Page 62 of Dangerous Secrets
“Why?”Gatheringinformation was important, but Walker wanted action, to get movingso he could find Laney.Worry something had happened to her madehim feel like acid was eating its way through his gut.
“First, I thought the mostpressing issue was keeping the fire from spreading into the milland he wasn’t doing anything to help.I grabbed a hose and wasspraying some smoldering crates, and when I glanced back the guywas gone.That’s when I saw two other deputies with the sameuniform had arrived.”She glanced at Sawyer.“I tend to noticecops.I thought maybe the guy had been first on the scene and waswaiting for backup, but it didn’t make sense he disappeared whenthe two other cops arrived.If they were on the same team, hewould’ve joined them.”
Walker stared hard at Cam, theimplications of what she’d seen running through his head.“Anythingelse?”
She nodded.“He wasn’t in the lightfor more than a couple seconds, but I got a good look at him.Hishair was long.”
“So?”
“Most cops have their hairbuzzed short and are clean-shaven.”Her gaze shifted to Sawyer.“Your brother doesn’t, but it’s still neat.This guy’s hair wasdown below his collar and he had a messy beard.Plus his uniformdidn’t fit him right.”
“You didn’t tell me that.”Sawyer’s brows lowered.
“I’m telling you now.Ijust remembered he had a big belly and the buttons barely kept hisshirt closed over the front.”
“That’s a lot ofobserving.”
She gave Sawyer a cool look.“I’m anobservant person.”
Walker spun on his heel to pace as hethought over the description Cam had given.Fear gnawed at him.He’d been in plenty of dangerous situations in his life and neveronce had trouble keeping his head, but with Laney in danger, he hadto push back on the urge to go on a rampage and destroy everythingin his path until he found her.
With her safety at risk, the stakeswere higher than they’d ever been.That’s the way it was when youloved someone desperately.He tipped his head back and stared up atthe sky, sucking in slow breaths of smoke-tinged air.He flippedthrough all he’d learned since returning to Sisters.What he andSawyer had gleaned from the papers Mrs.Watkins had given him, whathe’d learned talking to people around town, trying to work out howthat might’ve put Laney in danger.
Suddenly, the answer became glaringlyobvious.“It’s Fetterly.”He jerked his attention to Sawyer.“Thefucker isn’t dead.Cam’s description matches the man Mrs.Watkinssaw in Ponderosa Flats.She worked with the bastard, so she’d knowit was him.”He ground out the words.“I bet he still has his badgeand he’s wearing his old uniform to get access to the scene and tryto blend in.His uniform doesn’t fit because he’s gotten fat.Thefucker started the fire to lure Laney out of the house.
“He could be using Delaneyto get at me, but I’m thinking that’s a side bonus.He wants her.The pervert used to watch her.When she was a senior in highschool, she told me Fetterly would park his cruiser outside at theend of the day and stare at the girls as they walked past.It madethem uncomfortable.But he singled her out and made a point ofoffering her a ride home just about every damn day.She said hegave her the creeps.”
“That why you startedpicking her up from school?”Sawyer asked.
“Damn straight.First timeshe climbed behind me on my motorcycle, Fetterly got so red in theface I thought he’d have a coronary.That’s about the time hestarted harassing us, pulling you and me over any time hecould.
“Then there was the timePop and I stopped when he’d pulled Laney over.There was a look inhis face that said he was hot for her.I’m positive he’d haveassaulted her.And now he’s got her.”
Sawyer’s face looked set in stone andhe gave a curt nod.“He played all of us.I’m calling the sheriff.We need a BOLO on Fetterly, as well as Neil Grafton.”He pulled outhis phone and tapped on the screen.
While Sawyer was talking to thesheriff, Walker caught Cam chewing her bottom lip.She lifted hergaze.“Do you think that man could have been watchingher?”
“Why do youask?”
“Something she saidearlier, that at different times this week she’d felt uneasy, likeshe was being watched.She came into the bakery yesterdayafternoon.She said she’d gone outside to water those geraniums yougave her and felt uneasy.She caught the sun reflecting offsomething up the hill behind the house, but when she looked, shedidn’t see anyone.”
“She say where behind thehouse?”
Cam shook her head.“Not exactly, onlythat it was past the orchards.”
Sawyer disengaged his call.“Carlisle’s on it.He’ll put out the BOLOs and send a tactical unitto Bridger Lake.They’ll be ready to look for Neil Grafton at firstlight.”
“What the hell?If anyoneknows where Fetterly is, it’s Grafton.How else did Fetterlysurvive this long when he’s supposed to be dead?We need to findGrafton tonight before Fetterly does whatever he plans to do toher.”A cold sweat broke out on Walker’s skin despite the coolnight.
“Grafton lives off gridsomewhere near the lake.No one’s sure exactly where.The sheriff’snot sending a team up there without an idea what they’re walkinginto.Neil likes his guns and he’s likely armed to the teeth.Plus,he’s trained.Deputies will wait for daylight and send up a droneto have a look before sending in a team.”
“That’ll take toolong.”
“They need to—” Sawyerpaused.“Fuck.It could be him.Fetterly could be the rapistcarving up women.”He skewered Walker with a look.“He got yourknife and planted it to frame you.”
Walker nodded slowly, his mindfiltering through the import of Sawyer’s claim.“That fits.Camsays Delaney felt like she’s being watched here at the farm.Ifit’s Fetterly, then he’s been close, close enough to keep an eye onmy cabin and get access when I leave.He’s probably the one whotried to drown Bud.”
Sawyer’s gaze looked sharp as a blade.“And close enough to help himself to the knife you keep in yourtruck.He’s got a grudge against you and stole your knife to frameyou.He probably figured even though you were cleared of charges inMelanie’s case, some people would be more than willing to believeyou were involved in the assault last night.
