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CHAPTER TWO

T exas Ranger Gavin Sterling guzzled the last of his coffee before shoving open his truck door. Bitterly cold wind stole his breath. He zipped his heavy jacket then settled his Stetson on his head. Yellow crime scene tape fluttered across several tree branches. A coroner’s van was parked between two Fulton County Sheriff patrol cars. Swollen, dark clouds overhead promised more rain.

It was a miserable day to be at a crime scene, but Gavin hadn’t joined law enforcement to sit behind a desk. Someone had been murdered. It was his job to find the killer and get justice.

He spotted Sheriff Claire Wilson and headed in her direction. Gavin had met the sheriff at a fellow ranger’s wedding last week. The petite blond had knocked his socks off in a beautiful silk dress that brought out the crystal blue color of her eyes, but they hadn’t gotten further than brief introductions. Claire had ducked out of the reception early.

Today, she was wearing a heavy jacket with the word sheriff written on the back. Her shoulder-length hair was pulled into a low ponytail. Mud coated her shoes. She was staring at the tree line with a look Gavin couldn’t quite place. Sensing his approach, she turned. Claire’s eyes were red-rimmed, as if she was on the verge of crying.

Gavin’s heart sank. He recognized the pain etched on her expression before she smoothed it out. Claire had known the victim. Probably well. It might even be a relative.

“Ranger Sterling, thank you for coming so quickly.” Claire cleared her throat and extended a hand. “Especially since you drove across two counties in awful weather to get here.”

Gavin didn’t normally work in Fulton County. His friend and colleague, Bennett Knox, handled this area. But Bennett and his new wife, Emilia, were currently on their honeymoon after their wedding last week—the same wedding Claire and Gavin had first met at. Claire had been a bridesmaid. She’d been instrumental in taking down a serial killer last year and, as a result, had forged a close friendship with Emilia.

“No need to thank me, Sheriff.” Gavin slipped his hand into hers. Claire’s grip was firm, her skin silky. He ignored the jolt of attraction coursing up his arm. As the newest member of Company A, Gavin had no desire to mix his personal life with his professional one. “I’m glad to assist in any way I can. And you can call me Gavin.”

She nodded. “Claire, then.”

Gavin dropped her hand. He jerked his chin toward the crime scene tape. “What can you tell me?”

“The victim is thirty-five-year-old Faye Hansen.” Claire met his eyes. “She was one of my best friends. Which brings me to my first order of business. You won’t be just assisting with this case. You’ll be the lead investigator.”

“I don’t mind being in charge, but…” He tilted his head, studying her. “Why hand the case to me?”

“I can’t guarantee my objectivity. As I said before, Faye and I were close. When we catch the monster who did this—and we will catch him—I don’t want a defense attorney using my relationship with the victim against us in court. This case has to be rock solid.”

Gavin’s esteem for Claire as a law enforcement officer went up several notches. Handing over control of a case wasn’t common. It was clear her focus was on getting justice, not the credit. Bennett said Claire was one of the best he’d ever worked with. Gavin understood why and he’d only been with her for three minutes.

He nodded sharply. “Understood. And on a personal note, I’m sorry for your loss.”

“Thank you.” She took a deep breath and squared her shoulders before leading him further into the crime scene. “Okay, as I said, the victim is Faye Hansen. Caucasian. Single, no children. Her sister, Mary Ellen, called me personally this morning because she hadn’t been able to reach Faye since yesterday evening.”

“I take it that was out-of-the-ordinary?”

“Extremely. Faye and Mary Ellen own a bakery in town together. They talk and text numerous times per day.” Claire gestured up the road. “Faye lives about five miles that way. This is the route she normally takes to get home. And this is her SUV.”

The vehicle was parked on the side of the road. One rear tire was flat. Gavin bent down to inspect the rubber more closely. His heart skipped a beat. “This tire appears to have been slashed.” He removed a pair of latex gloves from his pocket and pulled them on. Then he ran a finger along the jagged edge of the cut. “It’s not wide enough to have flattened the tire immediately.”

Claire’s mouth tightened. “No. My guess is the killer did it to force Faye to pull over in a secluded area.”

His gaze narrowed. “She was targeted. Do you know why?”

“No, but the killer wanted us to believe the motive was robbery. Faye closed the bakery last night, and it was her habit to take the cash and receipts home. She did the accounting and then deposited the funds in the bank the next morning. The money is missing.”

“How much are we talking about?”

