Page 34 of Marked For Revenge

“I did a cross-match of employers,” Harley explained as he tapped one of the names about halfway down the list. “And Aaron worked with this guy, Lionel Henderson, at Tip Top Repairs. Aaron quit working there right before Christina’s death. Around the time Duran gave him that big chunk of money. But Lionel is still employed there.”

“Does he have a record?” Ava wanted to know.

“A juvie one for stealing a car. He apparently straightened up and joined the army.”

She latched right onto that. “Please tell me he had explosives or demolition training.”

“Bingo. He was an explosives ordnance disposal specialist. He spent six years in uniform and, from what I can tell, he got out and came back home because his mom had cancer. She died, and he joined the militia about a month later.”

So, maybe his grief had driven him to be with the wrong people. Or it could be the members of the militia were former friends.

“There are no social media posts with Lionel Henderson and Aaron, but when Aaron comes in, I’ll be asking him about his former coworker.”

It was definitely a connection that needed to be explored. In fact, “connections” was the theme of the new threads in this investigation.

“I wonder if Lionel Henderson ever crossed paths with any of the murdered women,” Ava mused aloud. “I mean what if the murders aren’t just focused on me? What if these three women got on the killer’s radar because of some interaction or altercation they’d had with someone helping the killer? Someone like Paul Harmon or Lionel Henderson?”

Harley stayed quiet a moment, obviously giving that some thought. “The accomplice got to tie up some loose ends either for himself or for his boss, the killer?”

Ava nodded. “It could be a long shot, but it might apply. Might,” she emphasized. “Because if Marnie had a run-in with Theresa, then Aaron likely could have, too. Maybe even Duran, since this would have been the time that he had a PI on Aaron. Something could have possibly happened between Duran and her to make Theresa stand out as a potential victim.”

She stopped, sighed and then groaned in frustration, waving off what she’d just said. “Or maybe the killer hadn’t even put that much thought into it,” Ava amended. “Maybe the only criteria he or she had was the victims were substitutes for me.”

Harley stood, sighing as well, and he went to her. She was seated, but he put his hands on the arms of her chair and leaned in, looking her straight in the eyes. “We’re going to catch the person responsible. We’re going to stop them.”

Ava so wanted to believe that. She wanted to hang on to every reassuring word Harley was doling out. Actually, she wanted to hang on to Harley himself. There must have been something in her eyes to convey that because the corner of his mouth lifted into the slightest and briefest of smiles. Then he must have remembered that part about this heat being a really bad distraction because the smile vanished.

Harley didn’t move though.

He stood there, looming over her and sending off scorching vibes that heated up every inch of her. She might have leaned in and kissed him had there not been a quick knock before the door opened. Harley moved away from her as if they’d just been caught doing something wrong—which, in a way, they had.

Former sheriff Grayson Ryland was in the doorway, and even though he was now retired, he obviously still had his cop’s instincts because he swept glances over both of them and asked, “Am I interrupting something?”

Ava immediately shook her head and stood. “Harley and I were just...” She stopped trying to fill in the blank with something that would only be a half-truth or an outright lie. This was Grayson, her mentor, and the man who’d been her boss for years before Theo had taken over. Grayson would see right through a lie.

“I’m frustrated and angry,” Ava amended. “This snake is killing because of me, and every new piece of info only seems to complicate the investigation, not solve anything.”

Grayson nodded and kept his usual unflappable expression. “You know those pieces are eventually going to come together, and you’ll just keep working it until they do.”

She had to cling to the hope that the “coming together” would happen, and hearing the words from Grayson made it seem like a sure thing. Theo was a darn good boss, and she had total respect for him, but Grayson was and always would be a cornerstone of the Silver Creek sheriff’s office, and the new generation of Rylands were following in his footsteps. Theo was his adopted son and Harley was his adopted kid brother.

Grayson shifted his attention to Harley. “Dad and your mom wanted me to check on you.” Now Grayson smiled a little when Harley sighed and blew out a long, weary breath. “It doesn’t matter how old you are, they’ll still worry. You’ll understand that better when your daughter is born.”

Harley nodded in a way that made her think he already understood it. “I’ll call them later and let them know I’m all right.”

Grayson nodded as well, and looked at Ava. “Dad also wanted me to extend an invitation for you to stay at the ranch. He heard about what was left on your back porch, and he’s worried about you.”

Ava hadn’t been able to dismiss that taunt, prank or whatever the heck it’d been, but she wasn’t ready to surrender yet by leaving her home. She only hoped that wouldn’t turn out to be a decision she regretted, especially since part of the reason she wanted to stay put was so the killer would eventually show himself. Or herself. That wouldn’t happen if she was tucked away on the Silver Creek Ranch.

“Please tell your dad thank-you,” she settled for saying. “I’ll consider it.”

She didn’t add more because her phone rang. “It’s Duran,” she said when she saw the name on the screen.

Grayson muttered a quick goodbye and good luck, and he stepped back so he could close the door. Ava took the call on speaker.

“The cops just showed up at my door and are demanding my guns,” Duran immediately said. “Did you put them up to this?”

“No, but it’s a great idea since we now know you were in the vicinity of the shooting in Austin and could have been the one to fire those shots at Harley and me. Did you try to kill us?” Ava came out and asked.

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