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CHAPTER EIGHT

F urry Friends Animal Clinic and Shelter was one block off Main Street near the center of town. Inside, it smelled like a mixture of antiseptic and wet dog. The receptionist's desk was empty. Based on the hours posted on the plastic partition, the shelter was due to close in five minutes.

“Hello,” Claire called out, leaning over the counter.

“Give me a second,” a male voice called. “Be right there.”

She turned to Gavin and mouthed Alex.

He nodded. A yipping sound came from an open corral in the corner. Gavin drifted closer. Several puppies played in the open cage, rolling over each other in a tumble of fur and tiny black noses. A sign announced they were available for adoption. They looked like Lab-mixes. A yellow one with a white spot on his head came running to the side, tripping over his own feet.

Gavin smiled at the puppy’s enthusiasm. It was tempting to reach down and pet the little fellow. But it wouldn’t be a good idea. He was here to interview a potential suspect, not adopt a stray dog.

Claire came up next to him. “They’re cute.” A smile played on her face and there was laughter in her voice. “Thinking about taking one, aren’t you?”

“Actually, I was thinking about getting one for Jacob. We had such a great conversation about it the other night.” He winked. “Every boy should have a dog.”

Claire laughed and shook her head. “Don’t you dare. I mean, we will get a dog at some point. I’m just not ready yet.”

She lifted her gaze to Gavin’s, and suddenly, he didn’t think they were talking about a puppy. His heart skipped a beat. Unless he was mistaken, there was a yearning in her eyes. It ignited his own. What was it about this woman that sent his emotions into a tailspin?Why couldn’t he shake these feelings for her? Gavin prided himself on staying in control. Always. With Claire, it was a struggle to keep his thoughts locked on the case.

“Sorry about that.” Alex Sheffield’s voice entered the room seconds before he appeared. Different shades of animal hair clung to his polo shirt, etched with the company logo. Mid-twenties, he had an easy smile that bunched his cheeks. “What can I do for you, Sheriff? I hope you’re here to adopt one of those puppies. They could use a good home like yours.”

“Afraid not, Alex.” She gestured in Gavin’s direction. “This is Texas Ranger Gavin Sterling. Your name came up in the course of an investigation. You’re not in any trouble. We just have some questions.”

He flicked the sign on the door so it read closed. “Ask away. I hope you don’t mind if I keep working while we talk. I have some errands to run after closing up.”

“Not at all.”

“Thanks.” Alex collected a puppy. He offered it to Gavin. “Do you mind? I can only carry two at a time. You’d save me a trip.”

Gavin took the wiggling bundle. It was the yellow fur ball that’d raced across the corral to greet him. The white mark on the pup’s forehead resembled a heart, and when Gavin cradled him against his chest, he licked his hand.

Trouble. That’s what this puppy was.

Gavin cleared his throat. “Have you heard from your ex-girlfriend Stephanie Madden lately?”

Alex looked up from his position, wrangling one of the other puppies. A flash of worry flickered across his expression before his eyebrows drew down in confusion. “I haven’t, but you’re the second person to ask me that recently.”

“Who else asked you?”

“Faye. She came in…I don’t know…like a month ago. I told her I hadn’t heard from Stephanie since she left town. Faye was anxious to speak to her, but I don’t know why.” His complexion paled. Alex’s gaze shot to Claire before landing back on Gavin. “Is that the reason Faye was killed? Because she was looking for Stephanie?”

Gavin adjusted his hold on the puppy in his arms. “We don’t know yet. Did Faye ask you anything else when she came to speak to you?”

“No. Only that she was thinking of hiring a private investigator to search for Stephanie. Faye never believed she left town.” Alex sank into a chair next to the corral. He appeared shell-shocked. “Sheriff King insisted Stephanie had moved to Houston. I mean…that’s what happened, right?”

Gavin ignored his question. “What was your relationship with Stephanie like?”

“Complicated.” Alex ran a hand over his face and then took a deep breath. He rose and gathered the remaining puppies in the corral, holding them like footballs. “We dated throughout most of our senior year but broke up after graduation. Then we spent quite a few years going back and forth. We loved each other, but we were young. I don’t think either of us was ready for a long-term commitment.”

Gavin followed Alex into the rear room. Nothing about the vet tech’s demeanor indicated he was lying or nervous. In fact, he answered their questions straightforwardly. Either he was an excellent actor or he wasn’t involved in the murder of Faye or the attacks against Claire. “So when Stephanie left town, were you surprised?”

“Not really.” Alex shrugged. “She’d talked about starting over somewhere new. There were a lot of people in town that looked down on Stephanie.”

“Why?”

Alex snorted, taking the puppy from Gavin. “Take your pick. Because she was poor. Her stepfather is strange. Her mother was an alcoholic. The sun shines on Tuesday.” He shut the cage and double-checked to make sure it was latched. “This is a small town. People don’t need a reason.”

