Page 233 of Rangers Last Promise

“Eagle River Sheriff’s Department.”

A man speaks.

“Put Mara Ellis on the phone.”

Doc reaches for the receiver.

I catch his wrist.

“We work together.”

He doesn’t like it.

But he releases the phone.

Tate places the call on speaker.

“This is Deputy Ellis.”

The man laughs softly.

Not Vance.

This voice is rougher.

Older.

Familiar to Doc.

I know it from the way all the blood drains from his face.

“Mara,” the caller says. “You don’t know me, but I knew Grant.”

Doc steps closer to the phone.

“Kane.”

A pause.

Then Daniel Kane laughs.

“Hello, Doc.”

“Where are you?”

“Close enough to know Vance has been lying to all of you.”

“About what?”

“He doesn’t need Grant’s lockbox.”

I look at the battered metal box on the table.

“Then why does he want it?” I ask.

“Because he thinks Grant hid the list inside.”

“Did he?”