“Body?”
Jackson nodded grimly.
Vanessa didn’t know how to react to this news.Her husband of five years, the father of her only child, was dead.Paul had saved her from the same fate and they were treating him like a suspect instead of a victim.“What did Paul say?”
“He’s making his statement now.”
“It was self-defense,” she said.“It must have been.”
“It’s more complicated than that.”
“How?”
Jackson took off his hat and ran his fingers through his hair.“There was a second gunman at the scene.He had a sniper rifle set up less than a mile from your cabin.We believe Paul was his target.Bennett got caught in the crossfire.”
Vanessa’s knees turned to water.“A second gunman?”
“Someone Paul tangled with in Houston.A member of a criminal family.”
“No,” she breathed.
“It’s not over yet.We haven’t found the gunman.Wade called in the FBI and every officer in town is on duty.You should stay in Dad’s office with Emily.I’ll take you home as soon as I’m free.”
“I want to see him.”
“Who?”
“Paul.”
Jackson lowered his head and held her gaze.“Did you hear what I just said?That guy is not safe to be around.There’s a freaking psychopath after him.Bennett was shot.Youcould have been shot.”
“I heard you.”
“And you don’t care?”
“Of course I care,” she said, glowering back at him.“Paul saved my life today.I might have been shot byBennettif he hadn’t stepped in.He put himself in harm’s way for me and I owe him a thank you.”
Jackson dragged a hand down his face.“You can talk to him after Wade is finished.”
“He also needs medical attention right now.”
“It’s been offered.”
Vanessa swore under her breath.Damn the man for being so stoic.
“I’ll order some sandwiches.Do you want smashed frog or a slug special?”
She smiled at the old joke.“Smashed frog, please.”
He patted her shoulder and walked away.She returned to the office to watch over Emily.A turkey sandwich with sprouts arrived soon after, but she was too wound up to eat.Emily woke up from her nap and ate the “slug special,” aka bologna with cheese.When Jackson finally returned, the little girl was wrapping her doll in bandages.
“Penelope fell out of a tree and broke her arm,” Emily said.
“Did she?”
“Kiss her.”
Jackson dutifully kissed the yarn-covered head, and held up a finger to indicate that Paul was in room one.Vanessa collected the first-aid kit and headed toward the interrogation room.Wade Hendricks stood like a sentry outside a closed door.It was unorthodox for a civilian to speak to a witness or suspect before they were released, but Vanessa was the sheriff’s daughter, and she’d been through an ordeal.He moved aside to allow her entry.
