Page 16 of Outlaw Ridge: Shaw (Hard Justice: Outlaw Ridge #5)

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Alone in Owen’s office, Ava sipped at the less than appetizing cup of coffee that Shaw had brought her from the breakroom before he’d gone into the bullpen to make some calls.

The coffee was bitter and way too strong, but she was hoping the caffeine hit would clear her head enough to process her thoughts before Valerie was brought into the station.

And that should be soon.

After the APB had been issued, San Antonio cops had gone to Valerie’s house and were now in the process of bringing her to Outlaw Ridge, where Ava was sure Owen would be asking her some tough questions.

Questions about why Nathan had been near her house not once but twice. And whether or not she’d been the one to kidnap Molly’s ex and daughter and use them to get Molly to kill.

Of course, there was no proof, yet, that Valerie had done the kidnapping.

Or if there’d been a kidnapping at all. They only had Taylor’s word for that, and so far the man wasn’t responding to calls so he could be brought in for an interview as well.

Until they spoke to him and got an official statement, they wouldn’t have a complete picture of what was going on.

Owen was in the process of trying to locate Taylor, and she could hear him in the bullpen at Reed’s desk, where they were using Cyclops to find the man on the traffic camera feed.

Maybe they’d spot him soon because it was possible that Taylor and his daughter were in danger.

Even though their kidnapper had purportedly let them go, that didn’t mean they weren’t possibly in danger.

Ava looked up at the sound of footsteps, and Shaw came in to Owen’s office. He didn’t have more coffee with him this time but rather a bag that was stamped with the logo for the Outlaw’s Grill diner.

“A grilled cheese, fries, and a salad,” he said. “Thought you could use something to eat.”

Her body probably could use it, but Ava wasn’t sure her stomach was steady enough for food. “You didn’t get you anything?” she asked, setting her coffee aside and noting that the bag wasn’t large enough for two meals.

He shook his head. “I’ll grab something later.”

Which meant both of them were battling the stomach thing. But both likely needed some fuel, too, so that’s why she tore open the bag, using it as a tray of sorts for the food.

“Eat half,” she insisted.

Shaw picked up half of the sandwich, and his gaze met hers. “If I killed a woman who’d been coerced into shooting at us…” he started, his words trailing off to a hoarse groan.

Ava didn’t let him finish that. She had already seen and heard the massive amount of guilt he was feeling, and she wanted to put a stop to it.

With a kiss.

Ava leaned forward, her hand resting lightly on his arm to still his words.

She wasn’t sure who moved in first, but suddenly their lips met in a soft, tentative kiss.

When she eased back a bit, she saw that the guilt that clouded Shaw’s eyes dimmed for a moment, replaced by something warmer, something that made her heart thud harder in her chest.

She went back in for more, and this next kiss was deeper, becoming more urgent, a silent exchange of all the things they couldn’t say. Shaw’s fingers brushed her cheek, a gentle touch that made her ache with the need to stay like this, just for a little while longer.

But it couldn’t last or go any further. Not with then sitting in Owen’s office where Owen or someone else could walk in at any moment. So, when they finally pulled back, Ava's breath was shaky, her mind racing.

“We’ll get through this,” she whispered, her voice steady even if her heartbeat wasn’t.

He nodded, his hand still touching her cheek. But his fingers dropped away at the sound of someone coming.

Owen.

The sheriff stuck his head in the office. “Valerie’s here. I’m taking her straight back to interview. Feel free to observe if you want.”

Shaw and she stood at the same time, and Ava rewrapped the food and put it aside next to her coffee.

They started for the observation room, and she spotted Owen, Jemma, and Valerie just ahead of them.

Valerie wasn’t in cuffs, but Jemma did have her hand gripped on Valerie’s arm as she led her into the interview.

“I don’t understand,” Valerie said in such a way that made Ava believe it wasn’t the first time the woman had made that comment.

And she did look truly confused as to why she’d been brought in. If it was a pretense, then it was a good one. Then again, if Dell had put her up to this, then Valerie would have had some time to practice looking as if she hadn’t taken up her brother’s murderous ways.

Ava and Shaw stepped into observation, and he immediately turned on the monitor and the sound. “Why am I here?” Valerie asked.

Owen didn’t respond but instead recited the pertinent info into the recording. At the end of that, they all sat at the table, and Owen met Valerie eye to eye. Not to question her yet though. He recited the Miranda Warning to her.