“Roughly five hundred dollars. People have killed for less, but slashing Faye’s tire seems like an unnecessary step. If the killer was merely after the money, he could’ve robbed her in the parking lot.” Claire opened the driver’s side door. “Faye’s purse is still here. Her wallet was rifled through, but the killer didn’t take the twenty dollars inside. And Faye’s expensive cell phone is still in the cup holder.”

A quick inspection of the interior confirmed Claire’s observations. Why would a thief take the bakery’s cash, but leave Faye’s? And the cell phone was easy pickings. Something about this was definitely off. “Could Faye have stopped somewhere on her way home?”

“Unlikely. Witnesses reported seeing her leave the bakery around nine last night. I have the passcode to Faye’s phone and accessed her call log. She attempted to call roadside assistance at 9:20 several times, but this stretch of road has terrible cell service. I don’t think the calls ever went through.”

Claire circled the front of the SUV, her stride strong and purposefully. She pointed to a muddy indentation on the side of the road. Tire tracks. “The killer stopped his vehicle here. Faye must’ve known the person because she got out of her SUV. Probably thinking the person was going to help her. Instead, he shot her.”

Blood spattered the chrome bumper of Faye’s SUV, supporting Claire’s theory. Gavin’s gaze drifted to the activity near the tree line. Two men from the coroner’s office attended to the body. A woman’s shoe lay in the grass.

Gavin’s gut clenched as his mind filled in the blanks. “Faye tried to escape.”

“Yes.” Claire led the way to the body. “But the killer shot her twice more in the back as she ran away.”

Faye was resting on her stomach. Her long dark hair was tangled and wet from the rain. Blood stained the grass around her body, as well as her white blouse. She’d been terrified, running for her life, when the killer hunted her down like an animal. It was cruel.

Anger raised Gavin’s body temperature until it felt like he was boiling inside his jacket. He hadn’t known Faye Hansen in life, but she was a part of him now. And he wouldn’t stop until her killer was behind bars.

Gavin drew in a breath. The cold air hurt his lungs, and when he let it out slowly, condensation hung in the air. His gaze swept across the crime scene.

Claire tilted her head. “What are you thinking?”

“That you’re right. This wasn’t a robbery. Taking the money was an afterthought, a way to throw us off the real reason she was murdered. Do you have any idea who may have done this?”

“None. Faye is…” She struggled for a moment before clearing her throat. “She was well-loved by everyone. It sounds cliche, but she didn’t have any enemies.”

“She had one. Whoever did this is someone Faye knew. She got out of her SUV when the killer drove up. She wasn’t afraid.” His gaze swept the crime scene again before settling back on Claire. She needed to be prepared for what may come next. “This killer…it’s a neighbor. A friend. Since you and Faye were close?—”

“It may be someone I care deeply about.” Claire’s voice was hollow, but she held his gaze. “I know that, Gavin. Like I said before, I can’t trust my objectivity regarding this case. That’s why you’re here.”

Fulton County had two bakeries. One was closer to the freeway and frequented by travelers looking for a quick bite. Sadly, it’d been linked to the serial killer case Claire worked last year. An employee had been nabbed from the parking lot during the early morning hours. She survived the encounter with the murderer, thankfully, and was currently in college.

Now, the town’s second pastry shop was a crime scene. Sweets and Treats Bakery was nestled between a laundromat and an antique store. Dripping icicles hung from the striped awning. Graceful letters written in Faye’s artistic scrawl announced the house special: a coffee and cinnamon bun combo. Claire’s throat tightened at the sight of the familiar establishment. She would never again cross the threshold and see her friend’s bright smile greeting her from across the counter. Faye was gone. Tears pricked Claire’s eyes.

Don’t think about it. She sucked in a breath. There would be time to grieve for Faye, but it wasn’t now. Claire’s job was to get justice. She released her iron grip on the steering wheel and exited her patrol truck. Gavin’s official state vehicle pulled into the parking spot next to hers. His dark hair was shorn on the sides and top, but the rigid hairstyle suited the sharp planes of his face. A full mouth was softened the deep cleft in his chin. The chestnut-colored blazer encasing his broad shoulders matched his eyes.This was her second time meeting Gavin, and her impression was exactly the same. The man was distractingly handsome.It was a fact she was determined to ignore. Claire had enough problems on her plate without adding romance to the mix. She had a town to protect and a son to raise.

A killer to catch.

Turning the case over to a complete stranger wasn’t easy. Trust didn’t come easily to Claire anymore. A side effect of her failed marriage, perhaps, or simply a jaded outlook from a career in law enforcement. But she was smart enough to recognize the dangers of working Faye’s murder investigation herself. It wasn’t possible. Already she was struggling to keep the grief at bay. Claire wouldn’t dishonor her friend by mucking up the case.

