“Stop me.”

She was taunted by a killer.

Margaret Daley’s thrilling Lone Star Justice series continues, this time pitting radio therapist Dr. Caitlyn Rhodes against a methodical murderer. First, her patients are found dead, then the mocking phone calls start. The evidence is pointing Texas Ranger Ian Pierce to one conclusion: he must protect Caitlyn from becoming this vicious killer’s next victim...before he loses the woman he once loved—for good.

MARGARET DALEY, an award-winning author of ninety books (five million sold worldwide), has been married for over forty years and is a firm believer in romance and love. When she isn’t traveling, she’s writing love stories, often with a suspense thread, and corralling her three cats, who think they rule her household. To find out more about Margaret, visit her website at margaretdaley.com.

Also By Margaret Daley

Lone Star Justice

High-Risk Reunion

Lone Star Christmas Rescue

Texas Ranger Showdown

Alaskan Search and Rescue

The Yuletide Rescue

To Save Her Child

The Protector’s Mission

Standoff at Christmas

Guardians, Inc.

Christmas Bodyguard

Protecting Her Own

Hidden in the Everglades

Christmas Stalking

Guarding the Witness

Bodyguard Reunion

Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk

Texas Ranger Showdown

Margaret Daley

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-1-474-08266-2

TEXAS RANGER SHOWDOWN

© 2018 Margaret Daley

Published in Great Britain 2018

by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF

All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.

By payment of the required fees, you are granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right and licence to download and install this e-book on your personal computer, tablet computer, smart phone or other electronic reading device only (each a “Licensed Device”) and to access, display and read the text of this e-book on-screen on your Licensed Device. Except to the extent any of these acts shall be permitted pursuant to any mandatory provision of applicable law but no further, no part of this e-book or its text or images may be reproduced, transmitted, distributed, translated, converted or adapted for use on another file format, communicated to the public, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher.

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www.millsandboon.co.uk

Version: 2020-03-02

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Fear struck her as she opened the door.

The office was destroyed—a chaotic mess in front of her.

Ian grabbed her before she could walk in. “Stay here. Let me check it out.” He withdrew his gun and slipped past her.

Moments later she followed him inside. Ripped papers and books, smashed objects littered the floor, along with items from storage boxes, a foot deep. She stepped into the bathroom, surprisingly left untouched. Then she saw it. STOP ME was written on the mirror in bold black letters. She shook her head, as though in shock, not believing what she was seeing.

“Caitlyn?”

Finally their gazes embraced across the turmoil, tears pooling in her eyes. He came to her and she plastered herself against him, her whole body shaking.

“Why would someone do this?” she asked.

“He left a message on the mirror.”

A shudder rippled down her spine. No. “He doesn’t want me to stop him. He wants to scare me...and then kill me.”

Dear Reader,

Texas Ranger Showdown is my third book in my Lone Star Justice series about Texas Rangers, the state police in Texas. I love writing about strong heroes and heroines. In this story, I wanted my heroine to be the target of a killer who made it personal and taunted her. As a therapist, Caitlyn had faced a traumatic situation that had changed her life. She used her pain to help others solve their problems. She had to dig deep to deal with the killer who wanted to destroy Caitlyn’s life.

I love hearing from readers. You can contact me at margaretdaley@gmail.com or at PO Box 2074 Tulsa, OK 74101. You can also learn more about my books at www.margaretdaley.com. I have a monthly newsletter that you can sign up for on my website.

Best wishes,

Margaret Daley

And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

—Luke 11:4

To the Love Inspired and Love Inspired Suspense editors

Thank you for all your hard work

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

About the Author

Booklist

Title Page

Copyright

Introduction

Dear Reader

Bible Verse

Dedication

ONE

TWO

THREE

FOUR

FIVE

SIX

SEVEN

EIGHT

NINE

TEN

ELEVEN

TWELVE

THIRTEEN

FOURTEEN

Extract

About the Publisher

ONE

Called in by the Longhorn sheriff, Texas Ranger Ian Pierce pulled up to the crime scene outside of town. A woman’s body had been found by an older couple out for a morning walk on the country road.

Ian approached Sheriff Tom Mason and shook his hand. He’d been the sheriff in the community when Ian was a teenager. He’d always admired the man and the way he ran his department. The people in this county did too because he’d been in his current position for twenty-five years. “It’s good to see you again. I just wish under different circumstances.”

“So do I, especially with this one. The woman murdered was Jane Shephard.”

“Senator Shephard’s daughter?”

Tom nodded. “I figure with a state senator’s family involved, I should have you involved too.”

“You think it might be politically motivated?”

“No indication of that, but it’ll be a volatile case.” Tom headed toward the roped-off crime scene. “It appears she was dumped here sometime early this morning. She hasn’t been dead long. We’ll know more after the autopsy.”

Ian ducked under the yellow crime-scene tape and made his way down the steep side of the ditch where the victim lay faceup in about an inch of dirty rainwater, posed with her hands across her chest. No outward sign of how she’d been killed. “Do we know how she died?”

“When we rolled her over, she had multiple stab wounds in her back, but there’s little blood on the scene, which rules out this as the place where she was murdered. I’d like to keep the extent of the wounds quiet.”

“Any evidence?” Ian asked as he took his cell phone and snapped pictures of the dump site.

“Some smudged footprints in the mud. When Mr. White saw Jane, he thought she might be alive and hurried down the side of the ditch. He slipped once. His actions destroyed some evidence, but I don’t know when she would have been found if the Whites hadn’t been out for a walk. You can’t see the bottom of the ditch from a passing car.”

“Have you informed the family yet?”

“Nope. But I’m going over to the house, right after I make sure this is processed correctly and the body’s off to the morgue.” The sheriff removed his cowboy hat and ran his fingers through his hair. “I’ve never gotten used to this part of my job.”

“I know what you mean. And it would be better coming from you than me. I’ve only seen Jack Shephard recently on TV. But I can stay here to make sure everything is done by the book, if you want to go now. I wouldn’t want him to hear it from someone else.”

“I agree. Let’s meet later at the station. I’ll find out what I can about Jane’s whereabouts yesterday and this morning, and especially when her family last saw her and where she would have been going this morning.”

“Maybe if we can piece together a timeline of her movements, we can discover where she was murdered.”

Tom stuck a toothpick into his mouth and put his hat on his head, then climbed out of the ditch and left.

Three days on the job in Longhorn and Ian had already become involved in the murder of a member from a prominent family. After the intense few months he’d spent in El Paso rounding up a drug cartel, he’d hoped to have a little downtime to deal with his brother and make sure his grandma was all right. Something was wrong with Sean, and he was determined to help his older brother whether he wanted it or not. His grandma was worried sick about Sean. Ian had returned to his hometown because of his family, especially for Nana, who needed more help than she wanted to admit to anyone.

An hour later, the area had been processed, with pictures taken and what little evidence there was collected. Jane Shephard’s body had been transported to the morgue for an autopsy.

When Ian left the dump site, he drove toward his grandmother’s house. He had promised to have lunch with her next door, at her best friend Sally’s, and he was late. He’d forgotten about it until he’d been climbing out of the ditch and had received a call from Nana.

As Ian stopped at a light, his cell phone rang, and he saw it was the sheriff. “How did the family notification go?”

“Jack Shephard wasn’t there. He’s in Austin. His wife called him, and he’s heading back to Longhorn now. Ruth took the news relatively well, but I was glad her housekeeper was with her when I left. Ruth didn’t know where Jane was last night, but this morning she left early to meet with her therapist, Caitlyn Rhodes.”

Caitlyn Rhodes. Her name brought back good memories but also regret. There were times over the years he could have used her advice and friendship. The closest he’d been to her in years was listening to her radio talk show, where she counseled people who called in. He still didn’t understand the abrupt end to their relationship the summer she graduated from high school.

“I’m waiting for Jack to arrive here. He’s coming to the station before going home. Can you talk with Caitlyn Rhodes?”

Since he’d returned to his hometown, his grandma had mentioned Caitlyn, who was Sally’s granddaughter, several times. “Sure. In fact, I’m supposed to have lunch with her grandmother today. I’ll find out Caitlyn’s schedule and track her down.”

