Page 15

15

L ibby whirled around to stare at her grandfather, her injured arm forgotten. She should have considered her great-aunt might be involved. After all, that was the match she’d found on the DNA test she’d submitted to the database. And looking at Aaron’s red hair, similar in color to hers, she couldn’t help feeling sick about the family connection.

One she hadn’t anticipated.

“Grandpa.” She rushed over to wrap her arms around him in a hug, grateful he was alive and relatively unhurt. “I’m sorry it took us so long to find you.”

“I’m fine.” He returned her embrace, although with less strength than usual. “Better now that I know you’re not hurt either.”

“Grandpa, why didn’t you tell me?” She leaned back to search his gaze. “All these years...”

“It’s a long story, Libby.” Her grandfather looked fragile and weary.

“Let’s have you sit down.” She led her grandpa toward the useless SUV. She opened the passenger-side door and urged him to sit. “Are you sure you’re okay?” He looked so pale she wondered when he had last had anything to eat or drink.

“I’ll survive.” Grandpa turned to look at Shane. “How much longer until your siblings get here?”

Shane shrugged and glanced at her. She nodded, silently letting him know she’d been in touch.

“I texted with Alexis about fifteen minutes ago.” Libby double-checked her phone. “At that point in time, they were twenty minutes out. I’m sure they’ll be here very soon.”

“Good to know.” Shane kept his pistol leveled at Aaron. “I left a woman who I assume is Ward Engler’s wife tied up back at the Engler home. I don’t know how the Englers are involved, but it’s clear they are. Is Archer the one digging in the cellar?”

“Probably,” Grandpa agreed. “I told Archer and Aaron that’s where I hid the money.”

She frowned. “You still have the cash? You never used it for yourself?”

Her grandfather winced. “I did use some in the beginning. I had to escape, get a new identity, and relocate here to Wyoming from Colorado.” He shrugged and let out a heavy sigh. “As I said, it’s a long story.”

She wanted to point out that they had plenty of time to hear what had transpired all those years ago, but she realized her grandfather might not want to say too much in front of Aaron.

Or maybe he didn’t want to incriminate himself more than he already had.

Libby hated knowing there was a strong possibility her grandfather would end up in jail. Forty-eight years was a long time, but one man and a cop had been killed during the robbery. And there was no statute of limitations on murder.

Her phone buzzed with an incoming call. Seeing Alexis’s name on the screen, she quickly answered. “Shane found Grandpa, and we also have one of the bad guys here. There’s at least one more out there, though. Maybe more.”

“I’m glad Shane found your grandfather. We’re coming up on your coordinates right now,” Alexis said. “Oh, and you should know FBI agent Griff Flannery is on his way to your grandfather’s place right now.”

“You better warn him that a man named Archer is likely digging in the cellar there,” Libby said somberly. “He should be considered armed and dangerous.”

“I will, thanks.” Alexis ended the call.

Libby lowered the phone, her gaze narrowing on Aaron. His arm was bloody from where Bryce had latched onto him, but as her gaze traveled down his jean-clad legs, she didn’t see any evidence of ripped denim indicating he was the one Bryce had gotten a piece of earlier that morning.

She turned toward Shane. “I think Archer must be the one with the dog bite on his leg.”

“I agree.” Shane glared at Aaron. “You and your brother are going away for a long time.”

Aaron looked away without saying anything in response. Hearing a car engine, Libby turned in time to see two SUVs rolling over the terrain toward them.

Leaving her grandfather’s side, she hurried over to meet them. Alexis slid out from behind the wheel, glancing at Shane first as if to make sure her brother was really okay, then to where her grandfather was sitting in the passenger seat.

“Alexis, can you tie this guy up for me?” Shane asked. “He’ll probably need to be seen at the hospital for his dog bite. Libby, too, as she deflected his gun arm only to get tangled with Bryce’s teeth.”

“Sure thing.” Alexis rummaged around in the back of her SUV reassuring her K9, Denali, that they’d be fine. Seconds later, she used plastic zip ties to bind Aaron’s wrists together.

“Thanks.” Shane finally lowered the gun. “Here, Bryce.”