Valerie gasped and pressed her hand to her chest. “Am I under arrest?”

“You’re here to answer questions about a murder investigation,” Owen responded, and he was all cop now. “Do you want to have an attorney present?”

“No,” Valerie answered without giving it any thought. “I’ve done nothing wrong. I don’t need a lawyer.”

“For the record, Miss Corbin has declined legal representation,” Owen stated.

He kept his hard stare pinned to Valerie while he took some photos from an envelope on the table and slid them toward Valerie. Ava could see they were the images that Reed had gotten from Cyclops.

“I believe you lied to me when you said Nathan Belmont hadn’t visited you at your house,” Owen spelled out.

Valerie looked at the pictures and sighed. Closing her eyes, she sat back in her chair. Ava wondered if she was rethinking that need for an attorney. If so, the interview would have to be halted. But that didn’t happen.

“All right, Nathan came to see me,” Valerie admitted. “Dell’s lawyers had located him and asked him if he had any doubts about my brother’s guilt. They showed him some kind of paperwork that they said showed inconsistencies.”

“Like what?” Owen was quick to ask.

She shook her head. “Nathan didn’t say. He just insisted that he wanted to be sure the right person was behind bars. I think he was worried that if Dell was innocent the real killer would go after him.”

“Why come to you specifically?” Owen asked. “Why not go directly to Dell?”

“I’m not sure, but Nathan did mention he planned on talking to others.

Like Grant Huxley and Lorelei.” Her mouth tightened when she said the woman’s name.

“I didn’t tell Nathan that I thought he was wasting his time with them, but I did remind him that Detective Donovan Carrick might know of any inconsistencies…

” She stopped, and her shoulders snapped back.

“Oh, God. Is that why the detective was murdered? Did the real killer want to silence him?”

Owen leaned in, resting his forearms on the table. “Did you silence both Nathan and him?” he came out and asked.

“No,” Valerie spat out, her voice rising to a near shout. But there didn’t seem to be any anger, only more of that confusion. “Wait. What do you mean silence Nathan?” She swallowed hard. “Is he dead?”

Again, if this was an act, it was a darn good one.

“He’s dead,” Owen confirmed. “The latest victim of the killer who’s been sending riddles.”

“Oh, God,” Valerie murmured, and she repeated that a couple of times. “He was so scared about someone coming after him. Who did this to him?” she pleaded.

Owen didn’t pull any verbal punches. “At the moment, you’re my top suspect for that.”

Valerie sprang to her feet. “I haven’t killed anyone. I swear, I haven’t.”

“What about kidnapping two people and using that to force someone into killing for you?” Owen snapped.

“No,” she said on a gasp. “Who was kidnapped? Who killed someone?”

Owen studied her, his stare turning to a glare as it drilled into the woman. “Grant Huxley’s assistant, Molly. I’m sure you met her during your brother’s trial.”

Valerie’s breath seemed to gush out of her body. “She’s dead? Why? How?”

“Again, you’re my top suspect for that.” Owen paused a moment. “Where were you today?” he asked, obviously changing the subject.

“Home,” Valerie replied, her voice barely audible now and tangled with nerves that might or might not be the real deal.

“Can anyone verify that?” he pressed.

She shook her head. “No.”

“If you were home, why didn’t you answer your phone?” he added.

“I was working. I keep the ringer off when I’m working.” She looked up at him. “How was Molly killed? Was there a riddle for her, too?”

Owen took his time answering, no doubt studying every nuance of Valerie’s expression and body language. “It’s possible that Molly murdered someone.”

Valerie stood silent and seemingly stunned for a couple of seconds. “Why would she have done that?”

Again, Owen didn’t jump right into an answer.

He took his time. “It seems as if someone forced Molly into doing what she did. Forced her by kidnapping her child and her ex-husband and holding them captive. Molly may have acted out of fear for her daughter’s life.

” Another pause. “Would you do something like that, Valerie? Would you use innocent people to do your brother’s bidding? ”

“No,” she blurted. “I wouldn’t do anything like that. But I know who would. God, I know who would.” She dropped back down into the chair and started to sob.

“Dell?” Owen questioned.

With the tears streaming down her face, Valerie shook her head. “No. He’s certain he’ll be free with this appeal. He has no reason to commit murder.”

Owen made a sound that he wasn’t quite buying that. “Then, who?” he asked on a shrug.

“Someone who wants revenge for a loved one’s death,” she murmured. “Lorelei did this. I’m certain of it.”

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