Page 78 of Every Deadly Suspicion

Hanna glanced at Jared. “You’re right. He was holding up his end of the bargain, wasn’t he?” She concentrated on the road.

Jared reached over and put a hand on her shoulder. “I can’t imagine what you’re going through right now. All these years without a dad and then to find this out. I know you’re committed to rush up into the unknown, no matter the danger, and that I should try to talk you out of it.”

“But?”

“I’m going to rush right in there with you, so don’t try and talk me out of it.”

Jared always had her back. Hanna’s heart swelled. They’d traveled a few miles before Hanna felt she could speak.

“Thanks, Jared.” She turned into the long driveway of the Buckley estate, preparing to input the gate code. Everett had given the code to law enforcement and fire personnel. When she rounded the corner, the gate stood open.

“Is that normal?” Jared asked.

“I don’t know. I don’t come up here enough. All the security was upgraded several weeks ago, so I imagine this being open is not an accident.” She saw the fence off to the right was up and completely blocking the access road she’d taken when she’d driven up to tell Everett about Scott’s death.

She made note of the cameras on either side of the gate. They would not be able to arrive unannounced.

It was another ten minutes before they turned the corner, and the main house came into view. Hanna stopped and took a careful survey. Everett always had ranch hands in residence, though only a skeleton crew was working right now. He’d moved most of his horsesto a different ranch because of the Crest Fire. From the looks of it, he had not brought them back yet. There was no activity in the corral or the exercise ring. Would there be this late in the day?

Four black SUVs, two pickup trucks, and a van belonging to a local landscaper were parked in front of the house. And there was Nathan’s car, off to the left, in between the landscaper and one of the pickups.

“Nathan’s car.” Hanna spoke half to herself and started to pull forward.

“Looks like everyone is home,” Jared said.

Hanna got on the radio and let them know that she’d found Nathan’s car.

“Can you give me an ETA on backup?”

“10-4, Chief. They are approaching the driveway now, ten to fifteen ETA.”

Hanna acknowledged the transmission and went back to studying the scene. Goose bumps prickled her arms. It was so quiet here. Every other time she visited, it teemed with activity. At the very least there should be seven people here besides Nathan, Everett, his cook, a maid, Timmons, Braden, Chase, and Grover. Things were dead calm.

“Wait in the car, Jared. Better yet, walk around to the back with me and I’ll give you a spare vest.”

“Since this is very creepy, I think I’ll accept that offer.”

They both exited the SUV and met where Hanna opened the back hatch. She pulled a Kevlar vest out and gave it to Jared. Never taking her eyes off the front door, she said, “Will you wait here?”

“Will you wait for backup?”

She stared at him. His expression was calm and set. “Wherever you go, I go.”

“Fine.” She started for the door, then stopped. Broken glasslittered the front porch and what looked like several bullet holes pierced the front door. The lock was shot off. She drew her weapon.

Jared stopped her. “Wait for backup.”

“The door is all shot up, Jared. Something is wrong.”

“All the more reason to wait.”

“You’re right, but every second we wait...” Hanna knew she should wait, but this went beyond Nathan now. A lot of lives were at risk.

She bounded up the five steps to the big double door. Pushing the partially opened door a bit wider, gun up, she called out, “Everett, it’s Hanna. Everything okay?” Blood was smeared on the door and on the floor.

She shoved the door wide open. The first thing she saw was Grover’s body.

“Jared, we’ve got a man down.”

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