“Do you know her?”

“Yes. We went to school together and were friends, but I haven’t seen her in a long time.” Too long. Every time he heard her on her radio show he’d pictured her in his mind—petite, long wavy brown hair with a touch of red in it and the most beautiful dark green eyes.

“Call me after you talk with her.”

“Will do.”

He and Caitlyn had been two years apart in school. She’d been popular and had a lot of guys wanting to date her. While he’d attended a college in Dallas, she’d finished high school and, that summer before she went to the University of Texas, they’d dated several times. He’d begun to think they were growing closer, but suddenly one day he’d received a voice mail from her, canceling their date. Later he discovered she’d left town. Their paths didn’t cross after that, and he’d always wondered if they could have had a serious relationship. Now it didn’t make any difference. His job was his life.

* * *

Caitlyn Rhodes took a moment while several commercials were played on her popular talk show, Share with Caitlyn. She’d been on the run the whole morning before coming to the radio station for her live program. Her first therapy client, Jane Shepard, had concerned her at her office earlier today. During her appointment, Jane had paced the room, only sitting down a couple of times. Something was wrong, but Caitlyn couldn’t get much out of her. She planned to call her later and see if she would come to Caitlyn’s office tomorrow or suggest that she could go to Jane wherever she wanted. Caitlyn couldn’t shake her concern.

Melanie Carson, her show’s producer, signaled that the last commercial was wrapping up. Caitlyn glanced at the wall clock in the studio. Only five minutes till the end of her show. She had time for one or two more callers.

Caitlyn pressed the button. “Hello. You’re on the air.”

Silence greeted her.

Seconds passed, so she reached toward the control panel to switch to the next caller when a raspy, deep voice said, “Stop me!”

A chill snaked down Caitlyn’s spine. “Stop you from doing what?”

Another eerie quiet filled the dead air. She opened her mouth to say—

Click.

Behind the glass window, Melanie frowned and tapped her watch.

Quickly recovering from the call, Caitlyn leaned toward the microphone and started to say what she did when a viewer got cold feet and shut down on the radio: “Please call me at my office, and we can talk privately.” But she couldn’t get those words out. They stuck in her throat.

Melanie again indicated her watch to wrap up. Caitlyn pulled herself together and began to speak.

“I can’t believe how fast the past hour went, but I’ll be back tomorrow, same time, to discuss any problems you need help with. Remember: unresolved problems lead to stress, and stress leads to illness. Keep your mind and body healthy. Call me or write me,” she said automatically as she did every show. Then she rattled off her email address for the ones like that last caller who froze when they realized millions were listening to them.

If only I could follow my own advice about unresolved problems.

As she rose to leave the studio, she couldn’t shake the coldness that had embedded itself deep in her bones at the two words he’d said.

Stop me!

Not calmly but desperately, as though he was at the end of his patience. That shouldn’t have stopped her from saying he could contact her at her office. In her years as a therapist with a doctorate in psychology and counseling, she’d talked with many desperate people.

She headed out into the hallway. What had made her not encourage him to call the office?

The sinister edge to his voice? The sense of urgency?

“Caitlyn, are you okay?”

She stopped and turned toward her producer. “Yes, Melanie. It was clear whoever was on the phone didn’t really want help or he would have said more.” She’d learned over the years that she couldn’t help someone who wasn’t open to it. It had been a hard lesson, but it had saved her own sanity with one of her clients in her first year of counseling. She wanted to help people with problems and considered it more than her occupation. But as her grand pappy used to say, you could lead a horse to water, but you couldn’t make it drink.

“Good. He was creepy. Probably just a prankster.”

Over the past two years, Share with Caitlyn had had several pranksters on-air. “Yeah, that’s what I think.”

“Do you want me to screen your calls before you talk to them?”

She didn’t want to put any barriers in place for her callers. So far that had worked for her. Handling those few pranksters hadn’t been a big deal. Her listeners knew when the phone was answered it was by her, making their first connection more personal. “No, let’s leave it as is,” Caitlyn murmured and started for the double doors at the end of the corridor that led to the lobby of the building. And yet as she said that, she still couldn’t shake the chill those two words had given her.

“I’ve got his phone number and, if you want me to, I can block his call from coming through to you,” Melanie said from the other end of the hallway.

Caitlyn started to say yes, but she reminded herself that she’d gone into counseling to help as many people as she could—even ones who couldn’t pay much. That was why she volunteered at Matthew’s Ministries Tuesday mornings. She turned toward her coworker and friend. “No, maybe he wasn’t ready to share yet, but he might be later. See you tomorrow, Mel. I have a date with Granny.”

“Speaking of a date, the guy I’m seeing has a good friend who would be perfect for you. I’ll fix you up, and we all can go out together. Say, next week sometime?”

Caitlyn paused at the exit, shaking her head. “No blind dates. I’m content with my life.” Her days were full and she didn’t need the added pressure of running the dating gauntlet. Years ago, she’d walked away from that when one man stepped too far over the line and she’d paid for his actions. She shoved the memory away. She refused to let Byron ruin her life any more than he already had. But he somehow managed to creep back into her thoughts at unexpected times.

When she left the station in Longhorn, a small town outside Dallas, she took a deep breath of the warm breeze from the south and relished the rays of the sun hitting her face. Spring. She loved this season above all the others. Glimpsing the clock tower at city hall, she hurried her pace. Granny expected a person to be prompt. She didn’t believe in keeping people waiting.

Caitlyn slipped behind the wheel of her restored 1956 red Thunderbird, retracted the top and drove out of the parking lot. She arrived at her grandmother’s fifteen minutes later, her shoulder-length hair wind tossed. After running her fingers through her wild strands, she climbed out of her car and strode to the front porch.

Before she could ring the bell, Granny opened the door. “Now I can start lunch.”

“You haven’t yet?”

“Nope. You were late last week, so I wasn’t sure when you would come.”

Caitlyn looked at her watch. “I wasn’t late last week or today.”

Her grandmother entered the kitchen where her closest friend and next-door neighbor, Emma, sat at the table enjoying a cup of coffee. Granny made her way to the refrigerator. “Yes, you were.”

“Not by my watch.” Caitlyn checked its time against the clock over the stove. “Which is five minutes off yours.”

“See? I told you that you were late.”

“I’ve got a client at one,” Caitlyn said, remembering how several of her weekly luncheons with Granny were full-course dinners. She thought Caitlyn was too skinny.

“It won’t take long. I’m only fixing sandwiches. Emma and I have yoga this afternoon. You should join us sometime.” Granny pulled a bowl and mayo from the fridge.

“Caitlyn, we listened to your show today.” Emma sipped her drink. “You gave some good advice and did a nice job handling that last caller. I would have hung up after two seconds of silence. You’re more tolerant than I am.”

Granny harrumphed. “You should be less tolerant. I don’t like you doing this talk show, four times a week. No telling who it’s exposing you to.”

Caitlyn sat across from Emma. “I’ve been practicing for seven years without any problems. I went into my profession to help people who were having problems. Y’all need to stop worrying about me.” She knew from personal experience what happened when you ignored your problems for years, hoping they would go away. They never did.

“That’s what a grandma is for—to worry about her grandchildren.” Granny brought the plate of sandwiches to the table and set them down, then went back for the pitcher of iced tea.

“I’m giving you the okay not to.” Caitlyn grabbed a chicken salad sandwich.

“But what about that creepy-sounding man? ‘Stop him’ from doing what?”

Granny said a prayer, then poured iced tea in both Caitlyn’s and her glasses, while Emma stuck to her coffee. “You don’t have to take us to yoga.”

“My grandson said he’d give us a ride. He should be here any minute.” Emma took a bite of her lunch.

“Sean?” Caitlyn was asking about him because lately he’d been more a recluse than a rancher.

“No, Ian. I can never get Sean to do anything lately.”

“Ian? I thought he lived in El Paso.” Caitlyn remembered the times she, Sean and Ian used to play together as kids. Granny and Emma had been best friends for over sixty years, so it made sense that she’d be friends with Emma’s grandkids. Then later, she’d even gone out with Ian a couple of times after graduating from high school and before her life took a detour and they lost touch.

