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As the phone rang, he rehearsed his words in his head, trying to find the right balance between conveying the urgency of the situation and expressing his regret for the last-minute change of plans.

“Hey there, cowboy.” Dolly’s voice sounded strained, lacking her usual playful lilt.

Nash frowned, his instincts immediately picking up on her distress. “Is everything okay? You sound a bit off.”

She sighed, the sound crackling through the phone’s speaker. “It’s just been a long day at the office. Nothing to worry about. I’m looking forward to seeing you.”

Nash’s stomach twisted with guilt. “About that…I have some news.”

He briefly explained the situation with Dr. Lance. As he spoke, he could almost feel Dolly’s disappointment radiating through the phone. “I know this isn’t ideal, but I wouldn’t be doing this if it wasn’t important. We’re so close to exposing Blevins, and I need to follow this lead.”

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line. Nash held his breath, waiting for Dolly’s response.

“No, you’re right. You’ve got to do this. I wish I could be there too.”

“I’ll make it up to you.”

“You better,” she teased, a hint of her usual spirit returning. “Just be careful, okay? I don’t want to lose you just when things are starting to get interesting between us.”

Nash smiled, warmth spreading through his chest at her words. “I’ll be careful. And when this is all over, we’ll have all the time in the world to explore just how interesting things can get.”

“Have a nice night.”

“You too, sweetheart.”

Nash stopped to gas up and pick up some coffee to keep himself going. After what seemed like an eternity driving downthe highway, Lance’s motel loomed ahead, its flashing neon sign a beacon in the gathering darkness. Nash parked the truck and took a deep breath, steeling himself for the conversation to come.

He knocked on the door, three sharp raps that echoed in the stillness. It cracked open, revealing a haggard face etched with fear and exhaustion. Lance peered out, his bloodshot eyes widening as he recognized Nash. He stepped aside, allowing Nash to enter the dimly lit room.

The door clicked shut behind Nash. Lance glanced at the window one more time before turning his attention back to Nash. The room was tidy, but the signs of a prolonged stay were evident—clothes strewn about, empty takeout containers, and a laptop occupying the small desk in the corner.

“Can I get you something to drink?” Lance asked, gesturing to the mini fridge. “Got some beer in here.”

“Thanks, but no.”

“I wasn’t sure you’d come.”

“I’m here. Now, let’s talk about what you know.”

Lance took a long swig of his beer. “I’m sorry about Mick and Ronnie,” he said, his voice trembling. “I drugged their bulls. I did it for money and because Jackson said he would fire me if I didn’t.”

“How much did he give you?” Nash already knew there weren’t any large payments in Lance’s bank account.

“I got a thousand dollars cash for each one.” Lance’s gaze dropped to the floor. “You have to believe me. I didn’t think anything would happen to the bull riders. Mick was a professional and Ronnie was just the best. The steroids I injected into the bulls should have just made for a harder ride. They were supposed to get thrown, not maimed and killed.”

Nash fought to keep his revulsion from showing on his face. He needed Lance to keep talking. “Where’s the money?”

“Spent it,” Lance said with a bitter half-laugh. “On nothing, really. It’s all gone.”

Two thousand dollars. Two men’s lives upended—one gone forever—over a sum that couldn’t even buy you a decent used car. “Why didn’t you come clean and tell everyone what Blevins threatened you with?”

A shudder ran through Lance’s body. “He said he’d kill me if I did.”

Now they were getting somewhere. “And you believed him?”

Lance’s face paled. “I did. I’ve seen the guys who do his dirty work. Blevins has two thugs that he uses as enforcers.”

“Do you know their names?”