The large German shepherd wheeled away from Aaron to trot to Shane’s side. Shane knelt beside his dog, ruffling and stroking his fur. “You’re a good boy, aren’t you? Good boy.”

Libby wanted to believe the nightmare was over, but there were too many questions without answers. When the sharp crack of gunfire rang out in the distance, she, Shane, Alexis, and Joel all exchanged horrified looks.

“Griff! That sounds as if it could have come from Marvin’s cabin,” Alexis cried out in horror. “We need to head back there.”

“We’re coming with you,” Shane said, hurrying over to join her. “Our SUV isn’t going anywhere.”

“I’ll take this guy with me,” Joel said, jerking his thumb at Aaron, “and we’ll meet you at the cabin.”

It didn’t take long for Alexis to jump behind the wheel of her SUV. Libby helped her grandfather into the passenger seat of Alexis’s car. She, Shane, and Bryce crowded into the back seat. Denali pressed her nose against the crate to sniff at Bryce. The two dogs touched noses, then Bryce settled down beside Shane.

Nobody said anything as Alexis backed away from the scene, the SUV rocking and rolling over the uneven terrain. Then she turned around and headed back toward Libby’s grandfather’s cabin. Alexis’s expression was stricken with fear and dread.

Libby could relate to the woman’s concern. As Alexis kept her food on the gas pedal, the SUV covering the miles, Libby found herself praying for Griff and whoever else he’d taken with him to her grandfather’s cabin.

She couldn’t bear the idea of her cousin killing a federal agent. Especially over stolen money!

When Libby’s grandfather’s cabin came into view, she saw three different police cars in the driveway, two sheriff’s deputy squads and one black SUV with red and blue lights flashing along the top. Libby assumed that one belonged to the federal agent. Alexis barreled down the driveway, bringing the Sullivan SUV to a jarring stop. Then without waiting for anyone to respond, she bolted out of the car and ran toward the house.

“Alexis!” Shane sounded irritated as he pushed out of the car to follow. Bryce bounded out to join the fray. “Alexis, stay back!”

“Griff!” Alexis shouted. Libby followed Shane and Bryce around the corner of the house toward the backyard where the cellar was located.

“I’m fine,” a male voice called. “But we need an ambulance. Paul Holland took a slug to the vest.”

Paul? Libby slowed to a stop as she took in the scene. A man with close-cropped reddish hair was sprawled on the ground, not moving. Deputy Paul Holland was sitting on the ground, holding a hand to his chest. Griff had his weapon trained on another man whom she quickly recognized as Ward Engler. Another deputy was in the process of slapping cuffs around Engler’s wrists while reading him his rights.

“I’m glad you’re okay,” Alexis said, slowing to a stop. After giving Griff one last look, Alexis abruptly turned to check on Paul, crossing over to kneel beside him. “I’m well versed in first aid. Did the slug penetrate the vest?”

“I don’t think so,” Paul groused. “But it feels like I was kicked in the chest by a buffalo.”

“I’ve heard it’s painful,” Alexis murmured as she removed the Velcro straps of the vest for a closer look. “You’re going to have a whopping bruise here. But the good news is that your vest saved your life.”

“Yeah, I know.” Paul glanced from Alexis over to Libby. “Your grandfather?”

“He’s safe.” She turned to see her grandfather trudging toward them, his shoulders slumped as if he carried the weight of the world on them.

And maybe he did. A decision that had been made forty-eight years ago had caused this mess. A police officer had almost been shot and killed here today. Just like the officer who’d lost his life all those years ago.

“Grandpa?” She crossed over to put her arm around his waist. “Let’s get you inside. We can find something for you to eat.”

“Not yet, Libby.” He awkwardly patted her arm, then pushed forward until he stood beside Griff Flannery. “I believe you’ve been looking for me.”

Griff nodded, the sun glinting off his short blond hair. “Is your real name Maxwell Tucker?”

“Yes.” Her grandfather gestured toward Ward Engler. “I believe that man is related to the man who married my sister, Louise. She must have married him after her husband, Greg Olson, was killed during the robbery. Louise and Greg had one son who in turn had the twins, Aaron and Archer.” The older man winced again. “Aaron told me how my sister talked nonstop about the money she should have had. I guess that’s when the twins came up with this plan to kidnap me so they could find the cash.”