Emma smiled. “Not since last week. A position opened up. He’s been transferred to Company B and will be working in the Longhorn area. I’ve sure missed him. He’s staying with me until he finds a house.”

“Not at the family ranch outside town?”

“No, Sean and Ian don’t get along.”

Caitlyn hadn’t seen Ian in years. When he had been in Longhorn for his father’s funeral last year, she’d been gone. According to Emma, he was so busy with his job as a Texas Ranger that he’d had limited time to come home. What made Ian return now? A change of scenery? His older brother, who was supposed to be looking after Emma, rarely came by. Was that why, or was there something else?

“That’s a shame. They used to be so close when we were growing up. I never see Sean anymore, and we live in the same town.”

“That’s because you’re dedicated to your work like both my grandsons, Caitlyn. Since my son died, Sean’s been throwing all his energy into making the Pierce ranch the biggest one in the area. He’s carrying on the feud my son and his neighbor, Jack Shephard, had over whose ranch was the biggest and richest. He doesn’t have time for much else.” Emma drained the last of her coffee and set her mug on the table.

The sadness in Emma’s voice told Caitlyn there was more to what was going on with Sean than working too much. From all she’d heard, Sean had changed a lot in the past few years—more bitter and angry. His father’s death had sent him in a downward spiral. She hated hearing he was continuing the feud between the ranches. “Let me refill your coffee.”

Caitlyn rose and walked to the stove to grab the pot. As she turned to come back to the table, Emma shot Granny a be quiet look. Caitlyn would have a word with her grandmother when Emma wasn’t here. Something was going on. Maybe Caitlyn could help? Emma was like a second grandmother to her. Growing up, she’d been closer to Ian than she was to Sean.

In fact, she’d hoped there could have been more between her and Ian, but she’d had to leave Longhorn suddenly. A relationship with him was never meant to be. Her job fulfilled her, and she was able to do what she loved—helping others.

* * *

As Ian parked in his grandma’s driveway, he noticed a retro Thunderbird with its top down parked at the curb in front of Sally’s home. He whistled. Beautiful car. Was that Caitlyn’s? The sports car had to be hers. It fit her personality. When he’d known her, she’d been serious but with a touch of mischief. How much had she changed? He certainly had, he reflected.

He rang the bell and, not a half a minute later, Caitlyn Rhodes opened her grandmother’s front door. A smile dimpled her cheeks and brightened her green eyes.

“It’s great to see you.” Caitlyn gave him a quick hug, then stepped to the side. “Come in. The dynamite duo will have someone to interrogate besides me now.”

Ian chuckled, taking in how much Caitlyn had changed since he’d last seen her five years ago at Christmas. Her usually long brown hair was cut shorter, which framed her face, emphasizing her attractive features from a pert nose to the longest eyelashes to full lips.

He realized he was staring and looked away, trying to tamp down his racing pulse. “Nana has done her share of drilling me for information long-distance.”

Caitlyn shut the door, clasped his arm and started for the kitchen. “You’re late. Prepare yourself. Being late in Granny’s house is frowned upon.”

She used to hook her arm through his in the past. Her touch felt familiar and yet...something much more. If only Caitlyn hadn’t left that summer, things would have been different between them.

“I’m glad you’re here finally. I have a patient at one, so I can’t stay as long as I wish.”

“I have unusual hours. Crime doesn’t work on a schedule.”

She laughed. “Neither does a patient’s crisis. I understand.”

When they approached the kitchen, he let Caitlyn go ahead of him, her arm slipping away from him. He missed the connection. She had always made him feel better and, after the morning he’d had, he needed that. After lunch, he’d talk to her about Jane.

He paused in the doorway. A place waited for him at the table, food already on his plate. He went to his grandmother, kissed her on the cheek and sat down across from her. Nana and Sally were two people who probably knew more than most what was going on in Longhorn. They had lived here their whole lives and were always involved in the church and town. Maybe they’d know something to help with his latest case. “Sorry I was late. I got delayed with a new case.”

Sally waved her hand. “Some things can’t be helped. I certainly understand.”

Caitlyn’s eyes grew wide. “He’s half an hour late and you don’t care, while I was only five minutes late and I got—”

Nana patted Caitlyn’s hand. “Honey, I understand. I’d be late if I had a creepy man call me on-air like you did.”

Creepy man? Ian shifted his attention to Caitlyn. “On your radio show?”

“You know I’m on the radio?”

He nodded. “I’ve even listened.”

Color flooded Caitlyn’s cheeks. “In El Paso?”

“Yep, we have a station that runs Share with Caitlyn. It’s always nice to hear a voice from my past.” He’d felt connected to his hometown—and her—while listening to her on the radio. He could have used her insight on the woman he’d been engaged to, who’d stolen his identity and money, then disappeared. But Caitlyn hadn’t been a therapist at that time. Thankfully, after years of being a law enforcement officer, he wasn’t as gullible as he’d been when he was in his midtwenties, but the incident wasn’t something he’d shared with anyone. “What did this guy say?”

“‘Stop me!’” Emma said before Caitlyn could. “But the worse part was the silence.”

“Nana, if I was on the radio, I’d have long silences too.” Ian caught Caitlyn’s gaze and held it. “I admire how you deal with all the different problems people call about.” When he’d been growing up, he’d often come to her for advice, so her career choice hadn’t surprised him.

She grinned. “Talking has always come easily to me. But I’ve had many people freeze up when they go live on the radio. Some I never hear from again. Others get over it and ask me to help them.”

“I hope that guy isn’t one that calls again.” Sally took a drink of her iced tea.

“You said you have a new case. What is it?” Caitlyn asked him.

“Now that the family has been notified, I can tell you. Jane Shephard was found murdered outside of town in a ditch.”

His grandma’s jaw dropped. “Jack is in Austin. Poor Ruth’s all by herself.”

“The senator is on his way home.”

Nana looked at Sally. “We’ll need to go to the church and organize some support for them. Jane was their only child. They will be devastated.” She rose and took her plate and mug to the sink.

“Yeah, we can’t go to yoga. We need to call the people on the church’s phone tree.” Sally joined her friend at the counter.

When they headed toward the hallway, Ian asked, “Do you want me to take you to the church later?”

“Yes,” Nana said as she and Sally began making plans.

Ian swiveled toward Caitlyn, who stared at a spot on the table between them, color drained from her face. “Jane was younger than me in school, but you were closer in age. Did you know her very well as adults?”

“Yes,” she said and lifted her gaze to his. “She’s—was one of my patients. When did this happen?”

“Based on her lividity when I saw her, she was probably killed between 8:00 and 10:00 a.m.”

“Make that between nine and ten. I had an appointment with her at eight this morning. She left my office a few minutes before nine.” Caitlyn shook her head. “I can’t believe this.”

“What can you tell me about her? Was anyone threatening her? Harassing her?”

Caitlyn stood and gathered up her dishes. “I need to talk to her parents first. I don’t think what we talked about had anything to do with her death.”

“I need to re-create her steps. Did she mention going anywhere after her session?”

“She was meeting a couple of her Dallas friends for lunch and shopping afterward.”

“Who was she meeting?”

“Terri Hudson and Zoe Adams.”

“Was she dating anyone?”

“The last serious relationship she had was Max Collins, but that ended months ago. Come to think of it, they got into a big fight at Longhorn Café right before Christmas. Max accused her of seeing someone else.”

“Who?”

“Frankly, I’m not sure. She didn’t discuss it, so I’m not sure she was dating another guy at the same time.” She took the dishes to the sink. “I’d better leave now if I’m going to make my appointment.”

“I’ll walk you out to your car.”

“You don’t have to. As far as what she was going to do right after seeing me, I don’t know anything more. She was dressed casually, as though she might be going back home until she met her friends for lunch. What was she wearing when you saw her?”

“Jeans, boots and a blue blouse.”

“That’s what she had on for her appointment.” Caitlyn grabbed her purse on the counter. “I can tell you that what she was seeing me for wouldn’t have made her a target for a murderer.”

