Page 23 of The Perfect Hosts

Ostrenga lets out a puff of air. “I’ve known the family for years, but who knows. People have done a lot more for less.”

Jamie agrees. He’s been around long enough to know that people are exceptionally good at hiding their dirty little secrets and, when desperate, will do about anything for money. “Do local law enforcement have any initial thoughts?” Jamie asks.

“We can ask Sheriff Colson right now,” Ostrenga says, nodding toward a man who is talking intently with one of the crime-scene techs. “Hey, Jerry,” Ostrenga calls out. “Got a minute?”

A shot of adrenaline shoots through Jamie. He knows Jerry Colson. The deputy was one of the first people Jamie sawwhen he woke up in the hospital. “I’m going to catch whoever did this, son,” Colson had told him. He tried. Jamie had to give him that, but the case had gone cold, and then Jamie’s mother wanted to leave Wyoming, wanted to forget. Colson tried to keep in touch, gave them updates, but they moved and then moved again.

“Jerry,” Ostrenga shouts again.

Sheriff Colson looks up, raises a finger indicating he needs a minute.

“That’s okay,” Jamie says, clapping Ostrenga on the back. “We’ll debrief later. I want to take a minute to look over the scene and get the lay of the land.”

Jamie makes his way toward the burned-out barn and notices a man dressed in faded jeans, cowboy boots, and a Carhartt jacket standing at the edge of stand of pine trees, shifting nervously from foot to foot. Jamie slows his pace and watches the man carefully to see if he might bolt.

Up close, Jamie sees the Lone Tree Ranch insignia embroidered across the man’s baseball cap. It’s pulled low, but Jamie can still see his pale face and bloodshot eyes. Jamie lifts his hand in greeting. “Mornin’,” he says and then introduces himself.

“Trent Colson,” the man says.

“Any relation to—”

“Yeah, he’s my dad,” Trent says with a hint of resignation. “I’m one of the ranch hands.”

Jamie remembers Madeline Drake saying that one of the hands helped pack the Tannerite. “You were here last night?” Jamie asks.

Trent shakes his head. “No, I only work with the horses. Once they were squared away for the day, I headed out. But when I heard about what happened, I came right back here.”

“What time was that?”

“Around two, I think,” Trent says, his face flushing red.

“You live on-site?”

“In the cabins, back there.” Trent hooks a thumb over his shoulder.

“Were you here for the setup yesterday?”

“Yeah, I helped some. But like I said, I just take care of the horses. The Drakes hired people to help with the setup and made sure the stage was good to go for the entertainment.”

“Reba McEntire, right?” Jamie says.

“Yes, but thankfully she wasn’t here at the time of the explosion. Apparently, someone was able to catch her while she was still at her hotel in Jackson,” Trent says. “Listen, I was there when Dix loaded the Tannerite into the old truck. He was very careful. Read the directions like ten times.”

“Dix Drake?” Jamie asks. “Wes’s brother?” Jamie never met Dix back when he lived in Nightjar. Dix was older, in his twenties and away at college.

“Yeah. It had to be some weird accident, right? Have they found him yet? Dix?” Trent asks.

Jamie still hasn’t seen the list of injured or missing. “I’ll check on that. So you haven’t seen or heard anything suspicious as of late? Any threats to Wes or his wife? Any strangers hanging around?”

Hesitation flickers across Trent’s face. Jamie waits him out. “No, no one, except Madeline’s sister, Lucy. I met her at Rick’s last night. It’s a bar.” Trent’s face grows hot again. “Her car broke down, and I was helping her when my dad pulled up and said that something happened at the ranch. I brought her here.”

“What time was that?”

Trent thinks a moment. “We met up at about eight at Rick’s and headed this way around two. I’m not exactly sure.”

“So what were you doing between six and eight?” Jamie asks.

Trent lifts his hat from his head and rubs and hand over hishair. “I don’t know. I wanted to get away from the ranch before all the people showed up, so I stopped at my folks’ house, but no one was there, so I grabbed a bite to eat at the Nightjar Café. From there I went to Rick’s.”