“Ward Engler is not an alias?” Griff asked in surprise.

“I don’t think so. I think Ward and his wife, Tabitha, were asked to provide their home and the four-wheelers for money. Sounded as if Tabitha went off to visit her grandkids until everything was finished.” Her grandfather frowned. “I didn’t know my sister remarried, much less that she had twin grandsons that were only a few years older than Libby.” He slowly shook his head. “If we had gotten away clean, we’d have split the money equally between us. But the robbery went bad, especially after my brother-in-law exchanged gunfire with the first officer who arrived on scene back then. I was the only one who got away.”

“And you still have the money?” Griff asked. “Archer there was determined to dig all the way to China to find it.”

“Yes, I still have most of the money.” Her grandfather glanced at her warily. “I can show you where it is.”

“You didn’t hide it in the cellar at all, did you?” Shane asked.

“Nope.” Her grandfather turned and led the way inside the cabin. She was surprised when he went down the hall to his bedroom. She, Shane, Bryce, and Griff crowded around as he pushed at the end of the bed. Her grandfather gestured to the wooden floor. At first, she didn’t understand what he was pointing out.

Then she noticed the very faint outline of a square etched in the flooring. A trap door!

“One of you should probably grab a knife to pry along the edges,” Grandpa said wearily. “I haven’t been down there in well over thirty-five years.”

“I’ll get it.” Griff ducked back down the hall toward the kitchen. Libby exchanged a long look with Shane until Griff returned. He knelt on the floor, used the knife, and soon had the trap door open.

Libby leaned forward to see an old canvas bag tucked into the opening. Griff reached down and opened it.

Stacks of hundred-dollar bills were bound together with plastic, looking as crisp and new as the day her grandfather had stolen them.

* * *

Shane could hardly believe the money had been lying beneath Marvin’s bed all this time. Bryce sniffed the cash with interest. Shane wanted to congratulate the wily older man for using the cellar as a ruse.

But the look of horror on Libby’s face stopped him. She abruptly turned and bolted from the bedroom.

“I’m willing to accept responsibility for my actions.” Marvin’s expression was grim, but Shane thought he could also see a sense of relief in the man’s dark eyes. As if Libby’s grandfather was glad the truth was finally out in the open. “The robbery wasn’t my idea. Greg was the one who put everything together. Greg’s greed was one of the reasons I never reached out to my sister all this time. I knew she was the one pushing Greg to get more money. To give her the life she felt she deserved.”

Shane could easily see how that may have played out. “But you didn’t stop the robbery from taking place,” he felt compelled to point out.

“No, and that was my biggest sin,” Marvin admitted. “I went along with the plan. But after Greg was killed along with that police officer, and Harry went to prison, I decided to go straight.”

“Except for the part where you never turned over the stolen money,” Griff drawled.

“That’s true.” Marvin waved at the opening. “Our total haul was about two million. I probably spent about sixty grand. The rest is there. As I mentioned before, I only took enough to make a fresh start.”

Libby suddenly returned, her dark eyes flashing. “Don’t say anything more, Grandpa. Not until we get you a lawyer.”

“Ah, Libby. That’s not necessary.” Marvin managed a sad smile. “As the young federal agent has pointed out, I should have come forward a long time ago.”

“Actually, your granddaughter is right,” Griff said. “You have the right to remain silent. And to an attorney.”

“I’m waiving my rights.” Now a hint of steel lined the older man’s tone. “I just showed you the proof of the robbery.”

“Grandpa, please,” Libby begged.

“No, Libby.” Marvin shook his head. “I appreciate your support, but this is my mess.” He frowned, then added, “I always suspected the past would come back to haunt me. Those first few years after Harry Stern was released, I looked over my shoulder all the time. But Louise sending her grandkids to take me out?” He grimaced. “That was a shock.”

“I never should have done that DNA test.” Libby’s brown eyes filled with tears. “If I had just let it go...”

“It’s not your fault, Libby. I believe this happened for a reason.” Marvin reached over to pat her arm. “I feel better knowing Louise and her grandkids will be held accountable for their crimes too.”

Libby wiped at her eyes and managed to nod. “I’ll be there for you, Grandpa. Every step of the way.”