“People murder for all kinds of reasons. Any insight into Jane would be welcomed.” Ian followed Caitlyn from the kitchen. “Having been away from Longhorn for years makes me realize I don’t know the town like I used to. Considering your occupation, I’m thinking you do.” A woman had been discovered killed with no obvious reason in a town where murder was very rare. He opened the front door and let Caitlyn go outside first. “If that caller hassles you, please let me know.”

“I’ll help you any way I can. Just like old times.” She strolled beside him down the sidewalk toward her car. “But I won’t need your help. For all I know, the caller doesn’t even live in Longhorn.”

He gestured toward her Thunderbird. “When did you get this baby? I’m jealous.”

“Nine months ago, when my program was syndicated across the country. It’s my one extravagance. I live in a two-bedroom town house. Nothing fancy.”

He put his hand on the door handle and glanced at her. “And I’m sure you’re going to let a good friend like me drive it soon.”

She laughed. “Not until I see how good a driver you are now. When we were growing up, speed was all you thought about when you got behind the wheel.”

“I’m older and wiser now. Plus, I’ve taken a driving course to teach me the finer points of a high-speed chase.”

“And that’s supposed to make me feel better?”

Ian smiled as he opened the driver’s-side door.

Caitlyn started to slip into her seat but halted halfway, her stare fixed on something in the car.

Ian looked in the same direction.

On the white leather driver’s seat lay a photo of Jane in the ditch, dead. Written across the top were the words Stop me!

TWO

Caitlyn couldn’t take her eyes off the same words she’d heard from the caller.

Stop me!

All the feelings of the morning began to overwhelm her, leaving her shivering despite the sunlight beating down on her shoulders.

A hand touched her arm. She gasped and jerked away, nearly falling on top of the picture of Jane.

Ian gripped her upper arm and kept her upright. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. I wanted you to step away from your car. Besides the photograph, there may be other pieces of evidence left behind.”

She scanned the interior of her Thunderbird. “What?”

“Fingerprints. Maybe something else. This is clearly connected to Jane’s murder.”

Jane’s killer had not only called her show but had approached her car and placed the picture on her seat in the past forty-five minutes. Brazen. Another chill shimmied down her body. She would never again leave the top of the car down while not sitting in it. Longhorn had its crime, but generally it was a peaceful town.

“I have a client coming to my office in—” she checked her watch “—fifteen minutes. I try to always be on time, especially with this patient.”

“I’ll call the chief and have an officer stand guard while I take you to work. Do you know if any of the neighbors have security cameras that might show your car or the street?”

She shook her head. “However, there are a few older couples who are at home during the day. Someone might have seen the person.”

“I hope so.” Ian retrieved his cell phone from his pocket and walked a few steps away while talking to the police chief of Longhorn’s small force.

Could she be the next victim? Why would the killer call her at the station? Did he take Jane when she left Caitlyn’s office this morning? The desperate ring to his words replayed in her mind. Did he genuinely want help to stop him from murdering again or doing something even more sinister? She clasped her hands to keep them from shaking. She wanted to help others, but she didn’t have the answer for everyone. She’d found that out the hard way, especially six months ago with a patient, not long after syndication.

“An officer will be here shortly. We need to let our grandmothers know what happened.”

“I’ll go in and talk to them while you wait.”

As she left Ian, she quickly called her practice and told the receptionist she might be a few minutes late and to let Charles Thorne know. She hated not being there on time because Charles was one of her clients who was obsessive-compulsive. He detested change in any form. It would take half his session to calm him down.

Caitlyn entered her grandma’s house. “Granny, where are you?”

“In the den.”

She hurried toward the back of the house and found both ladies sitting near the desk as Emma hung up the phone. “Ian has to take me to work.” She paused, fortifying herself with a composing breath. “Because he needs to process my car for fingerprints.”

Before Caitlyn could explain why, Granny’s eyes grew huge and she asked, “Whatever for?”

“Someone left a photo on my front seat.”

Her grandmother pushed to her feet using the desk and chair to steady herself. “What aren’t you telling me?”

“It’s a photo of Jane’s body.”

Emma splayed her hand over her chest. “Oh, my! Why?”

This part she wished she didn’t have to tell the ladies, but it would come out eventually and Granny would be mad at her for not sharing it with her right away. “The words Stop me! were on the picture.”

Her grandmother collapsed onto the chair, her hand going to her mouth. Stunned into silence, she simply stared at Caitlyn.

“What’s my grandson doing about it?”

Caitlyn shifted her gaze to Emma. “Everything he can.”

“Tell him not to worry about taking us to church. We’ll continue to organize help for the Shephards from here.”

“Thanks, Emma. I’ll let him know.” Caitlyn turned to her grandmother, who still hadn’t said a word. “Granny, I’ll call you later from the office. Don’t worry. Ian is on the case.” She heard the front door open and the soft sound of footsteps coming down the hall.

Emma took her friend’s hand. “And, Sally, he’s the best. He’ll find the killer.”

Finally, Granny straightened her slumped shoulders and stared right at Caitlyn. “Make him stay with you. Protect you.”

Ian stopped behind Caitlyn. “Sally, I’ll do just that. Caitlyn and I have been friends for a long time. I won’t let anything happen to her.”

“You’d better not, young man.”

Caitlyn could see her grandmother was recovering from the news and was working herself up. “We’ve got to go.” She spun around, grabbed Ian’s hand and rushed toward the exit before Granny came after her. She didn’t stop until she was sitting in Ian’s SUV, while he rounded the hood and hopped into the driver’s seat.

“I take it she wasn’t too happy with the turn of events.” He started the vehicle and pulled out of his grandmother’s driveway.

“It’s not often Granny is speechless.”

Ian whistled. “You should consider staying with your grandmother until the killer is caught.”

“I can’t do that. It could put her in danger.”

“He called you after he killed Jane. Did it sound like he was bragging about murdering her?”

“No, not at all.”

“I don’t think he’s targeting you. I think he wants help. By putting the photo in your car, he’s again telling you to stop him.”

“Like he’s desperate? Or he’s taunting me?” She’d fought to put her life back together years ago and had—or so she’d thought. Now a killer wanted her to stop him. How?

“Both are possible.” Ian pulled into the parking lot next to the clinic where she worked. “I’ll walk you in.”

“You don’t have.”

“Yes, I do. Your grandmother will ask when I return and check your car.”

She exited the SUV at the same time he did and met him at the front of his vehicle to head into the building. “When do you think you’ll be finished with my car?”

“An hour or so. I don’t want to miss anything. When is your last client today?”

“Five.”

“I’ll come back and pick you up then.” He opened the main door for her. “Let me have your car keys.”

She stopped just inside the one-story building and cocked an eyebrow. “Why?”

“For me to take a spin around town.” He chuckled. “Although I would like to do that, it’s really for putting your top up when I’m through processing the car.”

She plopped the keys into Ian’s hand and turned to go to her office. When he followed, she slanted a look at him. “This place is filled with people. I’ll be fine.” She nodded at Rob Owens, a male nurse at the clinic, and at Claire Sanders, the office manager, who was coming out of the break room and passed them in the hallway. “See?”

“I’m sure you will be. I want to know where your office is because I’ll come here later.”

Rounding a corner, she paused and unlocked the private entrance to her office. “Thanks.” When she started to close the door, he clasped her arm. The light touch of his hand on her skin produced goose bumps. Her gaze connected with his for a long moment, drinking in the sight of him after so many years—tall, well-built, dark hair cut short and hazel eyes that changed colors with his mood. She hadn’t realized how much she’d missed him being in Longhorn. His presence made her feel safe, protected.

He smiled, two dimples appearing in his cheeks. “Stay here until I pick you up.”

“I will. If you aren’t here when my last patient leaves, I have files I need to update.”

He stepped back, staring at the door as if he was going to come into her office instead of leaving. If she was truthful with herself, that brief contact brought forth feelings she’d had the summer after she’d graduated from high school. She’d begun thinking of him as more than just a good friend, but then everything changed for her.

