As soon as Sophia pulled into the parking lot at the Boot and Spur, the manager walked out to meet her. He asked if she was Sophia St. Claire, then said that Rod had been trying to reach her. Surprised to hear he wasn’t in the cabin, she tried to call him again. But he didn’t answer.

Waiting in cabin thirteen, she stared out the window at the empty parking lot, as if she expected Bruce to drop him off at any moment, and wondered what to do next. She’d been feeling so relieved when she left Douglas. The doctors had managed to stabilize Starkey, a miracle in itself. She’d even spoken to him and laughed when the first thing he told her was that his acquaintance who dealt in silencers claimed he hadn’t sold any to a guy from Bordertown. She couldn’t believe that was on his mind at a time like this. It hadn’t been for long. His thoughts soon shifted to Rafe, who wasn’t pleased to be in his grandmother’s care, but had chosen to stay with her at the motel beside the hospital so he’d be close to his dad. Sophia had thought the drama was over for the night, that she’d be able to go to the Boot and Spur and curl up with Rod to get some much-needed rest.

Now she was worried all over again; only this time she was worried about Rod.

Where was he? It was nearly three-thirty in the morning. Was he still with Bruce? If so, she thought maybe she shouldn’t keep trying to get through to him. Maybe they were having the heart-to-heart they should’ve had long ago.

But it was also possible that something else had come up.

Steeling her nerve, she called Bruce’s house.

Edna answered. “Hello?”

Bruce’s wife sounded sick, fragile. And it was no wonder. She’d lost Stuart today. Sophia felt like the most callous person in the world for disturbing her in her grief, and at such a late hour, but she had to find Rod.

Tightening her grip on the phone, she overcame her reluctance to identify herself. “Edna, this is Sophia St. Claire. I’m terribly sorry to bother you, but…could I speak to Bruce?”

“Do you know what time it is?” she snapped.

“I do. I apologize profusely. But this is important.”

“Not more important than letting my poor husband get some sleep. Call back in the morning if you want to talk to him.”

A dial tone hummed in her ear. But Sophia couldn’t leave it at that. She called right back. Although Edna had good reason to be angry, Sophia guessed the chill she’d encountered was at least partly attributable to the rumors around town. Rod was Edna’s biggest enemy, and Sophia was Rod’s biggest ally. It didn’t help that Sophia had rebuffed Stuart so many times over the past two years—and then gotten involved with his half brother.

The phone rang and rang. Finally Edna answered again. “What are you doing calling here? Why won’t you leave us alone?”

Sophia fortified herself against Edna’s anger. “I need to talk to Bruce. I’ll drive out there if I have to. This is police business.” To a degree, it was. After what they’d discovered at the feed store, Rod possessed information that put his life in danger. But Sophia was terrified about his safety for personal reasons, too; there was no escaping or denying that.

“Meaning you’ve arrested the person who killed my son?” she challenged.

“Meaning I’m doing my best to track down your son’s killer and to keep everyone else safe at the same time.”

“You mean everyone like Rod.”

“He deserves the same consideration as anyone else.”

“He doesn’t deserve anything. He—”

Someone in the background interrupted Edna as her voice crescendoed. Then the phone changed hands and Bruce came on the line. “Who is this?”

Sophia sighed in relief. “It’s Chief St. Claire. I can’t find Rod, and I’m worried. Do you know where he is?”

“No. He left here at least an hour ago.”

“How? I’ve got his Hummer.”

“I lent him a pickup, said I’d send someone for it in the morning.”

“Did he say where he was going?”

“I assumed he was going to the Boot and Spur. That’s where he’s staying, isn’t it?”

“I’m at the cabin now. The manager tells me he hasn’t been here all night.”

“Then I don’t know what to think, except…”

“Except what?”

“He might’ve gone out to Charlie Sumpter’s.”

“Thanks. I’ll check.” She grabbed Rod’s car keys as she ran out the door. But as soon as she glanced up, she realized she couldn’t go anywhere. There was another car in the lot. Her stepfather’s pearl-colored Escalade was blocking her in.

“Oh, God…” Hoping to return to the cabin, where she could lock the door, she turned—and ran right into him.

“There you are. How ’bout giving Daddy a kiss?” he murmured and licked her cheek as he covered her mouth with one hand and dragged her between the cabins, out of sight of the office and the parking lot.

Determined to get free, Sophia threw her head back, smashing it into his face. His hold loosened, but the blow had hurt more than she’d expected, stunning her, too. By the time she tried to reach for her gun, she’d lost most of her advantage, especially because her Glock was strapped to her calf, which didn’t make it as accessible as she needed it to be. She’d barely lifted her pant leg when he seized her by the hair.

Sophia screamed for help, but there was no response from the office.

“There’s no one to hear you.” He hit her in the mouth, shocking her with the pain. Then the fight became a wrestling match on the rocky ground—a wrestling match that ended with him grabbing her firearm and tossing it out of reach.

Finally in control, Gary yanked her back to her feet. One hand was still entangled in her hair as he held his gun to the back of her head. “We’re going to the truck. Do you understand?”

Covered in dust and sweat, they were both breathing hard. Sophia didn’t think she’d ever been so exhausted in her life. This day just wouldn’t end. But she couldn’t give up, couldn’t follow his commands. She knew what he was hoping to achieve. He wanted to drive her out into the desert to shoot her. Then he wouldn’t have to transport a bleeding body and could leave her to the elements and the scavengers, like the UDA murderer did with his victims—and drive off. Maybe he was the UDA killer.

Briefly, she imagined Detective Lindstrom coming out to take a look at the crime scene and smiling the moment she identified the body. That gave Sophia a fresh dose of determination and strength. She wouldn’t be the next victim in Bordertown, wouldn’t let herself be killed—especially by her stepfather.




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