Page 79 of Dairy and Deadly

Martin studied her expression. “The one guy left standing will be sorely outnumbered this evening.”

Ashley shivered.Poor Tucker!She sent up a silent prayer for his safety. For all of their safety.

She couldn’t imagine what Martin had done to send Johnny and Clint packing for the night. Had he harmed them? Her heart ached at the very real possibility she might never see them again.

Chapter 14: The Reckoning

Johnny shifted restlessly in his seat in the sheriff’s office. It was a huge honor for a junior private investigator at Lonestar Security to be included in their emergency meeting. However, his gut was telling him it had been too long since he last heard from Ashley. He’d texted her three times during the past several hours, and she hadn’t responded. Not even once.

Luke Hawling’s scarred face was set in grim lines as he gave them a step-by-step update on the growing outbreak in salmonella. He had a map of Central Texas displayed on a big screen against the wall, and he was using a laser pointer to mark the areas of biggest concern.

“Three more small towns reported an uptick in cases today,” he concluded grimly, “one in our own backyard.” He flashed the laser pointer to a farming community located directly south of the Comanche reservation that hugged the lower city line of Heart Lake. It was the biggest reason he’d called an emergency meeting this evening.

Gil Remington, a retired sheriff who now worked for Lonestar Security, leaned forward with his Stetson balanced on his knee. “Even after all their storm-rebuilding efforts, the dairy farmers on the rez are operating at barely above the poverty level. They don’t have the resources to absorb a targeted bio attack like this.” His point was clear. The rez was depending on the men gathered in this room for assistance.

“They don’t have many players in the dairy business to begin with,” Gage Hefner agreed. “Halting the production of even a handful of them could significantly deplete the rez’s milk supply.” He was a former Army Ranger and Johnny’s direct supervisor, a guy who’d been recruited to lead their private investigation department. Because of how small the Heart Lake Police Department was, and their relatively new partnership with the even smaller rez police department, Lonestar Security was often contracted to fill the gap.

Like tonight.

The same night Ashley had chosen to ghost out on her new husband and his many attempts to reach her via text messages. Not wanting to look disrespectful, Johnny stole discreet glances at his cell phone, which he was holding beneath the table.

The hard look Gage was giving him told him he wasn’t fooling anyone. During their first short recess, his supervisor pulled him aside in the hallway outside the sheriff’s office.

“Your head’s not in the game tonight. What’s going on?” They were friends in addition to coworkers, which was probably the only reason Gage was giving him a chance to explain himself.

“Ashley is giving me radio silence.” Johnny knew it sounded lame, but he wasn’t one to stretch the truth to make himself look better.

Gage’s expression relaxed. “Welcome to married life, bro.” He cocked his dark head at Johnny. “Is this your first argument?”

“What? No!”

“So, it’s not your first argument?” Gage chuckled. “Color me not surprised. Anyone with half a brain could’ve predicted being married to you would be one wild ride.”

“Laugh all you want.” Johnny punched the speed dial button for his brother-in-law and raised his phone to his ear. “I don’t think asking for proof of life from a woman who’s eyeballs deep in this mess,” he angled his head toward the office they’d just stepped out of, “is asking too much.”

Clint accepted the call. “Clint’s pizza delivery. What’s your order?”

“Joker,” Johnny snarled. “Have you seen Ashley around?”

“Aw, did you lose your wife?” Clint scoffed.

“Yes,” Johnny barked, refusing to take the bait. “That’s why I’m calling you. I need?—”

“Relax, bro,” Clint cut in, growing serious. “Tucker said he saw her leave with Caro a few hours ago.”

Johnny’s eyebrows drew together. “It’s been over four hours since I heard from her, Clint. Four hours! How about you put Tucker on the phone?”

“If you insist.” There was a bunch of rustling sounds in the background and some muffled voices that ended with a howl of male laughter.

Tucker’s voice sounded across the line seconds later. “Is this some sort of joke?”

Alarm tightened Johnny’s fingers around the phone, making him inadvertently hit the speaker phone button. “What do you mean?” He held the phone away from his ear to locate the speaker phone button.

“Oh, come on, boss man! They left inyourtruck.” Tucker snickered. “Withyoubehind the wheel!”

Johnny’s finger remained suspended over the speaker phone button. “You sure about that, Tuck? Because I drove my Jeep to work today. Didn’t even bring my truck keys with me.” If they were embroiled in some sort of prank, it wasn’t funny.

Gage, who’d turned away and started walking down the hallway, spun back in his direction.

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