Quickly, she shut the door and locked it. When the phone on her desk buzzed, she hurried across the office to answer the call from the receptionist. “Is Charles Thorne here?”

“Yes, he was running late and came in only a moment ago.”

Strange. Charles was never late. “Okay. Send him in.” Caitlyn headed for the other door into her office and swung it open as Charles approached, his forehead set in a scowl.

He flung himself onto the couch. “I wish I hadn’t gotten out of bed. Nothing is going the way it should today. I kept you waiting. I’m sorry about that. It won’t happen again.”

“What delayed you?”

“A traffic accident. It blocked the street for ten minutes.” Then he went on to mention every small thing that had thrown him off, starting with him getting up late because his alarm clock hadn’t gone off. “I always set it. Someone must have come into my room and clicked it off.”

“Who might have, Charles? You live alone, right?”

He shrugged. “I never don’t set it. That’s the only explanation that makes sense.”

“This world is full of change. As much as you want to control every aspect, you can’t all the time. Did you stop and take deep breaths?” The last time she saw Jane leaving her office popped into her mind. Could she have done anything to prevent Jane’s murder? What if she could have—

She wrenched her thoughts back to her patient across from her.

“No, I didn’t have time. I was already five minutes off schedule. I tried rushing, but that made it worse.” He kept looking at his watch as his chest rose and fell rapidly. “And now with the accident, I’m fifteen minutes behind. I feel out of control. I can’t deal with this.” Red flushed his face.

Up until recently, he’d been able to deal with small changes, thanks to a few techniques she’d helped him incorporate into his routine. What was causing this?

“Dr. Rhodes, you have got to stop me!” He held out an arm, his hand shaking.

Stop me! It was as if an arctic blast of wind swept through her office. She hugged herself to keep the trembling at bay.

Those words again! Had Charles listened to her radio show? Or was it something else?

* * *

That evening, Ian escorted Caitlyn to his SUV at her office. “Did anyone from work say anything to you about the caller on your show this morning?” He opened the front passenger door.

“The receptionist. She was on break and one of the nurses was listening to the end of my show. Creepy was their description.”

“And yours?”

“I’d have to agree with creepy. I’ve worked with people who have problems, a few barely functioning day-to-day, but there was something in the way the caller said those two words that set off alarm bells.”

“I’ve talked with Sheriff Mason, who I’m assisting on this case, and we aren’t revealing that you received a photo of the victim with the words Stop me! on it. If he’s doing this for attention, we don’t want to feed into it.”

“I agree. The press would have a field day with it. My patients could be affected by the publicity. That’s unacceptable.”

Ian stopped at a red light and glanced at her, seeing that the events of the day had left their mark on her, based on her slumped shoulders, tired eyes and furrowed forehead. He wished he could have changed the circumstances and the killer had never brought her into the middle of the murder. Why had he? The thought left a hollow sensation in Ian’s gut. “How did your afternoon sessions go?”

“Okay. My first client was later than I was, which pushed everybody back twenty minutes. Thankfully, the others after him are patient about waiting. A few of mine aren’t.”

Ian made a left turn. “I got a call from my brother’s housekeeper, Alice. She wanted me to come to the ranch. Sean hasn’t come out of his bedroom all day. When she last saw him last night, he’d been drinking. Today when she knocked on his door, he didn’t respond. When she tried to turn the knob, it was locked.” Sean’s and his relationship had grown further apart as the years had passed and totally broke down when their father died last year.

“And you want me to come?”

“Yes, but I’ll understand if you want to go to your grandmother’s house instead.”

“I’ll go see Sean. I’ve been worried about him. He’s becoming more reclusive.”

“Yeah, especially since Dad died nine months ago. It’s one of the reasons I transferred here. He hasn’t dealt well with it.”

“What are the other reasons?”

“Nana. She’s beginning to be forgetful. Sean used to check on her frequently, but now he doesn’t. When Mom died, Nana stepped in and helped raise us, while Dad ran the ranch. I was six when she died, and my grandma is really the only mother figure I had.” His mother’s riding accident had affected him, but not nearly as much as it had Sean, who’d found her in the field behind the house.

“With all that’s happened, I’d better call and let Granny know where we’re going. She knows about the photo. Have you talked to her about not saying anything about it?”

“Yes, when I went back to process your car. Nana too.”

“Good. I don’t want them connected in any way with the murder investigation.” Caitlyn dug into her purse for her cell phone.

“Speaking of the investigation, we need to consider that one of your patients could be the killer.”

She dropped her cell phone onto her lap and twisted toward him. “Because Jane was seeing me or because you think it’s one of my patients?”

“Because the guy has pulled you into this.”

“That doesn’t mean one of my patients is the murderer.”

“It doesn’t mean he isn’t. I’m concentrating my investigation on Jane. Who would want her dead? Who has she been seeing? But I have to investigate all angles. This afternoon, after talking to your neighbors—who saw no one by your car, by the way—I interviewed people where Jane worked.” Other than hearing that Jane was a wonderful, giving woman, who’d dedicated her life to running the Shephard Foundation, he’d come up with little information to help with the case.

“Believe me, I want this person caught as much as you do. I’ll go through my list of patients and see if anyone jumps out at me. How about the phone number he used to call me this morning?”

“He used Jane’s cell phone.”

Caitlyn sucked in a deep breath. “I was hoping the caller wasn’t the killer, but I guess that’s wishful thinking now.”

“Yes, since he left the photo and used her phone.”

“And was in front of Granny’s house, while I was inside.” She folded her arms over her chest.

He sliced a look toward her. “Call your grandma. Let her know we’re stopping at the ranch. Don’t tell her about the call coming from Jane’s phone. She and Nana don’t need to worry any more than they already are.”

“Neither do I.”

While Caitlyn made her call, Ian reviewed what little he’d discovered when he’d talked with Jane’s two closest friends. Terri and Zoe said they didn’t know where she went after seeing Caitlyn or anything about Jane’s whereabouts the day before. They both thought she’d stayed at the Shephard ranch yesterday, not feeling well. They didn’t know of her dating anyone seriously after Max and she broke up. Ian and the sheriff had met at the ranch Jane’s family owned, next to the Pierce family’s land, and gone through it. The only thing out of place was her missing car. He couldn’t find anyone who’d seen Jane after she left her therapy appointment.

When Caitlyn finished talking with her grandmother, she shook her head. “I’ve changed my mind about staying with Granny. She wants me to and said if I didn’t, then she was going to come to my town house. With all that’s going on, I think we’d be safer next door to you. Did you say anything about me staying at her place?”

“No, I only mentioned it to you earlier.” The sight of her reinforced all the reasons he needed to find the killer. As a child, he’d been her protector, and he would be now. The guy had involved Caitlyn. Why? He didn’t like any of his answers. “I figured I could talk you into it.” He smiled at her.

Her eyebrows shot up. “You did? You’re awfully sure of your powers of persuasion.”

“Well, if that didn’t work, then I was going to let Granny know about that time you broke her favorite lamp.”

She shot him a glare. “Traitor! It was an accident. I knew how much she loved that lamp. Gramps gave it to her that year for her birthday. You know, I have a few incidents that I could blackmail you over.”

He chuckled. “Yep, and that’s the reason I haven’t said a word.”

“Smart man.”

As he turned into the main gate at the family ranch, he slowed the car. After he’d moved back to Longhorn this past weekend, he’d come out to see Sean, but the housekeeper had told him his brother was gone. Today when she’d called, she admitted that Sean had insisted she say that or he would fire her. Alice had been with the family twenty-five years. For Sean to resort to threatening her didn’t bode well for this meeting.

They hadn’t openly fought, but they had drifted apart with the state of Texas between them. Sean and he were only two years apart but, in many ways, they were strangers, even as they grew up, and especially after their mother died.

Ian parked in front of the large two-story, white brick house with four white columns and switched off the engine. But for a long moment, he just sat there, gripping the steering wheel and trying to decide how to deal with his older brother—if he even saw him.

“Worried?” Caitlyn asked.

