Page 10 of Marked For Revenge

“He’s a mechanic,” the woman readily answered. “A decent one from what I hear. When he’s sober, he can build just about anything.”

Ava wondered if that included a bomb. Yes, she really needed to have a chat with Aaron all right.

“You said Aaron might be in some kind of danger?” Marnie continued a moment later. “Is that because of Christina’s death?”

“Maybe,” Ava settled for saying. “We’re looking into some possibilities. Was anyone arrested for supplying the drugs to your sister?”

“No. We don’t know who she bought them from. Aaron asked around, of course, but if he ever got a name, he didn’t tell me.” She made a grumbling sound. “You don’t think the drug dealer is after him, do you?”

Ava went with a safe answer that would hopefully get the woman to cooperate. “Like I said, we’re looking into that possibility. Do you have his number so I can talk to him about it?”

Marnie groaned again, and Ava could practically see the woman biting her lip while she mentally debated what to do. “Even though he didn’t always treat my sister right, she loved him, and I wouldn’t feel right just giving you his number what with you being a cop and all. But I’ll call him and let him know you’re looking for him. You said your name was Ava Larson?”

“Lawson,” Ava corrected. “Take down my number,” she added and waited for Marnie to give her the go-ahead to do that before rattling it off. Then, Ava tried to imagine how Aaron would react when he learned she was looking for him. “Tell him it’s about what happened when he was eighteen,” she added.

Maybe that would stir Aaron’s curiosity enough for him to call her. Of course, if he was the killer, he might be waiting for contact like this. Might even welcome it.

“I will,” Marnie assured her and paused again. “If he really is in some kind of danger, you intend to make sure he stays safe?”

“We’ll try,” she said and ended the call. Again, it was a lie because if Aaron was the killer, keeping him safe was the last thing Ava intended. However, she would make sure he was locked up so he couldn’t hurt or kill anyone else.

It was hard for her to wrap her mind around the fact that her high school boyfriend, who’d been her first lover, was now a down and broken man. Then again, her father had had a good start on breaking Aaron so maybe that was playing into this. Payback that would strike out at her father and her, and Aaron might consider the other dead women collateral damage.

“I’ll record the conversation if Aaron calls me,” Ava told Harley and Theo. “In the meantime, maybe we can get someone to Bulverde to press Marnie on his whereabouts.”

“The Rangers can handle that,” Harley said. “I can get someone from the San Antonio office to go to her place.”

“Do it,” Theo said with a nod, and he waited for Harley to send a text before he turned back to Ava.

She saw the not-so-subtle shift of emotion in Theo’s eyes. There was worry and concern, and Ava knew it was for her.

For what he was about to tell her.

“Get some rest,” Theo instructed. “Both of you,” he added to Harley. “You’ll be staying with Ava tonight?”

Ava was about to nix that, but then it occurred to her that if Aaron or Caleb was behind these murders, then she was definitely in danger. That meant so was the baby. She didn’t especially want Harley as an overnight guest, but she also didn’t want to take any unnecessary risks. Not having readily available backup would definitely be a risk.

Harley looked at her, no doubt waiting to see if she was going to issue him an invitation to stay with her. She sighed then nodded.

“Good,” Theo said. “Get some sleep. Then, first thing in the morning, we’ll drive into San Antonio.” He looked Ava straight in the eyes. “I want Harley and you with me when I interview your son.”

Chapter Four

Harley knew he was on shaky ground by going to Ava’s house with her, but, thankfully, she hadn’t protested. Well, she hadn’t with words anyway, though he could see the disapproval in every inch of her body language.

Hell, he’d disapprove, too, if he were in her shoes. But Ava was a smart cop and she understood the bottom line here.

Their child was in danger.

It didn’t matter that Ava and he weren’t on the best of terms. Didn’t matter, either, that those terms might stay bad. Both of them loved their unborn baby and would do whatever was necessary to keep her safe.

While Ava drove them from the sheriff’s office to her house, Harley focused on the list that Duran had sent them. Possible candidates for those wanting to use Ava to get back at Edgar. Harley didn’t think the killer’s name would be listed there, but since it was a possibility, it had to be checked.

“I might be able to get through that faster than you since it’s possible I’m already familiar with some of the names,” Ava commented, glancing over at him. Glancing, too, at the road, as Harley was doing. Both of them were keeping watch of their surroundings to make sure they weren’t about to be attacked.

“I’ll half it with you,” Harley offered after he gave it some thought. “Ditto for halving the list we’ll no doubt get from the bomb squad once they have a signature of who could have made that bomb.”

“Yes,” she murmured, and he heard the other emotions snaking beneath that one-word response. That’s because she was no doubt thinking of what had been on that note beneath the bomb.

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