She had to trust someone. Gavin’s reputation as a Texas Ranger was far-reaching. He closed most of his cases because of a solid work ethic and a dogged determination. Additionally, as an outsider, he’d be able to see townsfolk for who they were and not with the skewed perception that often plagued her subordinates. No one wanted to believe their friend or neighbor was a killer. Not even Claire’s deputies.

“Beautiful town.” Gavin joined her on the sidewalk. He hit a button on his fob, causing a subsequent beep from his truck as the locks engaged. “Did you grow up here?”

He was a head taller than her and, coupled with his muscular frame, made Claire feel surprisingly dainty. Feminine. It was unsettling. Dangerous akin to attraction. She took a step away from him. “Yes, I grew up here. My parents own rental cabins along Lake Hudson. Winter is quiet, but in spring and summer, Fulton County gets a lot of tourists. Professional fisherman, families, that kind of thing.”

Gavin waved a finger at the nearby businesses. “Any of them have surveillance cameras?”

“No. And honestly, there isn’t much need for them. Our crime rate is extremely low. Faye’s murder, the serial killer we caught last year…those were anomalies. I took over as sheriff last year and most of my days are spent dealing with partying teenagers and minor traffic accidents.” She jutted her thumb over her shoulder. “Faye parked around back. Mind the ice on the walkway.”

Gavin fell into step beside her. His stride was confident and easy. “What did you do before becoming sheriff?”

“I spent ten years as an agent with the FBI.”

He whistled. “This job must be a big change of pace for you then.”

“It is, but I needed it.” She paused, uncertain how much to share, but quickly dismissed the silly feeling. Gavin was going to be in town for a while and gossip ran faster in Fulton County than the internet. He’d hear about her past from someone. Better it came from her. “I have a three-year-old son named Jacob. It’s a long story, but his father and I divorced shortly after he was born. Staying in the FBI, working the kinds of hours I was, wasn’t possible as a single-mother. When the sheriff’s position opened up, I jumped at it. My parents watch Jacob for me while I’m working.”

“I’m sorry to hear about your divorce. It’s far too common in our line of work.”

She slid a glance in his direction. “Are you speaking from experience?”

“No. I never made it to the altar.” He was quiet for a long moment. A shadow crossed his face. “I got close once though.”

There was a layer of pain in his voice that touched her, but she instinctively knew Gavin didn’t want to share more. Fair enough. After all, they barely knew one another. Or maybe speaking the words was too painful. That was a feeling she was intimately familiar with.

Claire’s foot hit a piece of ice and she tipped backward. Gavin’s hand shot out, firmly gripping her elbow and stopping her fall. Her heart skipped a beat. His dark eyes had golden flecks, and the scent of his aftershave—woodsy and clean—tickled her senses. She sucked in a breath. “Oops. Thanks.”

His mouth curved at the corners, sending her heart rate into overdrive. “Anytime, Claire.”

There was something about the way he said her name. And when Gavin dropped his hand from her elbow, she felt a pang of loss. Ridiculous. What on earth was wrong with her? Claire wasn’t the moony type. Had never been. Then again, her best friend had been murdered. It was far easier to focus on the handsome Texas Ranger than on the case.

Claire took another breath of cold air, letting it ice her lungs and hopefully re-engage her common sense. She turned the corner of the building. The rear of the bakery sported two parking spots and a dumpster. An alley connected the space to a side street. “This is where Faye parked her car. As I said earlier, witnesses reported seeing her leave the bakery around nine last night.”

Gavin turned in a circle, a frown marring his handsome features. He pointed to the lights on the rear of the bakery. “How bright are those?”

“Minimal. The killer could’ve slipped back here and sliced Faye’s tire without being seen. The bakery doesn’t have cameras in this area. There is one inside the store, but it’s focused on the cash register.”

“That’s…unhelpful.” His frown deepened. “We should look at the video from last night, anyway. Maybe the killer went into the bakery before coming back here to sabotage Faye’s car.”

“It’s a thought. Faye’s sister, Mary Ellen, canceled the rest of her business trip. She’s driving straight to the sheriff’s department. I’ll call my chief deputy to see if Mary Ellen has arrived.” Claire removed her phone from her jacket pocket, but the device tumbled from her numb fingers. The freezing temperatures weren’t doing her any favors. Thankfully, the phone had a virtually indestructible waterproof case. She swept down to retrieve it.

Something whizzed over her head. Glass shattered as a rear window on the bakery exploded. Gavin slammed into Claire and they tumbled to the ground in a mass of arms and legs. The air whooshed from her lungs, but her mind had already put the pieces together.

Someone was shooting at them.