The puppy came to the door of the cage and gave Gavin a sorrowful look. He averted his gaze from those big brown eyes. He didn’t have room in his life for a dog right now.

Claire stood in the doorway. “What was Stephanie’s relationship with her stepfather like?”

“Rotten. Stephanie thought he was mentally and emotionally abusive to her mother. She wanted her mother to leave him. Maribelle refused. Stephanie didn’t like to talk about it much, but you could ask Heather Scott. She and Stephanie were good friends in high school.”

Gavin didn’t recognize the name, but Claire stiffened. “Do you know if Heather has heard from Stephanie since she left town?”

“Nope.”

They asked Alex additional questions, but he didn’t know any more than what he’d already said. He also had an alibi for the night of Faye’s murder. Alex’s house was in the process of being painted and he spent the night with a friend.

Gavin held the door open for Claire as they left the shelter. His gaze swept the poorly lit parking lot. Quiet. Still, his senses stayed on alert as they walked together to the vehicle. Twilight had turned to evening as they were talking to Alex. There were a lot of dark spots a criminal could hide in.

Once they were safely enclosed in the SUV, Gavin turned to Claire. “Explain to me who Heather Scott is.”

Claire fired up the engine and flipped the heat to max. “She’s married to the mayor’s son, Ian. She also works in City Hall as the mayor’s media spokesperson. My office has been communicating directly with her, providing updates on the development of this case. She knows we suspect Faye’s murder is connected to Stephanie’s disappearance.”

“And she never said a word to you about being Stephanie’s friend?”

“No, she didn’t.” Claire’s expression hardened. “And I’d like to know why.”

“I was friendly with Stephanie, but we weren’t particularly close.” Heather picked at a piece of invisible lint on her lilac sweater. The color accented her ash-blond hair and stunning gray eyes. “I’m sorry, Sheriff. It didn’t occur to me you’d need to speak to me about her.”

Claire studied the woman sitting across from her in the formal living room. Heather was polished and soft-spoken. Her nails were painted a pale rose, her makeup perfect. She was stunning on camera and even more beautiful in person. But she was also incredibly savvy. Heather knew how to answer a question and deflect. It’s what made her an effective spokesperson for Mayor Scott.

“How did you know Stephanie?” Gavin asked. He was sitting on the couch next to Claire. The rough Texas Ranger was completely out of place on the silk couch, cowboy hat perched on his knee.

Heather flashed him a smile that bordered on flirty. “We went to school together. Stephanie tutored me in algebra. We lost touch when I went to Harvard, of course. After moving back home, I’d see her from time to time in the bakery. We’d chat, but never about anything significant.”

“At this stage of the investigation, we’re talking to everyone who was friends with Stephanie. Anything you can tell us would be helpful.”

“Of course, I’m happy to help in any way I can. It’s horrible to think Stephanie’s disappearance has anything to do with Faye’s murder. To be honest with you, I have my doubts about whether or not they’re connected. I always assumed Stephanie had left town and was living someplace else under an assumed name.”

Interesting theory. Claire leaned forward. “Why would you think that?”

“Because of her stepfather, of course.” Heather picked up a crystal glass and drank some water. “Stephanie was quite close to her mother, but she had issues with her stepfather from the beginning.”

“We’ve been told there were arguments between Stephanie and Xavier.”

“Daily ones. Her stepfather demanded complete obedience and his rules were…strange. Only a certain amount of juice every morning. No television. Hand washing their clothes in the stream on the property. Xavier didn’t want Stephanie to attend her own high school graduation. She was lucky to have finished school at all. And dating…that was completely out of the question.” Heather set the glass back down. “Faye was kind enough to offer her rental home to Stephanie after she graduated high school. It only made things worse. Xavier didn’t believe Stephanie should live on her own. He used to show up at her home, all hours of the night, and make threats against her.”

For someone who claimed not to know Stephanie well, Heather certainly had a lot of information. “So you believe Stephanie left town and changed her name so her stepfather couldn’t locate her?”

Heather nodded, smoothing back a strand of silky hair. “I’m sure you’ll find her living in a different city. Although, Sheriff, I would caution you. It might be best if you don’t look for Stephanie at all. If Xavier catches word about her whereabouts, it’ll cause trouble for her.”

Claire chewed on the inside of her lip. Had she been too quick to assume Stephanie had been harmed? She could be living somewhere under a new name. It was difficult, given social media, but not impossible.

They could be chasing the wrong motive for Faye’s murder. Claire hoped they were, prayed they were, because it would mean Stephanie was alive. A deputy in Claire’s department was tracking down extended family members, contacting them to see if anyone had heard from Stephanie since she left Fulton County.No one had. As every new lead dried up, Claire’s fears about Stephanie’s disappearance grew.

Gavin shifted on the couch. “What was Stephanie’s relationship with Alex like?”