“No need,” Marvin said with a frown. “This is my problem. Not yours.”

Shane put his arm around Libby’s shoulders. “We’ll be here for you, Marvin.”

Libby gratefully leaned against him. “Thank you.”

“Anytime.” He understood there was no way she was going to leave her grandfather hanging in the wind. Yet he admired the older man for owning up to his mistakes.

“Okay, let’s get you, the cash, and the two men in custody out of here,” Griff said.

“Oh, and I left a woman who could be Louise tied up at the Engler home,” Shane added.

“Yeah, that’s my sister, Louise,” Marvin said. “She made it clear she couldn’t wait to get rid of me once her grandkids had the money they deserved. I think Ward Engler was getting irritated with his role in this, though. He wanted them to find the cash, pay him, and get out of there.”

Shane felt Libby shiver beside him. He hugged her again, wordlessly reassuring her that everything would be okay.

“I’m afraid you’ll have to leave the house too,” Griff said as he slung the bag of cash over his shoulder and took Marvin’s arm. “This will need to be processed as a crime scene.”

“Come on, Libby, I’ll drive you home,” Shane offered. He gave the dog the hand signal for come. Then remembering his SUV with four flat tires, he added, “Wait, I’ll have Alexis drive us back to your place in Cody.”

“Okay.” Libby looked completely dejected. He tried to think of a way to cheer her up but couldn’t come up with anything helpful.

Her grandfather was alive, which was great. But if the older man ended up spending what was left of his life in jail, then he had a feeling Libby wouldn’t be able to bounce back to her usual cheerful self.

Their roles had been switched big time.

“Sure, I’ll drive you, Bryce and Libby back to Cody,” Alexis agreed a few minutes later. “Joel has asked Justin to buy four new tires and to head out here so they can fix your vehicle.”

“That would be great, thanks.” The SUV wasn’t his top concern, not with the way Libby looked if she’d lost her best friend. His heart ached for her.

The trip back to Cody was quiet. Libby closed her eyes as if she’d fallen asleep, but Shane didn’t think she was resting the way Bryce was.

More likely, she was replaying the events over the past few days wondering if there was something they could have done differently to prevent the outcome.

Yet he personally agreed with Marvin’s assessment that things had worked out this way for a reason. Libby had clung to her faith over the past thirty-six hours. He didn’t want to see her give up now.

When Alexis finally pulled into Libby’s driveway, the hour was going on five in the evening. Shane’s stomach rumbled with hunger, and he borrowed some dog food and dishes from Alexis so he could feed Bryce.

Once his dog was cared for, he decided to order a pizza delivery rather than rummaging through Libby’s fridge.

“You don’t have to stay,” Libby said with a sigh. Bryce stretched out on the floor, resting his head between his paws. “There’s nothing you can do, Shane.”

“I’m not leaving.” He held up his phone to show her the pizza he planned to order. “What do you like on your pizza?”

“I’m not hungry.”

“Libby, starving yourself isn’t going to help your grandfather.” He scowled at her. “What do you like?”

“Pepperoni and mushrooms.” She rubbed a hand over her stomach. “I feel sick, but that could be because I’m hungry.”

He placed the order, then crossed over to sit beside her on the sofa. “Let me take a look at your arm.”

She showed him the long scratch marks made by Bryce’s teeth. “I’ll clean this up for you, okay?”

“I can do it.” She looked stubborn, but he was already striding into the kitchen for water, soap, and towels.

The scratches weren’t as deep as he’d anticipated, but she still might have needed antibiotics. Without a car, they would have to walk to the hospital. Or wait until morning.

“Thanks.” Libby tugged her arm free. “I’ll be fine.”

Her listless tone bothered him. He set the items aside and turned on the sofa to face her. “Listen to me, I need you to look on the bright side.”

“On the bright side of my grandfather being in jail?” Libby asked.

“Yes. He’s not dead, and if you ask me, I believe he’s relieved to have the truth out there.” Shane took both of her hands in his. “Come on, Libby, your grandfather needs that sunshine personality of yours to help him through this.”

“I know.” She tipped her head back to look up at the ceiling for a minute. “I know you’re right. And that nobody should get away with a crime like this without some sort of punishment. It’s just...”

