Page 79 of Cry Wolf

He got out of his Pathfinder but stopped. A black Cadillac pulled into the VIP visitor parking in front of the land management building. This meeting must be important to have it while a cattle auction was going on. But Eli had his fingers in many pies. He probably had a foreman who handled the cattle aspect of his company while he took care of the real estate side.

The driver emerged and opened the back door. Walter Tyler climbed out. He said a few words to his man and then went inside.

What could Walter possibly want with Eli and Val? Whenever a politician showed up, something big was going down. Odds were high that Eli had donated heavily toward Walter’s campaign, and that could be the reason for his visit—Walter owed Eli favors in return. But there had to be something more to this meeting.

Brett didn’t want to jump to conclusions. Yet Vanessa had reported that Walter was a major shareholder in Blue Skies. Coupled with the important behind-closed-doors meeting with the Wheelers, all signs pointed to the AG being involved.

Brett’d be hanged if he stood back and didn’t try to learn what they were up to.

Chapter Thirty-Two

People were coming and goingfrom the Wheeler Land Management building as well as the auction house. Both businesses drew people from miles away, from South Dakota to Idaho. Walking behind an unsuspecting couple for cover, Brett headed for the management building when Stephanie, the receptionist he’d met the other day, stepped beside him.

She held a stack of files in one arm. Clad in trendy, ripped designer jeans, a frilly, see-through, turquoise blouse, and red cowboy boots, she looked like a load of trouble. Her long hair on one side of her head was braided with red and turquoise feathers tucked in. “Fancy meeting you here again, Deputy Rollins.”

Great! He did not want to talk with her. But maybe he could work this to his advantage. Before going in, he’d question her to see if he could find out something that would back up Hayley’s story. “Do you know a woman named Hayley Reece?”

Stephanie stopped and stared up at him. “I don’tknowher, but I knowofher. Why?”

“I heard that she and your boss were in a relationship.” He hoped she’d fill in the blanks with more information.

“Eli?” She shook her head. “Whoever told you that must be smoking loco weed. His wife, Ruby, would scratch her eyes out.” She chuckled as if she knew darn well her assumption was wrong and she wanted to give him a hard time.

“You know I meant Val.” He waited patiently.

“That was over a long time ago. Again, I have to ask why you want to know.” She squinted and shaded her heavily mascaraed eyes from the morning sun.

“Just wondering.” He needed to try another long shot. “I also heard that Val was involved with Dania Black.”

“Who the heck have you been talking to?” Stephanie laughed as she started for the door.

Wanting to keep her from going in, he stepped in front of her. “You didn’t answer me.” He’d changed his tone to serious.

“Look, there’s nothing more exciting than talking about my boss and his past girlfriends with a deputy marshal, but I have to get these files in there for an important meeting. Do you mind?” Seemed the fun question-and-answer game with Stephanie was over.

“As a matter of fact, I do mind. I need answers.” He didn’t budge.

She huffed and rolled her eyes. “Val is with me now. Satisfied?”

“How long?” Though he didn’t want to tell her too much, he was worried for her.

She held her hand up, showing him an engagement ring. “Long enough. And before you tell me about the women in his past, I already know all I need to.”

“I don’t think so.” Surely she didn’t know Val had impregnated Hayley or that he’d beaten up the pregnant woman just yesterday.

“Why? What’s going on anyway?” She hugged the files to her. “You showed up here yesterday, poking around, and now you’re back today. What gives?”

“Let me just say that I don’t think you know as much about Val Wheeler as you think you do.”

“I know he drinks one Big Sky beer a day, likes to go dancing on Friday nights, works hard, and loves his dad and will do anything for him. I’ve worked for the Wheelers for four years now. I know them better than most.”

“You’ve just skimmed the surface.” He was wasting time.

A couple came out with a guy talking about properties to show them.

Brett stepped aside, letting them go by.

Stephanie used this to dodge away. But Brett followed her. Catching up before she reached her receptionist desk, he said, “Where’s the meeting?”

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