“I’m not sure. Like I said earlier, we weren’t close, especially after I moved back home after college. Most of what I know about Stephanie’s relationship with her family came from conversations we had during tutoring sessions.” Heather laughed lightly. “I’ll do anything to avoid algebra.”

Some of the tension in Claire’s stomach eased. She was stressed and grieving, desperate for answers about her friend’s murder, and it was causing her to be suspicious of everyone. Heather’s explanation about her relationship with Stephanie made sense.

Somewhere inside the house, a door opened, and a man shouted hello. Heather gracefully rose to her feet. “Excuse me a moment; that’s Ian. He went on a business trip last week and couldn’t make it home because of the storm.”

She left the room with a swish of her skirt. Claire massaged her temple. She’d had a brewing headache for hours that was threatening to turn into a full-on migraine.

Gavin ran his fingers down the crease of his cowboy hat. “Xavier’s name keeps coming up in this investigation. Everyone we speak to seems to think Stephanie had good reason to be afraid of him.”

“I know, but I keep thinking about Faye.” She pitched her voice low so their conversation wouldn’t carry. “She wouldn’t have gotten out of her car for Xavier. Or met with him at the bakery alone.”

“I agree. But what about Maribelle?”

Claire’s mouth dropped open. “You think Maribelle may have killed Faye?”

“No, I don’t think she pulled the trigger. But she and Xavier could be working together. Maribelle could’ve met with Faye at the bakery, learned what she knew, and then slashed the tire on her way out. Maribelle and Xavier follow Faye after she leaves the bakery. When their truck pulls up on the side of the road, Faye may have believed it was Maribelle driving. That’s why she got out.”

Claire had to admit the scenario was a good one. Before they could speak more about it, the sound of approaching footsteps reached her ears. She rose just as Heather came back into the room with her husband, Ian. They made a striking couple. Ian’s features were straight out of a modeling magazine. Athletic and outgoing, he was well-liked. Claire had met him several times during charity events. The Scott family owned a chain of grocery stores, and Ian was the CFO. But, like his father, he had political ambitions.

“Sheriff.” Ian stepped forward to shake Claire’s hand. “Good to see you again, although I’m sorry about the circumstances. My father told me about Faye’s murder. I can’t imagine why anyone would want to hurt her. She was a wonderful person.”

“Yes, she was.” Claire introduced Gavin, and the two men shook hands.

Ian stepped back and placed an arm around his wife. Circles shadowed the area under his eyes. “You’ll have to forgive me for not inviting you to dinner, but I’ve spent the last few days wrestling with contractors over building a new grocery store. I’m exhausted.”

“Of course. We were finished speaking with Heather, anyway. Thank you for your time.”

“I’ll walk you out.” Heather escorted them to the massive front door and opened it. “If you have any other questions, Sheriff, please let me know.”

“I will.” Claire tossed the other woman a smile as she crossed the threshold. Movement out of the corner of her eye caught her attention. She turned slightly and noticed Ian in the entryway, watching the exchange. The line of his mouth was flattened and a muscle in his jaw worked. His gaze was fixed on his wife.

Heather closed the door. Claire stood on the stoop for a moment. It was unusual to see Ian upset. Maybe the couple had an argument on the phone before he arrived home?

“Everything okay?” Gavin asked from the walkway. The porch lights picked up the concern creasing his brow. A five o’clock shadow darkened his jaw. As impossible as it seemed, the scruff made him even more handsome. Rougher. Masculine.

She was so tired. And her head was pounding. Claire was tempted to walk straight toward Gavin and lay her forehead on his broad chest. Just for a moment, long enough to find the strength to drive home.

The turn of her thoughts rattled her. A romantic relationship was the last thing she needed at the moment. But asking for Gavin’s help wasn’t a bad idea. Claire held out her keys. “Would you mind driving? I have a headache.”

“Not at all.”

He took the keys from her hand. Their fingers brushed and warmth spread through Claire at the simple touch. She ignored it. Instead, she focused on how strange it was to be in the passenger seat of her patrol truck. Anything to distract her from the handsome Texas Ranger sitting next to her.

She tilted the seat back and closed her eyes. Gavin fired up the engine. The soothing motion of the car eased the pain in her temples. She gently massaged her forehead. “Have you had any updates from Ryker?”

“Yes. Xavier refused to speak to him. No surprise there. The boathouse was swept for forensic evidence, but all the fingerprints collected were from known individuals, like your dad. Ryker picked up the notebook Stephanie used for work from Mary Ellen. He took it and the postcard to the handwriting analyst. We should hear something soon.”

Progress. It was slow, but every inch forward brought them closer to the truth. Claire continued to rub her forehead. “What about the private detective Faye hired?”

“Still missing. Every law enforcement officer in the state is looking for him…”

Claire peeled her eyes open. Gavin’s hands were tight on the steering wheel and his gaze darted between the rearview mirror and the side-view one.

She sat up. “What is it?”

“Someone is following us.”