Page 26 of Property of Bull
“Lehmann,” Clark’s voice coming from the phone startles me. “I’ll be there in fifteen. Stryker called it in. Miss Tucker stepped into the crime scene upon her return, so I’ve had him wrap up her boots. Once you escort them to his vehicle, he understands they’re not to leave. I need you to secure the scene. Forensics is another twenty minutes away.”
“Yes, sir,” Lehmann responds, holstering his gun as Clark hangs up. “Is there anyone else here?”
“Not that we know of,” Bull answers. “The garage door was up, and all the lights were off when we got here, but the TV was on. I hit the lights and that’s when we saw everything.”
Everything. Such a simple word for a man’s head being smashed open with the bronze bust of a horse. The horse was a gift from Granddad’s first wife, I think, before shaking my head and announcing, “I’m alright.”
“Are you carrying?” Lehmann asks Bull, his eyes shifting between me, Bull’s cut, and the bloody boots.
“My gun’s in the center console of my SUV,”
“I’ll follow you and Miss Tucker out there. I’d like to secure your weapon, then I’m going to clear the house,” he says, squaring his body up as if prepared for an argument.
“I’m willing to put the gun in the tire well, but I’m not surrendering it to you,” Bull says after a moment.
“Well, that sounds like a good compromise,” I say, hopping down off the counter and pointing to where there are shoes lined up on a mat behind Lehmann. “Excuse me, I’m going to need a fresh pair.”
At my first step, my knee wobbles and without a word, Bull scoops me into his arms and as we’re passing the deputy, he asks, “Can you grab a pair of boots for her?”
And the look on the man’s face will stay with me as long as I live.
This was clearly not what he signed up for.
“I need to call my dad,” I whisper when Bull’s putting me down in the back of his SUV. Grabbing for his hand, like it’s as important as oxygen right now, he nods his head, waiting to understand what I need from him.
“Sir? Let’s take care of your gun so I can clear the house,” the deputy interrupts us, handing me the Columbia boots I wear when running the plow.
Letting go of Bull’s hand, I put them on the floor and start jamming my feet in while I fish out my phone.
“Honey? What’s wrong?” My dad’s voice is instantly concerned and confused at my late-night call. “Honey?”
“Granddad,” I start before a sob wells out of me.
“Margo, take a breath. Are you with me?” he frantically asks as I break down crying at the sound of his voice. Looking up, Bull is there and takes the phone from me before I drop it.
With one arm holding me to his chest, Bull must hit speaker as he starts talking to Dad and over his shoulder I watch the deputy walk back into the house, pausing only to pull some sort of protection over his shoes before entering. It’s easier to picture that man going room to room than to listen to Bull answering Dad’s questions, at least until I have no choice.
“Go-Go, I’ll get on the road as soon as possible. I don’t want you in that house alone, do you understand me?” Dad asks me, pulling me back to reality.
“I’ll bring her to my house,” Bull says. “You’re both welcome to stay there until George’s house is…”
His voice breaks off, not wanting to remind me of the scene inside.
“Stryker, thank you for getting there so fast, but—”
“We were on a date, Eli,” Bull tells him, clearing up any confusion about being here in an official capacity. “I was with Margo when she found your dad.”
“Can I have a moment with him?” I warily ask Bull. It’s cold out here, and it’s his SUV after all.
Handing me the phone and brushing his lips against my forehead, Bull backs away, giving us some semblance of privacy.
“Daddy, I think one of his brothers must have found me. Found me and did this to Granddad,” I gasp out the fear that’s gripped me since seeing his head wound.
“That doesn’t sound right to me, honey. Just stay calm and promise me you won’t say anything to anyone,” Dad pleads with me. “I feel a little like I’m feeding my daughter to a lion, butstaying at Stryker’s place is probably the safest place for you right now. I can’t think of anyone foolish enough to go after you there.”
“I’ll send you his address. Oh, the other cops just pulled in. I love you,” I tell him before quickly hanging up.
I tentatively slide out of the truck, hoping that my legs don’t fail me again, but that’s not even a concern as Bull is instantly at my side. Lehmann exits the house as the sheriff joins us, letting us know that while he stayed out of the family room, it doesn’t look like any of the other rooms were disturbed.