“You love him. But we will also be there for him, Libby. Both of us.” He wanted to tell her how he’d fallen in love with her, but obviously, the timing wasn’t great. He glanced around her small home. “I’ll sleep here on the sofa until we hear what’s going to happen.”

“You would do that for me?” Libby asked, her dark-brown eyes clinging to his. “Even though I’m the granddaughter of a bank robber?”

“Armored truck robber,” he corrected with a wry grin. “And hey, I give your grandfather a lot of credit for not spending the money and for turning his life around.”

A reluctant smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. “I can’t believe Grandpa slept every single night with almost two million dollars under his bed.”

“Exactly. Can you imagine the willpower he must have had to accomplish that?” He chuckled, shaking his head. “I admire him. He never took the easy way out.”

“Grandpa always told me money can’t buy happiness,” Libby said, her expression thoughtful. “And I always figured that was an easy thing to say if you didn’t have any money to begin with. But now I realize he was right. Because we were happy. We didn’t need a million dollars. We had all the love and caring we needed with each other.”

“Your grandfather is a smart man.” He thought about the multimillion-dollar estate he and his siblings had inherited when their parents had died. The money had been more of a pain in the behind than anything, and he had been grateful for how Maya and Chase had restructured the estate to support the ranch and their mission of offering search and rescue missions.

And in that moment, he knew if he had to choose between his inheritance and Libby, he’d walk away from the Sullivan ranch without a backward glance.

Libby was more important than anything.

“I love you.” The words popped out of his mouth before he could call them back. When her eyes widened in shock, he quickly added, “Sorry, I know this is too soon for you, and rotten timing overall, but I wanted you to know. You don’t have to say anything now,” he quickly added. “I should have kept my big mouth shut. We’ll have time after we know about what will happen to your grandfather to discuss the future.”

“Oh, Shane.” Libby’s eyes filled with tears, and for a horrible moment, he thought she was going to tell him she didn’t feel the same way. “That’s the nicest thing you could have said to me.”

“Which part?” He was confused over why she was crying. “That I should have kept my big mouth shut?”

That made her smile. “No, silly, the part where you told me we can wait until we know what’s happening with my grandfather before we discuss the future.”

“Oh, well of course.” Relief hit hard. “I understand how much you love him.”

“I love you, too, Shane.” She shifted closer to him on the sofa. “You put your life on the line for me and my grandfather.”

“You put your life on the line for Bryce,” he reminded her. At his name, his shepherd lifted his head to look at them, then lowered it again as if he couldn’t be bothered to move. “I couldn’t believe you risked getting bitten to save him.”

“I’m not afraid of Bryce.” This time, Bryce rose at the sound of his name and padded toward them. Libby leaned forward to pet him. “I have to say, Bryce is an amazing dog. I can understand why you use him and the other dogs to help find people.”

“We like helping others, like you, Libby. And your grandfather.” Bryce nudged him, looking for more attention. “Okay, lie down, big guy.” When the dog huffed and stretched out at their feet, he drew Libby in for a kiss.

“I love you, Libby,” he whispered, cradling her close.

“I love you too.” She kissed him again, only to jump back in shock when Bryce leaped to his feet to bark like a maniac. “What’s going on?”

“I think our pizza is here.” Shane rose and pushed past Bryce, digging cash from his pocket. “You’ll get used to Bryce sending up an alarm like this.”

“I’m not sure about that,” Libby groused, holding a hand over her chest. “He about gave me a heart attack.”

“Stop, Bryce,” he commanded, before opening the door. He paid the delivery man and carried the pizza inside. “Come on, Libby. Let’s pray.”

She crossed over to join him at the table. He took her hand and bowed his head. “Dear Lord Jesus, we thank You for this food we are about to eat. We thank You for keeping us safe in Your care today. We know You have already forgiven our sins and Marvin’s too. We only ask that the judge shows Marvin mercy over his past mistakes. Amen.”

“Amen,” Libby echoed. “That was a beautiful prayer.”

“We’re going to help your grandfather through this, you’ll see.” He leaned in to steal another quick kiss.

“I believe you’re right about that.” Libby smiled, some of her cheerful attitude finally shining through. “Because with love, anything is possible.”