Page 36 of Present Danger (Rocky Mountain Courage 1)

She shrugged. “They’re in Idaho meeting with horse people. Gramps is helping Owen get going with equestrian therapy for veterans.”

Jack rubbed the back of his neck. “I don’t like that you’re here alone tonight.”

“My grandfather has a state-of-the-art alarm system. I’ll be fine. I have a weapon too, and I know how to use it.” She fisted her hands, wishing she could have gotten them on the person who had trailed her tonight.

“Why do you think someone would follow you?”

“That’s the billion-dollar question, isn’t it? If I was even actually followed.”

“You’re trained, Terra. If you thought you were being followed, then you were. I suggest you stay at your apartment in town tonight.”

“Thanks for your suggestion. If they know about the ranch, they know about my apartment.”

“Maybe you’re being followed because of one of the cases you’re working on.”

She shook her head. “Timber theft. A meth lab. That kind of stuff. I’m not close enough to any of it for someone to trail me.”

“Past cases?”

Terra considered his question and shook her head.

“Why’d you come back?” Jack asked. “Did something happen in your previous job?”

“No. Nothing from my past job could be related to someone following me. What’s with the interrogation?”

He chuckled. “Just doing my job, ma’am.” That smile again. “But even if I weren’t, I’m just trying to make sure an old friend is okay and going to stay that way.”

Clutching her mug, she nodded, appreciating his concern. “Thanks for that. Now, let’s talk more about the murder investigation. I’d like to talk to the curator at the museum too, but let’s wait on any further communication with anyone there.”

“This is a murder investigation.”

“That’s linked to an artifact cache. The curator or his staff might not be connected to either crime, but then again, someone might be. But I want to know more before we question them. I wish you hadn’t gone to him about the knife without me. When I learn more about the things Jim kept, I can use that information while questioning the curator or those working for him. Working very closely on this is the best way to get what we want. To find Jim’s killer.”

Jack nodded. “The man’s been informed he shouldn’t leave town in case we have more questions.”

“What about the interns and volunteers, other employees?”

“I have deputies working on questioning them in the morning. Relax, Terra. You can use the information we gather when you follow up. You can’t be everywhere.”

Terra avoided Jack’s questioning look and scooted her chair back. She moved to the counter and got more coffee, which would probably keep her awake too late tonight. She calmed her frustration. Jack was right.

She slid back into the seat, wrapping her hands around the hot mug. “Why would Jim’s murderer take a knife from a museum to use as a murder weapon and then return it?”

“Maybe he thought it was a way to forever hide the weapon. Who would ever look at the museum’s artifacts?”

“Are you telling me he didn’t notice the knife’s missing tip?”

Jack angled his head. “He might not have noticed it because he was in a hurry or it was dark. Or he still didn’t think the weapon would be discovered. But I see you’re tracking a different way on this.”

She nodded. “I think that if the museum is involved in illegal trafficking along with Jim, that would be the last place the killer would take a weapon from. It leads us right back there.”

He crossed his arms. “Criminals make mistakes, Terra.”

“Or leading us back to the museum wasn’t a mistake at all and could be exactly what the killer wants. He wants to lead us the wrong way. Get us looking at the museum to pull our attention off the right path.” Though that would be going to a lot of trouble. “How sure are you that the knife is the murder weapon?”

“Almost positive.” He whipped out his cell and showed her the images he’d taken, along with the images of the knife tip from the deputy coroner.

“Okay, then. I would be surprised if this wasn’t the knife. But this makes no sense to me. Jim’s killer went to all that trouble to hide his body, then he put the knife back? He would have been better off throwing the knife into the Grayback River.”