Page 89 of Smokescreen

When she was gone, Olive and Reid exchanged a glance.

“So someone has been manipulating Hannah,” Reid muttered. “She was the one responsible for the doll and for locking you in the attic.”

Olive nodded as she let that thought settle. “The question is who? Who’s behind this, and why? It has to be someone here at the ranch. Nothing else makes sense.”

“I agree.” Reid rubbed his jaw. “But I don’t like that thought—not at all.”

CHAPTER 39

“While I’m thinking about it, I’m going to call my friend with the Bureau of Land Management.” Reid remained at his desk, his gaze set with determination.

Olive wondered where he was going with this. Why would he call this friend?

As if reading her mind, he explained, “I keep hearing these rumors that the government might be interested in taking over land here. But no one has actually talked to me about it. I want to know what’s really going on.”

Olive nodded slowly. “Seems like a good move.”

He put his desk phone on speaker and dialed. A moment later, a man answered.

“Zane, this is Reid Harrison.”

“Reid . . . it’s been a long time.” Zane’s voice sounded casual and friendly. “What’s going on? I’m assuming you’re not just calling to catch up.”

Reid remained calm as he leaned closer to the phone, a dead serious look in his eyes. “Look, I keep hearing rumors the government wants to take away some of my land. I decided to verify whether or not that was true. Have you heard anything?”

“Why would the government try to take away part of your land?”

“You have to admit that it’s not all that unusual,” Reid said. “They’ve done it to people in the past.”

“That’s true. Considering this whole county was once confiscated from the Native Americans, no one can deny that. But I’ve been working in this area for a long time, and I haven’t heard anything.”

“Nothing at all?” A knot of confusion formed in between Reid’s eyes.

“No, I haven’t heard anything,” Zane said. “Plus, I think my colleagues would come to you and make a nice offer before letting the rumor mill get out of control.”

“One of my neighbors said they’d had an offer,” Reid continued. “Could that be fake?”

“Without seeing the offer, it’s hard to say. Can you get your hands on the paperwork?”

“I have a feeling there isn’t any paperwork. But I’m not sure why people are saying this is going to happen if you have no knowledge of it.” Reid leaned back, his gaze laser-focused as he seemed to think everything through.

“I can’t answer that for you,” Zane said. “All I can tell you is what I’ve heard on my end. Taking your land has never come up in conversation.”

“And you’re saying this is something you would have heard about if it was in the works?”

“Considering I work in this area, I think so. In fact, if what you’re saying is true and I wasn’t in the loop on this, I’d be quite insulted.”

“Thanks for your time, Zane,” Reid told him. “If you do hear anything, I’d appreciate it if you’d let me know.”

“Of course.”

The two hung up, and Olive and Reid glanced at each other.

“That’s strange,” Olive said. “Why would these other people lie about it?”

“Why would Zane lie about it?” Reid countered.

“Unless the government’s trying to do something underhanded and take your properties out from beneath you—which they very well could do—I’d say the government is more inclined to lie about this than anyone here in town.”