“Yes. We once had a good relationship, but over the years it’s deteriorated.” He explained what happened when he came to see Sean the past Sunday. “We’ve talked on the phone a couple of times, but when I make the call, it always goes to voice mail.”

“Has it been that way since you left?”

He shook his head. “Mostly since Dad’s passing last year.”

“He could still be grieving.”

“I thought about that, but I think it’s something else. That’s why I’d like you here. If I suggested he see you, he wouldn’t. He’s like Dad was. He won’t admit when he’s not doing well—physically or emotionally.”

“I’ll do what I can.” Caitlyn scanned the pastures and buildings. “It looks like he’s keeping the ranch up.”

“Yes, because the foreman we’ve had for years does a great job. I didn’t have a chance to talk with him on Sunday, but I will soon. He’s probably gone for the day. I don’t see his truck by the barn.” He rarely avoided an issue that needed to be dealt with, and he couldn’t avoid Sean any longer. “Let’s go.”

Before Ian and Caitlyn reached the front door, it opened. Alice, petite with sal-and-pepper hair pulled into a bun, waited in the entrance. A frown carved deep lines into her face.

“Sean’s in his room. I heard a crash followed by sounds like stuff being smashed against the wall and floor. When he didn’t answer my knock, I tried my master key. He must have a new lock. I couldn’t get in. I’m afraid he’s hurt.”

As Ian headed for the staircase, he asked, “How long has he been in his room today?”

“I heard him come home midmorning. I was in the kitchen and didn’t know until I heard a crash from the foyer. He knocked over a table by the staircase.” Alice gestured toward an empty place along the wall. “A leg broke as well as the lamp and the bowl on it.”

Drunk, no doubt, since he’d been drinking yesterday. “Did you see him then?”

“No, but I heard his door slam shut when I came into the front hall.”

On the stairs, Ian pivoted toward the older woman. He didn’t want Sean to blame Alice for him being here. He didn’t know what to expect from his older brother anymore. “We’ll handle this.” As they ascended the steps, he grabbed Caitlyn’s hand. “I won’t take no for an answer. I want you to stay in the hall. If my brother attacks me, call the sheriff.” He passed her his cell phone. “Use my recent-calls list.”

Ian approached the door and knocked. “Sean, it’s Ian. Let me in.”

After a full minute, he repeated his request, waited twenty seconds, then put all his power behind a kick right under the lock. Nothing happened. He did it again. On the third attempt, the door flew open.

As he moved into the trashed room, Caitlyn sidestepped until she could look inside, but she didn’t go in.

It appeared as though no one was in the bedroom. Ian’s heart thumped against his chest, adrenaline pulsing through his body as he scanned the chaos of items smashed into shards on the carpet, all the objects on the tables and dresser swept onto it too. One nightstand had toppled over.

When Ian rounded the king-size bed, he found his brother on the floor, lying on tousled sheets, blood staining the white linen.

THREE

When Ian stiffened next to Sean’s rumpled bed, Caitlyn came to the entrance with the phone in her hand. “What’s wrong?”

“Call 9-1-1.” Ian knelt beside the far side of the bed.

As she punched in the numbers, she hurried into the room. “What happened?”

Ian reached down to check Sean’s pulse and breathing. “He’s unconscious and has a head wound.”

Caitlyn reported the emergency, then returned Ian’s phone. “It looks like someone tore this place apart. Do you think he interrupted a robber?”

Ian carefully rolled Sean onto his back, then glanced around. “Check the window to see if it’s unlocked.”

Caitlyn inspected the locks, then turned back to Ian. “Unless he let them into the room somehow, no one got in here by the window.”

He hovered over his brother, removing a sheet tangled around Sean’s feet. “Maybe he got up, tripped on something and, when he went down, he hit his head against the corner of the nightstand.” He examined the piece of furniture. “There’s blood on it.” When he shifted his attention to Sean again, he leaned down and sniffed the air. “He reeks of alcohol.”

“I’ve never seen him drinking liquor.”

“He hasn’t since he crashed his car into a tree when he was a teenager. He broke an arm and a leg. This is new, or he’s kept it a secret.”

Caitlyn covered the short distance to the trash can and picked up a bottle of whiskey. “Is this what he’s been doing up here in his room?”

“Probably, but last night he left the house and came home this morning. I’d say he was drunk then, since Alice said he knocked over the table in the foyer.”

Sean groaned and tried to curl onto his side.

Ian stopped him. “Sean?”

His brother moaned, resisting Ian’s attempt to keep him faceup. “What in the—” He struck out at Ian.

“Sean, it’s me. Ian.”

Sean blinked his eyes open. “Leave me alone.”

“That’s not going to happen.”

Sean’s gaze fixed on Caitlyn. “What’s she doing here?”

“I’m here to help,” she answered.

“I’m fine.”

Caitlyn moved closer, half expecting him to leap to his feet and demand she leave, but she would stay if Ian needed her. He’d been there for her earlier. She would be there for him now. “I’m not leaving until the paramedics check you out. You have a nasty bump on your left temple, and it’s still bleeding.”

Sean tried to lift himself up on his elbow, but instead, he closed his eyes and fell back, wincing. “Leave me alone. I don’t need any help.”

“Well, you’re going to get it whether you need it or not.” Ian rose. “I’ll get something to stem the blood flow.”

Caitlyn squatted down where Ian had been. “You may have a concussion. If so, you need to have it looked at. Are you dizzy?”

“No,” Sean said, his eyes still shut.

“Does your head hurt?” Blood oozed from a gash on his temple, and she leaned closer to examine the injury.

“No. I. Am. Fine.” Sean’s dark eyes popped open, his pupils enlarged. “Leave. Now.”

The anger she glimpsed in his eyes wasn’t directed at her but at Ian, who had returned and was standing behind her. With gauze in hand, he knelt again beside his brother.

“We aren’t leaving.” His jaw set in a firm line, Ian hovered over his brother and stared at him, a silent battle of wills playing out. “I’m going to wrap your head to stop the bleeding. You aren’t running me off like before. This is my home too, you know.”

Sean glared at Ian but let him tend to his cut.

The chimes of the doorbell echoed through the house.

“I’m not going to the hospital.” Sean narrowed his eyes on Ian. “You know how I feel about hospitals.”

“You lost consciousness. That’s serious.” Caitlyn rose to make room for the paramedics she heard coming down the hall.

“I passed out from drinking. Not the same thing.” Sean gripped the wooden bed frame and started to hoist himself up.

Ian grasped Sean’s arm to aid him.

“Get out. Paramedics can patch me up.” Pain mingled with Sean’s anger, causing the creases on his face to deepen.

When Alice escorted the two EMTs into the bedroom, Caitlyn stepped back and moved toward her by the doorway.

The housekeeper shook her head. “I don’t understand what’s been going on for the past few months.”

Caitlyn drew Alice into the hallway. “What do you mean?”

“I was around when Sean had his car wreck. I never thought I would see him drink again or have this kind of anger. It’s like he’s changed places with another person.”

Caitlyn had seen signs that Sean was struggling with something but not to this extreme. She’d thought it had been grief over his father dying. Caitlyn had tried to talk to him about Andrew’s death. He’d refused, and after that, Sean had avoided her. He stopped going both to church and to the Longhorn Cattlemen’s Association meetings and functions, two groups he’d been very involved in.

Ian joined them in the hall. “Knowing Sean and his aversion to hospitals, I doubt the paramedics will get him to agree to go.”

“I think we should stay awhile and see how he does. I’ll call Granny and Emma to let them know what’s going on.”

Relief settled over Alice’s face. “I doubt you two have eaten dinner yet. I can fix you some food. It’ll give me something to do besides worrying.”

One of the EMTs came out into the corridor. “He insists he’s gonna stay here, and he wants us to leave. We can’t force him to go to the hospital. We dressed the cut on his temple. His head hurts, but he says his vision is clear and he isn’t dizzy. If he has symptoms like nausea, blurred vision, trouble with his balance or he’s bothered by light or noise, he needs to see a doctor. He should get a few stitches as soon as possible. The laceration’s likely to leave a scar.”

“Thanks,” Ian said as the other paramedic exited the room.

