Page 27 of Out of the Shadows (Angelhart Investigations)

The sun had just set, the fiery oranges and deep reds giving way to purple, the mountains a stark silhouette against the twilight.

This was Laura’s favorite moment in the day, and no matter the temperature, if the sky was clear, she would take a glass of

wine out to the front porch, sit on her swing, and relax, letting the fast pace and frustrations of any given day fade away

with the night. It had been her ritual for as long as she could remember, but after her divorce, her evening routine had become

even more important. It was one reason she disliked winter... the days were too short and she often missed being home at

sunset, which left her feeling out of sorts.

Summer, with the long, hot nights, refilled her well, so she could be the best mother, the best sister, the best veterinarian

possible.

But tonight... Jack said she needed to stay inside. He meant well but didn’t understand her need to decompress. So she

paced, agitated, feeling trapped and alone even in a house full of people.

Logan was playing video games with the kids, which helped take their mind off what was going on and their worry for their

father. And Jack was out in the yard, walking around, making sure no one was lurking in the shadows.

Laura poured herself a glass of wine. She didn’t want to use alcohol as a crutch, but it had been a really difficult forty-eight

hours and her head was pounding with the stress of it all. The fight with Charlie didn’t help, then playing peacemaker between

her brother and ex-husband, and then holding her kids while they cried with genuine fear about their dad’s safety after Charlie

left—after he selfishly walked out.

Yes, he’d done the right thing, and maybe she had pushed him too hard. His desire to bring the family back together was noble,

and she wanted to forgive him, fully, completely, and go back to the way it had been.

But Charlie hadn’t changed. She had. She used to love his dreams. She could listen to him for hours talking about his ideas,

that someday they would have a horse ranch, that she could have a dog rescue, which had been her childhood dream. It wasn’t

that she resented that none of his ideas panned out; she resented that he hadn’t accepted that married life, the life of grown-ups

with kids and responsibilities, needed stability. She would have helped him chase his dreams if he had been honest with her

about what he was doing.

Instead, he was like a gambling addict, thinking that the next bet would bring a payday—for Charlie, it was always the next

idea. And when he gambled with their kids’ future and home and lost... that was the final straw.

Maybe he now realized that he’d put a wedge in their family; maybe he knew how he had hurt her. But it was too late. She didn’t

have the same feelings for Charlie she once had.

But she needed him safe, to be the father their kids loved and deserved.

Jack used a key to get into the back door. That was another thing—they only locked the house at night or when they were away.

This rural community was safe—or it had been safe. Laura didn’t know if she would ever feel safe again.

The dogs greeted Jack as if he was a long-lost friend, and he scratched them behind their ears and told them they were good

boys. Even Bagel stretched and got up from his bed to claim some of Jack’s attention.

“I checked on the animals,” Jack said. “They seem to be settled for the night. Your barn doesn’t have a lock on it.”

“No need,” she said. “At least, I never thought there was a need. I can’t imagine someone coming in to steal my horses, but

maybe I need to think that way.”

“Is that a big problem out here?”

She laughed, though she didn’t feel any humor in it. “No. I’ve never heard of a horse theft here. When I was growing up there

was a string of cattle thefts, but the Rangers caught the gang. No one I know ever had a horse stolen.”

“Do you miss Texas?”

“No. Sometimes. But this is my home. My kids were born here. Our friends are here. Logan is here. I can live anywhere and

work with animals, but Logan needs resorts to remodel and businesses to save. Even as a kid, he was bored. We lived on a five-hundred-acre

ranch an hour outside of San Angelo—and San Angelo isn’t all that big.” She paused, smiled. “There’s one vet in our community,

and he’s not going to retire anytime soon. I wouldn’t know what else to do. I miss my family there. We visit several times

a year, always go there for Christmas.

“Henry—my younger brother—and his wife built their own house on the property, have three kids and will probably have more.

