Page 13 of Marked For Revenge

“Caleb,” Marnie said. “I’m pretty sure that’s who Aaron kept going on about. Aaron was really worried that this Caleb was going to do something to hurt him.”

Chapter Five

One of the things that Ava missed most with her pregnancy was not being able to have enough coffee to clear her head. And, right now, while Harley was driving them to Austin, she could have used a serious amount of caffeine to do just that.

She’d barely slept, and that was in part due to having Harley just up the hall from her. Also in part because the images of all three of the murder victims had continued to flash in her head like grisly neon signs. But Caleb’s name had done some flashing, too, and the thought of him being connected to all of this put ice in her blood.

Mercy, she prayed he was innocent.

Marnie’s claim of what she’d heard Aaron say would have to be investigated, of course, and questions about that would be included in the interview that would soon be starting.

According to the call Ava had just gotten from Theo, he was already in Austin since he’d wanted to stop by the local PD there to let them know he was on their turf. The plan was for Theo to then meet Harley and her for the interview. Because there had been concerns that Caleb might flee, Theo hadn’t told him that two Silver Creek cops and a Texas Ranger would soon be arriving on his doorstep. But Caleb was supposedly at his apartment near the campus because the Rangers had set up surveillance on him to make sure he stayed put.

And that he didn’t slip off to kill anyone.

“My offer still stands,” Harley said, yanking her out of her thoughts. “Theo and I can do this interview, record it, and you can listen to it later.”

It was tempting if only so she could avoid the stress this might put on the baby, but Ava had to know the truth. She didn’t want to learn that truth from a recording. If the son she’d given up for adoption wanted her dead and was killing in her name, she needed to face him and deal with it.

“Thanks, but I’m doing this,” she stated. “And I do mean the thanks,” she added so he’d understand that she appreciated it.

Right now, she’d take all the help she could get. She was in danger, which meant so was her baby and anyone around her, and that danger could be connected to her father. Or her son. But Ava was hoping it was neither of them, that this was just the killer’s attempts to make it look connected. She hated her father, but if he was indeed the one killing women and targeting her, then it was going to create an emotional nightmare. Still, if Edgar had anything to do with this, she wanted him punished and punished hard.

Harley pulled Ava’s car to a stop in front of the Crossroads Apartments. Not upscale but not a dump either. Since it was only a few blocks from campus, she was betting most of the residents were students.

“Have you changed your mind about not telling Caleb who you are?” Harley asked.

She shook her head. “I want to see his reaction to me. If he knows I’m his birth mother, I might see some signs of recognition even if he doesn’t volunteer it. If he doesn’t know, then that’s an indication he’s innocent in all of this.”

Harley made a sound of agreement and gave her a look that let her know he was worried about her going through this. So was she, but that wouldn’t stop her.

Ava took some deep breaths, trying to steel herself up as they got out of the car. She automatically glanced around, looking for any signs of trouble. No trouble, but she spotted Theo already outside the door to Caleb’s apartment.

“That’s the Ranger who’s been watching the place,” Harley informed her, tipping his head to the gray Ford Focus on the far side of the parking lot. He waved to the Ranger who then drove away now that he knew Theo had backup. “If we decide to keep eyes on Caleb after we finish, then I can have him come back.”

She was hoping that wouldn’t be necessary, that with just this interview, they’d be able to eliminate Caleb as a suspect and be absolutely certain he was innocent.

Theo, too, studied Ava’s expression when they got closer to him, and he must have been satisfied she could handle whatever was about to happen because he rang the doorbell. Ava had to tamp down another slam of nerves when she heard the footsteps.

“He has a roommate, Jonah Chavez, but he’s not home,” Theo explained, keeping his voice low. “According to the Ranger, the roommate left about an hour ago.”

Good, because Ava thought it would be even harder if this interview played out in front of someone else. Then again, it was possible once Caleb realized they were there to talk to him about a trio of murders, he might want a lawyer present.

The door opened and the young man looked out at them with both surprise and caution in his eyes. Eyes that were a genetic copy of Ava’s. That was the first thing she noticed about him, and she didn’t have to look hard to see the resemblance to Aaron, either, with his sandy-blond hair and square jaw. Aaron had been handsome as a teenager, and he’d obviously passed those genes along to Caleb.

“Yes?” Caleb said, his attention landing first on Theo. Then Theo’s badge. “Is something wrong? Did something happen to one of my friends?” Now, there was alarm in the young man’s eyes and he shifted his gaze to Harley. Then to Ava.

And there she saw it.

The recognition that she wished hadn’t been there. Caleb knew who she was. He knew, and that meant he’d just zoomed to the top of their suspect list.

“Your friends are all fine as far as we know,” Theo said. “I’m Sheriff Theo Sheldon.” He tipped his head toward Harley and her. “This is Texas Ranger Harley Ryland and Deputy Ava Lawson.”

“Yes,” Caleb muttered, his eyes locked with hers. He stayed like that, staring at her, until he finally gave his head a little shake as if to clear it. He stepped back, motioning for them to come in.

But not before his attention landed on her baby bump.

Ava hated that he immediately turned to move out of the doorway because it meant she couldn’t see his reaction. In the couple of seconds that it took him to get into the living area, he could have managed to compose himself. Well, he could have if he was very good at concealing what was going on in his head.

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