“I’ll walk you to the door.” Caitlyn started down the hall with the two EMTs, praying that Ian could talk some sense into his brother. There was a time they’d been close. She hated hearing they weren’t now.

After the paramedics departed, Caitlyn dug into her purse where she’d left it, on the round table in the middle of the foyer. She found her cell phone and noticed a call from Granny. She hurriedly returned it.

“I’m sorry, Granny, for not calling earlier, but we came to see Sean and he was injured. The paramedics just left.”

“What happened?”

Caitlyn told her how she and Ian found Sean. “Is Emma there?”

“Yes, we were hoping to talk y’all into eating dinner with us.”

“Let her know about Sean. We’ll stay here for a while. Alice is fixing us something to eat. I’ll give you an update later. Tell Emma that Sean will be all right.”

“Will he?”

“If Ian has anything to say about it, yes.” It was one of the reasons she cared so much for Ian. He didn’t give up on people.

“And that young man is mighty determined. He reminds me of you. Y’all always got along well, like a couple.”

Was Granny trying to get her and Ian together? She was one of the few people who knew what had happened that summer after high school graduation. “Talk to you later, Granny. Bye.”

What would have happened between her and Ian if she hadn’t told that other guy she’d been dating that she just wanted to be friends? She’d seen a future with Ian and hadn’t wanted any distraction as they took their relationship beyond friendship. But the consequences of that final date with Byron had left her shattered.

* * *

When Ian entered Sean’s room after the paramedics left, his brother was curled onto his right side away from the door. Quietly, he rounded the end of the bed to see if Sean was awake. His brother’s eyes were closed. Ian couldn’t tell if he was asleep or just faking it. Ian decided to give Sean space and time to sober up.

Ian walked from the room, leaving the door open. Since the lock was busted, Sean couldn’t barricade himself inside like before. His brother needed to face the problems that had led him to this point, but Sean would never listen to him. Ian hoped he would listen to Caitlyn. What he witnessed earlier was a plea for help, even if his brother wouldn’t admit it.

He was glad that Caitlyn had been here, ready to offer her support. When they were growing up, she’d always been there for him, and that hadn’t changed. He didn’t realize how much he’d missed her. Most of his professional life had been spent solving others’ problems, but he needed help with his brother. But with Sean he couldn’t be objective. He hoped Caitlyn could.

Ian went downstairs and found her with Alice in the kitchen. The table was set for three, and the housekeeper placed a large serving dish of stew on it. “I know you can work wonders, Alice, but there’s no way you had time to whip up this dinner.” He inhaled deeply. “That smells delicious.”

Alice grinned. “It’s Sean’s favorite. I made it earlier. I thought that would get him out of his room. It didn’t, but I’m glad it’s not going to waste.”

“No way. I’ll take some home with me for later this week.” Ian caught Caitlyn’s attention. “Have you had Alice’s stew before?”

“No, but the smell was what drew me to the kitchen.” Caitlyn took a seat at the table across from where Ian stood. “I talked with Granny. She’ll let Emma know that Sean’s okay. How was he when you left?”

“Asleep—I think.” Ian pulled out the chair for Alice and scooted it in after she sat.

The housekeeper’s cheeks reddened. “It’s been a while since a man did that for me.”

“That’s the least I can do. I love Nana, but she doesn’t cook nearly as well as you.”

Alice picked up the bowl, scooped the stew onto her plate, then passed it to Caitlyn. “Ian, are you going to stay at your grandma’s, come here or find your own place?”

He dished out his serving, then set the container in the middle of the table. “I’ve thought about living in the foreman’s house here at the ranch since Bud doesn’t, but first I want to make sure Nana is okay by herself because I don’t think she’ll want to move from her place, especially with Sally next door.”

“Granny and Emma are usually together most of the time at one of their places. They help each other. I’ve heard from both of them that they don’t want to move.”

He would do whatever was best for his grandmother, but he was used to living alone. Over the years, he’d become set in his ways—coming and going whenever he needed to because of his job. Crime happened at all hours of the day, and Nana tended to worry a lot. “Have they ever talked about living together in one place?”

“About once a month. So far neither one is willing to give up her house to move in with the other.” Caitlyn took a bite of the stew. “Mmm! Wonderful, Alice.”

She blushed. “Thanks. It’s always nice to hear that.”

“Sean and I have been a big fan of your cooking since we were teenagers,” Ian said.

Alice stared at her plate for a long moment, then looked at Ian. “Lately he hasn’t been a big fan of anything. Caitlyn, I hope you and Ian can help him.”

“When was the last time he went to the doctor?” Caitlyn clasped her glass and sipped the cold water.

“A couple of years, before Andrew passed away. Sean was breaking in a horse, and the animal won that round. I didn’t think he’d go with the paramedics tonight, especially when Andrew left in an ambulance and never came home.”

“Is that when you began seeing a lot of changes?”

Alice cocked her head. “Yes, he found Andrew in the office collapsed on the floor.” Her forehead crinkled as she paused in thought. “I was going to say he didn’t leave the ranch much after that, but lately he has been. I’d started wondering if he was seeing someone, but this week everything went back to how it was right after Andrew died.”

Had his move back to Longhorn caused Sean to hole himself up at the ranch? “What changed for Sean?”

Alice shrugged a shoulder.

“What kind of behaviors do you see the most, Alice?” Caitlyn asked.

“Depression, losing interest in the ranch and, at times, escalating anger like tonight.”

“I’ll try again to talk with Sean when he isn’t hungover. If I have to, I can come to the ranch to treat him.”

“I hope he’ll open up to you, Caitlyn.” Ian’s gaze connected with hers. She was such a caring person. That was one of the things that drew him to her even as teenagers. He missed being around her. “Sean probably won’t be in any mood to talk tonight. I’ll take you to your grandmother’s. With all that’s happened today, she’ll want to see you.”

“Are you sure you don’t want me to stay?”

“Yes. I’m going to come back to the ranch and plop myself down in the stuffed chair in Sean’s room. If he wakes up, I’ll know. I’m a light sleeper.”

When Ian finished his stew, he and Caitlyn cleared the table and rinsed the dishes so Alice could go to bed. Then Ian went upstairs to check on Sean. His brother hadn’t moved from his previous position.

As Ian escorted Caitlyn to his SUV, she took his hand as though she could read his mind and the turmoil boiling in it. He felt her support without a word from her. He hadn’t realized how important that was to him—until now. He opened the passenger door for her, then walked around to the driver’s side. He should have come home months ago, but the Texas Ranger position hadn’t opened up until recently.

As he drove away from the ranch, he sliced a glance toward Caitlyn. “Thanks for coming. I’m at a loss on how to help Sean. Any suggestions?”

“He needs to see his doctor and have a physical to rule out any kind of medical problem causing the personality change. And he needs to be in therapy. He’s trying to deal with depression on his own. It’s not uncommon for a depressed person to turn to drugs and alcohol to try and alleviate it. Of course, it only makes the situation worse. If he doesn’t want to talk with me, I can recommend a therapist in Dallas.”

“Any help is appreciated. I hope tomorrow morning Sean and I can have a civil conversation about what happened today.”

“Today has been intense. I hope I make sense on the radio in the morning.”

“Which days do you do your show?”

“Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. They want me to go to five days a week, especially as more stations are being added. I’m getting calls now from all over the States, but I volunteer at Matthew’s Ministries on Tuesday and don’t want to give that up.”

Ian braked at a four-way stop sign. “You could always volunteer on the weekend.”

“True. But I don’t know if I want to take more on. I have patients I need to serve first. They’re my priority. I’m stretching myself as it is, doing four days.”

He pressed the accelerator and crossed the intersection. “Speaking of your patients, is there anyone who could be the caller?”

Caitlyn didn’t answer for a long moment. “I have a few clients that have a lot of issues, but no one has mentioned Jane recently.”

“How about in the past?”

“It’s possible, but I’ll have to search my case notes. I won’t break patient-doctor confidentiality. It’s important that my patients feel what they say to me will stay with me. I’m going to see the Shephards to let them know what you want. I can’t imagine them not agreeing to me talking to you. As I said before, I don’t see anything Jane said to me that would lead to someone murdering her.”