Henry loves it. He was made for ranch work. Susie—well, she had a difficult childhood, there’s a story there I’ll tell you

someday, but she came out to San Angelo for work when she was eighteen, Henry was twenty, and it was love at first sight.

She’s practical and created her own business—cans and sells jams, jellies, homemade sauces, whatever she thinks of. Everything’s

sold online. Logan helped her set up the retail portion and she’s had to hire two people to handle the packaging and shipping.”

She paused, thinking about her brother and sister-in-law. “I think that’s another reason why Charlie is so frustrated with

his life. Everyone around him came up with ideas that seemed to give them success and satisfaction. He wanted the same thing.”

“We’re going to get through this,” Jack said. “I’m sorry I came down hard on you when you wanted to go out.”

“I understand.”

“I’m hopeful the police will find Aberdeen soon. Every law enforcement officer in the state has his name and photo. San Diego

police have been alerted to check his residence. He’s not going to be able to easily disappear.”

“I hate feeling trapped in my own house.”

Jack reached out and touched her, running his fingers down her arm, to her hand, where he rested his palm long enough to make

her feel truly alive. That was the only word she could think of. It was like she’d been going through the motions of life—she

was happy, content, satisfied with the life she had built with Cody and Sydney. But when Jack walked into her house yesterday,

something shifted. It was like he belonged. He fit. She barely knew him... yet felt like she’d known him for years. There

was a spark, a desire she hadn’t felt for a long time.

He felt it, too. She saw it in his warm, dark eyes.

“Did you have enough to eat? You just picked at your dinner,” he said.

“I’m not hungry.”

“I am. I’m going to warm up some leftovers, if you don’t mind.”

“I can do that.”

“Sit, enjoy your wine. I got it.”

Logan came into the kitchen and Laura was glad he hadn’t witnessed the somewhat intimate moment between her and Jack. Jack

didn’t even have to kiss her for her to feel that draw, and she suspected Logan would pick up on it—though her brother tended

to be clueless about anything related to romance.

“I’m going to make some popcorn and we’re going to watch a movie,” her brother said. “You should join us, Laura.”

“Maybe I will. Though I’ll probably fall asleep.”

Logan rummaged through the pantry and pulled out an air popcorn machine and a bottle of kernels.

Jack reheated the pulled pork Laura had made that night and made himself a sandwich. He realized the barbecue sauce had a

label he didn’t recognize: Triple Star Ranch .

“Is this your sister-in-law’s creation?”

“It is,” Laura said.

“It’s amazing. I’m going to order all my Christmas presents from her.”

Laura laughed. “I’ll make sure she gives you the family discount.”

Jack’s phone rang. He answered it, listened. “Thanks, Margo... Yeah, Luisa texted me, she’s almost here.”

He ended the call. “Margo found Charlie. He’s at his condo.”

“Thank God,” Laura said, relieved.

Logan finished making the popcorn and grabbed sodas from the door of the fridge. Laura gave him a look, and Logan grinned.

“Aw, Mom, let them have sugar and junk once in a while!”

“I buy those Cokes for you, Logan, not the kids. They know better.” Then she smiled. “Don’t let Cody have more than one, otherwise

he’ll be up all night.”

Logan kissed his sister on the cheek. “Promise.”

He walked back down the hall.

“When I first met Logan, he was nothing like I expected,” Jack said.

“Most people feel the same,” Laura said with a smile.

Sydney ran down the hall, Logan right behind her. “Mom, Cody’s gone! I went to the bathroom and he was in the den, and when

I came back he wasn’t there, and he’s not in his room!”

Jack said, “Search the house.”

They did, calling for Cody. He didn’t answer.

“Where could he have gone?” Logan said. “He knows not to leave.”

Laura’s face sagged in relief. “I’ll bet he went to check on Nimbus, the stray cat. I’ll get him.”

“I’ll get him,” Jack said firmly. “Stay here, lock the door behind me. I’m sure Cody is fine, but until Aberdeen is in custody,

we need to be diligent.”

She nodded, her heart thudding, and locked the door behind Jack.