot of things, but I don’t see the connection.” He stood and took her hand, holding it between his. She seemed so small, so fragile, and yet he knew she had more spunk and strength than he could imagine. “But I won’t let him near you again. I promise.”

She met his gaze and his heart hitched. “I’m not afraid of him, Kace.”

“I didn’t say you were, but I don’t want him harassing you. My job is to protect you.”

Her shoulders slumped some. A suspicious moisture filled her eyes. “Thank you.” She lifted her hand to cup his cheek. “I feel safer having you near me. I trust you, but I don’t know if we’ll ever truly find out what happened to Susy. I didn’t know she was involved in so many bad things. I should have never left her, never left Bohannan.”

He could hear the heaviness in her tone. “You shouldn’t worry about the case right now. Let me handle things on this end and you concentrate on your father. He needs you right now.” Kace wanted to tell her how much he also needed her, but he didn’t want to lay too much on her shoulders at once.

After the day he had, after watching Mansfield use his gun, Kace knew more than ever he needed to find answers. Although it would be easy to push the blame of Susy’s death onto Mansfield, it just didn’t fit. Kace knew that cases didn’t always fit into a perfect puzzle, but he was also a good judge of character. He and Mansfield had their differences, probably didn’t even like each other much, but there was so much more to this story. Kace only wished the man had been brave enough to fill in all the blanks.

Eventually, Kace would pay Ruby another visit. Why would she point the finger at Mansfield and then call to warn him? It was as if she knew what he would do.

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