“Thanks. You never know what sets a person off.” Ian parked in Sally’s driveway behind Caitlyn’s Thunderbird. “I hope you’re staying here tonight.”

“I am. Granny wants me to. Emma is staying too.”

“That’s good. Otherwise, I doubt she’d sleep much since I’m going to be at the ranch. And I know I’ll sleep much better knowing she’s with y’all.”

This time as he strolled up to Sally’s house, he took Caitlyn’s hand. He’d liked the earlier physical connection. He remembered as a kid going on a hike in the woods with Caitlyn and, because she feared stepping on a snake, he’d held her hand. That feeling of being her protector made his chest swell, even though he didn’t know at the age of eleven what he would have done if they had encountered a snake.

“What are you smiling about?” she asked when she reached the porch illuminated with a bright light.

“Just thinking about the time we went hiking in Longhorn Woods, and you were afraid you’d see a snake.”

“I’m still scared of snakes—all kinds.”

Before she had a chance to ring the bell, the door opened. “It’s about time you got here. Emma and I are having a hard time staying up.” Sally moved away from the entrance and planted herself next to Nana.

His grandmother’s arms were crossed over her chest and a formidable look on her face plainly showed her concern. “With a murderer running around town, I was getting worried.”

“Nana, we’re fine. We were in the house at the ranch or in my car driving here. Besides, I’m trained to deal with dangerous situations.”

“Is Sean still all right?” His grandma’s intense expression eased.

“He’s sleeping. If something changes for the worse, I’ll let you know. I’ll be staying there tonight.”

Sally yawned. “Well, now that Caitlyn is here, we can go to bed.”

“Yes, y’all go to sleep. I’ll lock up the house.” Caitlyn hugged her grandma and his.

As they shuffled toward the hallway to the bedrooms, Ian waited until they reached their destination before saying, “I’ll walk through the house and make sure everything is locked down tight. There were times at Nana’s that I’d find a door or window unlocked.”

“It’s a shame we even have to lock up at all. Years ago, people didn’t in Longhorn.”

“I know. But it’s the reality now in our society.”

Caitlyn strolled beside him while he went through the house. “You must have seen all the reasons why that’s our reality. Being a therapist is hard, but I can’t imagine what ugliness and evil you’ve encountered in your job.”

As he moved from a door to a window, he thought about his fifteen years in law enforcement. “There have been times I’ve considered walking away, but then something like a case I worked on in December would make me realize I make a difference in people’s lives, like you do with counseling.”

“What happened in December?”

“I was part of a team that saved the lives of a woman and a baby. Also, I helped break up a drug cartel and take some seriously bad men down. That case was a success. I wish all of them were.”

Caitlyn turned toward him, halting his step. “I hope Jane’s murderer can be brought to justice. After my show tomorrow, I’m paying the Shephard family a visit. I worked on Jack’s campaign the last two times. And if there is anything I can do to help with the case, I will.”

“I appreciate the offer, but I don’t want you involved. I don’t want the killer to contact you again.”

“What if I could help him?”

“How? Talk him into turning himself in? I don’t think so.”

Caitlyn straightened her shoulders and lifted her chin. “It’s not unheard of. Police convince criminals to confess whenever they can.”

“That’s different. They’re trained to protect themselves and others.”

“And I’m trained to understand the reasons behind a person’s actions, whether logical or illogical.”

Ian headed for the entry hall. “I need to get back to the ranch. As much as I don’t want to, I’m going to wake Sean a couple of times tonight and make sure he’s all right. I worry about him slipping into a coma.”

“You’re brave. It’ll be like poking a sleeping grizzly bear.”

He chuckled, the tension from a moment ago evaporating. “Now that image will be in my mind when I do.”

“You’ll call me tomorrow and let me know how things are going?”

Her question made his spirits soar. “I look forward to talking to you.”

And the smile she gave him as he left the house sent his heartbeat racing.

On the drive to the ranch, Ian recalled different times they’d spent together, especially as teenagers. He knew the exact moment Caitlyn became more than a friend—at a New Year’s Eve party in her senior year in high school, when he’d kissed her at midnight. The connection had surprised him. After that he’d begun looking at her in a different light—as more than just a friend. But they’d been young, and life hadn’t changed them yet.

At the ranch, Ian parked in front of the house and let himself in. Silence welcomed him. The grandfather clock chimed midnight. He’d been gone longer than he’d thought. He took the stairs two at a time.

As he entered his brother’s bedroom, lit dimly by a single lamp, his gaze went immediately to the bed. Sean had turned over onto his back, half the covers thrown off him. His chest rose and fell gently. He looked peaceful now.

Ian sank into the lounge chair. Tired but not sleepy, he reclined and closed his eyes for a moment. He didn’t want his brother to wake up alone. Something was wrong with Sean. The first thing he would do was persuade his brother to see a doctor. The man in the bed wasn’t anything like he used to be. They had been close growing up. What had happened?

The bed creaked.

Ian opened his eyes to find Sean wrestling with his sheets. He immediately stood and hurried to his brother.

The thrashing increased.

Ian grabbed his shoulders and held him still. “Sean? Sean, what’s wrong?”

“Why, Jane?” tore from Sean’s mouth in anguish.

Did his brother even know she’d been killed? The news didn’t carry her death until the afternoon, and according to Alice, Sean had been holed up in his room.

“Jane!”

“Sean, wake up.”

Sean’s eyes bolted open and stared up at Ian. Then his brother blinked and yanked himself away from Ian.

“What are you doing here?” Sean asked in a clear, coherent voice, roughened with anger.

“Making sure you’re all right after hitting your head.” Ian straightened but stayed at the side of the bed. “Why were you calling Jane?”

Sean’s forehead scrunched. “I don’t know.” He pulled the sheet up and over his shoulders, then rolled over partway until his back was to Ian. “Go home. I’m fine.”

“I’m not leaving.” He stood by the bed, waiting for his brother to say something more.

After five minutes, Ian circled to the other side to find Sean was asleep—or at least he thought he was. Ian returned to the lounge chair. He was staying, no matter what his brother said. This was his ranch too, and his brother needed him.

As the hour passed, Ian’s eyelids became heavier and soon he fell sleep.

Four chimes sounded through the house.

Ian jerked awake. When he looked toward the bed, it was empty.

Where was Sean?

He scrambled to his feet, rushed into the hallway and searched every room except Alice’s. Then he headed outside and went to the barn. No sign of Sean.

Was his truck still at the ranch?

Ian jogged to the garage and stared at the empty place where Sean’s truck should have been. His brother was in no condition to drive.

Why did he leave? More importantly, where did he go, and why did he say Jane’s name last night?

* * *

Wearing the same clothes as yesterday, Caitlyn couldn’t wait to get home, take a shower and change her outfit. She entered the kitchen where she heard Emma and Granny talking. The scent of coffee spiked the air, and she desperately needed caffeine. She hadn’t slept well last night.

“Good morning.” Caitlyn crossed to the counter and filled a mug with her grandma’s special brew. “I wish I could stay, but I have to go by my house before the office.”

“You should eat breakfast.” Granny rose. “I can fix you something. Scrambled eggs with cheese is high in protein and fast to cook.”

“Sorry. A shower is what I need. I’ll grab an egg burrito on the way to work.” She kissed Granny’s cheek then Emma’s. “I’ll return your mug later today.”

Before they tried to persuade her to stay, Caitlyn hurried outside into the crisp air. She unlocked her Thunderbird, slipped behind the steering wheel and backed out of the driveway. After yesterday, she would always lock her car and put the top up, even if it was at her grandmother’s or her own house.

With the distance only three miles to her place, she pulled up to her home six minutes later, looking forward to a hot shower to chase away the early-morning chill. She walked up the sidewalk to her redbrick town house. She dug into her purse for her house keys.

When she retrieved them, she glanced up and opened her door. Inside, she turned to shut it and froze. Pinned to the wood with a knife was a photo of a prone woman with her arms folded across her chest—just like the one of Jane.

Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.

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