Page 118 of The Girl in the River

“I don’t know,” Derrick said, then relayed his conversation with the sheriff. “I’m on my way to Red River Rock now. Where are you?”

“I was at Moondoggy’s and heard Ronnie tell Chester and Lloyd they had to move their cargo now because the police were closing in. I’m following them.”

“McClain, listen to me. Stay back and don’t let them know you’re tailing them. If you see something going down, do not approach. Call me and wait, do you hear me? Ellie would kill me if I let anything happen to you.”

A tense silence followed. “I can take care of myself, Agent Fox. And if Ellie’s there and in danger, I don’t intend to sit there and do nothing.”

He hung up and Derrick heaved a breath. He knew the ranger cared about Ellie. But he was worried he was a hothead and would rush in, getting them both killed.

Derrick punched the accelerator and sped up, flying onto the mountain road toward Foggy Mountain. The mist was even thicker tonight, a red sheen rising above the ridges like red dust floating into the sky. Tree limbs sagged beneath the weight of what must have been a storm earlier this evening.

Hopefully, Ellie was at the police station tying up loose ends. But the closer he got, the more worry gnawed at him. If something was going down tonight and Kincaid was involved, things might be coming to a head.

And Ellie might be right in the middle of it.

ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-EIGHT

RED RIVER ROCK POLICE DEPARTMENT

“You have no right to hold me here,” Ellie argued.

“Actually, I do, Detective.” Sheriff Kincaid towered over her from the opposite side of the table in the interrogation room. “I’m following protocol. You shot and killed a prominent member of my town. You would do the same if I killed someone in your territory.”

Dammit, Ellie hated to admit it, but she would. She forced herself to temper her attitude.

“You’re right. But I have been consulting you, Sheriff. And a woman’s and child’s life were in imminent danger. I had to act quickly.” She folded her arms. “Now, Sheriff Waters is taking Mia’s statement and I already have a positive identification from Mark Wade identifying Kevin Moon as the man who shot him and abducted Pixie. No court in the world can deny that evidence.”

His rapid breathing rattled in the room. For a moment, he stood staring at her, angry and frustrated and deciding what to do. “Sit tight, Detective. I’ll call Waters for those reports.”

Ellie pounded the table with her fists as he left the room. To what extent would he go to protect the Moons?

They hadn’t hesitated to kill others who got in their way. Was she next?

ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-NINE

Derrick stalked into Sheriff Kincaid’s office, every nerve cell in his body riddled with anxiety.

“Is the sheriff in his office?” he asked.

The receptionist looked at him warily. “I’ll get him.” She stood, hurrying through the double doors to the back.

Five minutes later, Sheriff Kincaid appeared, a cold steeliness radiating from him. “Special Agent Fox.”

“I’m looking for Detective Reeves,” he said bluntly. “Is she here?”

The man balled his hands into fists. “Yes, I needed her statement regarding the death of Kevin Moon and the shooting of his father Armond.”

“Did you get it?” Derrick asked.

“Yes,” he said. “But I was waiting for verification of the facts from Sheriff Waters.”

“Do you have them now?”

Kincaid exhaled. “They just came through.”

“Then release Detective Reeves or I’ll call my boss.”

Kincaid’s scowl could send a bear running toward the woods, but Derrick held his own. The sheriff whirled around, disappeared through the back and a few minutes later, Ellie appeared.

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